ew

10

om the

hillippi

ee miles.

ig Sarasota

ays. A five-

olling depth. En-

The width of Big

ere from six to 10 from ere

erse was a crooked, narrow

ere forced to sail the outside ere

om Roberts Bay just below Bay om Roberts

channels near the passes; six feet

ow

Little

(12 miles)

Sarasota Bay

Southwest Florida

ettlers along this coast w

Each of these bays historically was separated fr

S

eek. The only means of trav eek.

angroves,” a cluster of islands at the mouth of P angroves,”

evailing water depths in the bay w

ampa Bay by Palma Sola (Sarasota) Pass, a natural half- Pass, (Sarasota) Sola by Palma ampa Bay

ass (1,200 feet wide, 7-foot depth).

ass (450 feet wide, undetermined depth) and B

arasota Bay ranged between one-half and thr ranged between arasota Bay

others through a series of natural barriers. Boat traffic others through between Big and Little Sarasota Bays was impeded by “The was impeded by Bays and Little Sarasota Big between M Cr channel barely 50 feet wide and 0.3 mile long that was channel barely mostly obstructed by mangroves. The channel was non- mostly obstructed mangroves. by navigable at low water. No inside waterway passage ex- No water. navigable at low isted between Little Sarasota and Lemon B Little Sarasota isted between mile land barrier existed fr Casey’s Pass to Alligator Creek, which was the head of to Alligator Creek, Pass Casey’s navigation of northern Lemon Bay.

passages between Big Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay and Bay Little Sarasota Bay, Sarasota Big passages between Lemon Bay. Big Sarasota Bay could be entered from could be entered Bay Sarasota Big Lemon Bay. T mile-wide channel with a 4-foot contr trance to Big Sarasota Bay from the Gulf of Mexico was of Mexico the Gulf from Bay Sarasota trance to Big from Longboat Inlet (300 feet wide, 5-foot depth), N from Longboat Inlet P P S Pr feet, with deeper narr prevailed over mid-bay shoals. over prevailed

The Mangroves

each

Phillippi Creek

ass area

Sarasota

egain a sense of

arying navigabil-

way we refer to as refer way we

Bay

(21 miles)

Big Sarasota

exico

Gulf of M

Little Sarasota Pass

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY THE GULF INTRACOASTAL

The Boating Geography of Before Coastal Development

New Pass

Big Sarasota Pass

One must go back in time to 1890 to r

1. Big Sarasota Bay, on the north, is 21 miles long and Bay, Sarasota 1. Big

2. Little Sarasota Bay, in the middle, is 12 miles long Bay, 2. Little Sarasota

3. Lemon Bay, to the south, is a 16-mile-long 3. Lemon Bay,

the pre-development state of the water the pre-development the Sarasota Bay system. At that time, this 54-mile r system. At Bay the Sarasota of the coast, from lower Tampa Bay to Gasparilla Sound, to Gasparilla Bay Tampa lower of the coast, from enclosed three separate inland bays of v enclosed three ity (Map 1): ity (Map

stretches from Palma Sola (Sarasota) Pass at the mouth of Pass (Sarasota) Sola Palma from stretches lower Tampa Bay to Phillippi Creek (south of Sarasota); Creek to Phillippi Bay Tampa lower

and ranges from Phillippi Creek to Roberts Bay (present- Bay to Roberts Creek Phillippi and ranges from day Venice);

embayment from Alligator Creek to the Bocilla P Alligator Creek embayment from south of Grove City. south of Grove

Lower Tampa Bay Lower Tampa

Palma Sola

Longboat Inlet

(Sarasota) Pass ed

ass

om

The Cutoff

Grove City

ngi-

11

(16 miles)

Lemon Bay

evailed be-

Englewood;

Englewood

The southern

ve

ay with Gasparilla

Charlotte Harbor

Gasparilla Sound,

e barrier to navigation.

Land

een 40 and 250 feet wide

Bocilla Pass

Barrier

oute, sometimes available

(5 miles)

om Tampa to Sarasota. Tampa om

ery shallow.

ements as the principal goal.

ov

Alligator Creek

(Little) New Pass

Stump Pass

w water, was known as “The was known Cut- w water,

ee-foot draft could be carried fr

(Big) New Pass

Palm Key

Roberts Bay

Dona Bay

The channel connecting Lemon B

These were the general conditions that pr These were

w Pass north to about 2.75 miles abo w Pass

asparilla Sound. Only light-draft vessels drawing less Only light-draft vessels asparilla Sound.

ound to the south was an effectiv

south end of the bay (2.5-foot depth), and at Bocilla P (4-foot depth). Within Lemon Bay, depths ranged from Lemon Bay, Within (4-foot depth). 0.5 to 15 feet. A thr Ne from there northward to Buzzard Lake (today named R to Buzzard northward there from Lake) depths gradually shoaled to 1 foot. portion of the bay was also v

S This one-mile-long channel, betw and which dried at lo off.” An alternate connector r off.” depending on prevailing inlet openings and closings, could depending on prevailing be followed by using relict inlet channels leading to and by using relict be followed from old Bocilla Pass north to Lemon Bay and south to north to Lemon Bay from old Bocilla Pass G than four feet made the trip fr

fore changes were made by the U.S. Army Corps of E made by changes were fore neers with navigation impr

(Venice)

om

Buzzard Lake

Casey's Pass

These passes

Map 1.

om the Gulf at om the Gulf

tump Pass (depth tump Pass

alm Key, also called alm Key,

ass, 2.5 miles from the ass, 2.5 miles from

bay ranging from 200 bay ranging from

ection. To the west was To ection.

P

ow

ew

assage between the bay and assage between

er end by a range of keys fr er end by

w

Boating Geography Before Coastal Development

entirely closed for short periods. The bay’s width The bay’s closed for shortentirely periods.

ariners entered Little Sarasota Bay from the Gulf Bay Little Sarasota ariners entered

subject to changes both in location and depth, and

M

Lemon Bay — a long, narr Lemon Bay

re re

ona Bay, to the east Roberts Bay. Dona had a depth of Dona Bay. to the east Roberts ona Bay,

ulf was available at Stump Pass, 10 miles south of Alli- Pass, at Stump ulf was available

alm Ridge), and at its lo

arasota Bay in the south broadened into two small bays, in the south broadened arasota Bay

either by Little Sarasota Pass (90 feet wide, 5-foot depth) Pass Little Sarasota either by or Casey’s Pass (90 feet wide, 3-foot depth). Pass or Casey’s we we ranged from 300 feet to three-quarters of a mile. Depths 300 feet to three-quarters ranged from in Little Sarasota Bay were from 4 to 8 feet, but shoals 1 from were Bay in Little Sarasota to 2 feet deep created numerous obstructions. numerous Little to 2 feet deep created S which extended in an easterly dir D about 5 feet and Roberts from 2 to 5 feet. from about 5 feet and Roberts

feet to one mile wide — was separated fr its upper end by a long peninsula (P its upper end by P 50 feet to one mile wide. P G gator Creek (controlling depth from 4 to 7 feet), and at (controlling depth from gator Creek [Big] New Pass, a half-mile south of S Pass, New [Big] of 7 to 10 feet). Periodically other inlets would be of 7 to 10 feet). Periodically breached, such as at [Little] N breached,

enclosed body of

nursery grounds.

arasota Bay is an arasota Bay

or as spawning or

use estuaries either

S

estuary —“a semi- estuary —“a

stuaries are among stuaries are

E

water which has free

as a primary habitat

diluted by freshwater

all the earth’s systems: all the earth’s

from land drainage.”

more than 80 percent more

sea and within which

of all fish and shellfish

the most productive of the most productive

seawater is measurably

connection with the open 12

y 100-

taken in

edging to

ements were

way improve-

ce.

ov

ngineers was as-

ers and Harbors

ealigned in 1919

took the first in a

etching from lower etching from

ap 2. The objective of The objective ap 2.

om Sarasota to Venice, to om Sarasota

(3 x 75)

way conditions in south-

eying and improving water- eying and improving

e than 10 years to complete. e than 10 years

v

1967

(9 x 100)

edging, which created a 3-foot- edging, which created

er that span of time, dr

1896 Authorized Channel 1896 Authorized

een Tampa Bay and Sarasota. Cuts and Sarasota. Bay Tampa een

C-1 Connector

e national importance through the

d-mile-long shoal at the mouth of

esent route of the waterway).esent route

ons Bay

essels at sea and commer

Ly

South Lyons

North Lyons

South Flats

Bell Point

South Creek

Blackburn

The hydrographic charts by the U.S. Coast produced The hydrographic

The creation of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a 9- Waterway, Intracoastal of the Gulf The creation

The second stage of dr

eneral Survey Act of 1824 and the Riv Act eneral Survey

est Florida. The U.S. Army Corps of E est Florida.

ampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor, began in 1895 and was to Charlotte Harbor, ampa Bay

yons Bay (Map 2). The major impediment to naviga- 2). (Map yons Bay

and Geodetic Survey in 1883 provide an invaluable in 1883 provide Survey and Geodetic baseline of information on water w signed responsibility for sur signed responsibility ways judged to hav G Act of 1878. In 1889 the Corps under series of detailed field studies to determine the engineering feasibility and economic justification for water ments. Expenditures of funds for these impr ments. Expenditures based on safety of v

foot-deep by 100-foot-wide channel str foot-deep by T completed in 1967. Ov widen, shorten and deepen the channel was under a sporadic manner. The chronology of events is summa- The chronology of events a sporadic manner. rized in Table 1 and illustrated in M Table rized in the initial dredging was to provide a 5-foot-deep b was to provide the initial dredging foot-wide channel betw were made at “The Bulkhead” at Lower Tampa Bay and at Bay Tampa at Lower made at “Thewere Bulkhead” Longbar in 1895 (the latter segment was r to conform to the pr

deep by 75-foot-wide channel fr began in 1896 and took mor The 14 dredged “cuts,” where the existing water depths where “cuts,” The 14 dredged were less than the project depth were, from north to south, depth were, less than the project were Clam Bar, The Mangroves, Stickneys, White Beach, Oys- White Beach, Stickneys, The Mangroves, Clam Bar, ter Bars 1 and 2, North Creek, Blackburn, South Creek, South Blackburn, Creek, 1 and 2, North ter Bars Bell Point, South Flats, North Lyons, South Lyons and Lyons South Lyons, North Flats, South Bell Point, L tion was a one-thir Phillippi Creek.

North Creek

Oyster Bar

enice

White Beach

V

aterway

Stickneys

ar-

The Mangroves

Phillippi Creek

Clam Bar

Sarasota

Hudson Bayou

Bayou

Hog Creek

Whitaker

equested assis-

ket.

essels unable to

ere established, ere

ulf of Mexico. Such ulf of Mexico.

Creek

Bowlees

e-development period in e-development

oute in sheltered waters that oute in sheltered

and fish — to mar

een Tampa Bay and Charlotte H Bay Tampa een

rus, vegetables, livestock, lumber livestock, rus, vegetables,

move local products — such as cit- local products move

improve the waterways to in order improve

(5 x 100)

tance from the federal government to tance from the federal government

ity. Local communities r ity.

Longbar Cut

Original 1890 dredged channel

The region’s settlers recognized the advantages afforded the advantages settlers recognized The region’s

1890

Dredging History of the Gulf Intracoastal W

by an inland navigation r could provide safe passage to light-draft v could provide withstand the battering of the open G an inside passage betw bor did not exist during the pr the late 1800s. As coastal settlements w the transport of goods and services became a high prior-

(5 x 100)

The Bulkhead

1919

Channel

Relocated

Lower Tampa Bay Tampa Lower Grove City Grove

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Note: (9 x 100) = Channel dredged to 9-foot depth and 100-foot width depth and 100-foot (9 x 100) = Channel dredged to 9-foot Note:

5

6 7 7

9 9

5 8

9 0

9

9 0 1

1 3

4 4

5 6

8

8 9 9

9 9

9 9

9 9

1962

1964

1

1 1 1

1 1

1 1

1 1

1967 ee

een

14

ease in

ought in

The auxiliary

egularly, prob- egularly,

ere underwayere from

nglewood and Grove City nglewood and Grove

y permitted an incr

egular intervals and two regu-

ements in Big Sarasota Bay be- Bay Sarasota ements in Big

ov

eight and passengers.

ee sailings per week between Sarasota ee sailings per week

elegated to weekly sloop sailings that br elegated to weekly

r

nitial channel impr

rial photo of Intracoastal Waterway. Sister Keys, Sarasota. Sister Waterway. rial photo of Intracoastal

I

re

ampa and Osprey, and a gasoline launch made thr ampa and Osprey,

arasota to Tampa. By the closing years of World War I, War World of the closing years By Tampa. arasota to

arasota and Venice; several boats operated r several Venice; arasota and

Ae

fore the turn of the centur fore steamer traffic to thr and Tampa. Small sailboats acted as feeders for the steamer Small Tampa. and line between Sarasota, Osprey, Venice and intermediate Venice Osprey, Sarasota, line between points. In the early 1900s, E points. In we supplies. By 1910, daily sailings w supplies. By S channel improvements had been completed betw channel improvements S ably 100 launches ran at irr lar boat lines carried fr sloop “Phantom” made a regular weekly trip between weekly made a regular sloop “Phantom” T trips weekly between Sarasota and Osprey with interme- and Osprey Sarasota trips weekly between diate stops.

wer

The

y 100-

ers. Her

The ship’s

wboats.

foot-wide chan-

y upon the bay’s

ely as an experi-

o

75-

essel for the varied

y

ew which operated the

edging the southern in-

etched from lower Tampa lower etched from

ed, she was suited to her task.

r

we

just before World War I, a 5-foot-deep b War World just before

All dredging was done by the U.S. steam snagboat and was done by All dredging

By

ay to Sarasota, and a 3-foot-deep b ay to Sarasota,

dredge “Suwanee,” a shallow-draft, square-bowed scow square-bowed a shallow-draft, “Suwanee,” dredge 100 feet long, with a 24-foot beam and four-foot draft. Although under-po “Suwanee” was put together inexpensiv “Suwanee” ment in creating a general-purpose v ment in creating minor works performedminor works on bays and smaller riv suction dredges discharged the raised slurr suction dredges shore through pipes swung perpendicular to her sides, shore while the “Suwanee’s” derrick provided the lifting po derrick provided while the “Suwanee’s” to raise rocks and snags from the bay bottom. and snags from to raise rocks complement included a 10-man cr snagboat, a launch, float boat and two r

foot-wide maintained channel str B nel existed from Sarasota to Venice. The Corps of Engi- Venice. to Sarasota nel existed from neers surveyed Lemon Bay in 1899 but determined insuffi- neers surveyed Lemon Bay cient economic justification for dr land waterway sector to Gasparilla Sound.

species of trees.

maintenance of

Continued spoil

extends shoreline-

Construction and

natural wetlands.

local currents and local currents

etland loses. Spoils

placed in wetlands

change salinity and

canals and channels

w

flushing in small bays.

Channels can reverse

permanently displace

disposal prolongs and disposal prolongs

also promote invasive also promote Aboard ship, the boatswain (aka “bosun”) is responsible for the hull, rigging and anchors. When he blows his whistle, sailors jump to be aware of possible danger! 15

manent

cannot inhabit.

etland loss. Construction

w

and commercial uses; these and commercial

Dredging and filling along Dredging

with ”muck” that animals with ”muck”

canals in the area are filled are canals in the area

promotes turbidity, and deep turbidity, promotes

shorelines creates uplands and creates shorelines

fingerfill canals for residential

activities also cause per

arbor

egional

ay and Little

ed, permitting safe

way improvements,

The

ements to

ov

edge worked

inellas dropped

made during the period

Except for stabilizing the Except

A second dredging period, begun A second dredging

A West Coast Inland Navigation Dis- Navigation Coast Inland West A

After 75 years of sporadic water

re

aterway as it presently exists. Two aterway exists. as it presently

istrict’s mandate over the years has the years mandate over istrict’s

enice in 1965; the other dr

inellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Char- Sarasota, inellas, Manatee,

ently. One dredge began at “The One dredge Bulk- ently.

inlet at Venice, very few addi- Venice, inlet at tional waterway improvements we between the World Wars. The Wars. World the between Board of Engineers for Rivers of Engineers Board and Harbors did recommend a and Harbors did recommend 9-foot-deep by 100-foot-wide im- 9-foot-deep by proved Intracoastal Waterway for Waterway Intracoastal proved the Florida west coast in 1939, but the Florida funds were not authorized until not authorized funds were 1945.

in 1962, created the Gulf Intracoastal the Gulf in 1962, created W dredges and crews operated concur- and crews dredges r head” at South Tampa Bay and worked Bay Tampa at South head” southward to complete impr southward V northward from Gasparilla Sound Gasparilla from northward through Lemon Bay, reaching Red Lake Red reaching through Lemon Bay, by 1965. The five-mile connector channel by 1965. linking Red Lake and Venice was completed Venice Lake and linking Red in 1967.

trict (WCIND) was created in 1947 by was created trict (WCIND) the Florida Legislature as a special tax- Legislature the Florida ing authority to maintain the water- way right of way. The WCIND origi- WCIND The way right of way. nally encompassed the counties of P lotte and Lee, but P out of the District in the 1970s. out of the District D been broadened to include other wa- terway management functions, such as deal- ing with anchorages, boat traffic, inlets and beaches.

an inland passage was finally achiev navigation between Tampa Bay and Charlotte H Bay Tampa navigation between through the sheltered waters of Lemon B through the sheltered and Big Sarasota Bays. Though the original concept was Bays. Sarasota and Big to create a commercial water thoroughfare for passengers, water thoroughfare a commercial to create goods and services, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in this Waterway goods and services, Intracoastal the Gulf region of southwest Florida has helped stimulate a r Florida region of southwest transportation infrastructure investment. transportation infrastructure een

16

ds, pro-

ayne and John

arasota’s growing arasota’s

, during the land boom of

The Bulkhead

ed the boating public for decades.

1990s

uction and maintenance yar

v

d

n

la

Is o

ric

e P Sola Bay

Tidy Island i

A second phase of activity

w Pass dredged, creating City Island in the process; City Island dredged, creating w Pass

in

y

Keys Palma

Key

ig Sarasota Pass and New Pass. Payne had the channel at Payne Pass. and New Pass ig Sarasota a z Sisters im

B

School

the 1920s, was associated with Calvin P Ringling, who transformed the barrier islands betw B Ne the deep-water harbor on the mainland (due east of the pass) was created to accommodate S pass) was created marine industry. Known as Payne’s Terminal, this facility Terminal, Known as Payne’s marine industry. has housed boat constr vided fuel sales and ser

B rte o C

Key

Jewfish Anna Maria Island

arasota, on Longboat Key

Key

Leffis

ass

P

way channel was im-

Longboat

Longbeach

e local land-development interests e local land-development

edge-and-fill work occurred in the occurred edge-and-fill work

d

n

la

Is

Pre-Development o

As the main intracoastal water ric e hillippi Creek, from Post Office Point to Hudson Bayou, to Hudson Office Point Post from hillippi Creek, P

proved to connect lower Tampa Bay and Sarasota, little and Sarasota, Bay Tampa to connect lower proved time was wasted befor learned that dredging could create valuable waterfront valuable could create learned that dredging home sites. Earliest dr pre-World War I years on the mainland in S War pre-World P Cedar Point, Stephens Point and on north Sarasota (Si- and on north Sarasota Point Stephens Cedar Point, esta) Key at Bayou Louise and Bayou Hansen (Map 3). (Map Hansen Louise and Bayou esta) Key at Bayou

Dredging of Access Channels and Residential Canal Development

Palm Key Palma Sola Bay

Otter

Island Cortez

Key

aria Island Jewfish Anna M

Long Key

t

a

o

t

b

le

Key

g

Leffis

In

n

o

Beach

L

Longboat 17

inal

yne

oint

rm

P

Pa

Stephens

Te

Creek

oint

Bayou

Bowlees

P

Whitaker

Sarasota

Golden Gate

Bayou

Hudson

Creek

Phillippi

Miles

oint

P

City

Fishery

Island

Key

Bird

Sarasota Bay Sarasota

Bayou

023

Hansen

Coon Key

ey ood o K

oint id

arbor L Siesta Key

P H Quick uttonw

Bayou

11

Louise B ass

ass

Big

New

P

P

Sarasota

Key

St. Armands St.

Land Intertidal 0 to 3 feet >3 to 6 feet >6 feet

Map 3.

Point

Bayou

Snell's

Stephens

Creek

Bayou

Bowlees

Hudsons's

Cedar Point

Sarasota

Point

Contemporary (1990) Periods

Post Office

(Map 3 continued on pages 18 and 19)

Creek

aterway Conditions for the Pre-Development (1890) and

Phillippe

Shoal

W

ws the spelling

Minnie's Ford

Sarasota Bay

Bird

Island

arasota Bay system. arasota Bay

Bay

Little

Sarasota

r

d

o

o Cerol Isles

o

rb

w a

n H tto Point

Quick Sarasota Key

u Point B

Sarasota Long Key The

New

Pass

Pass

Point

Mangroves

Mangrove

Big Sarasota

of the historic names of the S

ote: map sho The Pre-Development

N 18

North

Creek

South

Creek

Shakett Creek Shakett

Curry Creek

1990s

Alligator Creek

Bay

Dona

Bird

Keys

Bay

ass

Roberts

P

(Closed)

Midnight

Key

Red

Lake

ons

Casey's

Bay

Ly

t

enice

Inlet

North

Creek

and

V

Poin

Horse

Chaise

South

Creek

Salt Creek

Pre-Development

Bay

Little

Sarasota

Alligator Creek

Bay

Dona

Bay

Roberts

Pass

Key

Bird Island

Lake

Casey's

Buzzard

yons

Bay

L

Pass

and

Point

Casey's

Horse

Chaise 19

Land Intertidal 0 to 3 feet >3 to 6 feet >6 feet

Miles

023

Buck Creek Buck

11

Rock Creek Rock

ed Creek

Oyster Creek

Gottfried Creek

rk

Englewood

Fo

The Cutoff

Map 3.

Lemon Bay and Contemporary (1990) Periods

Knight Island anasota Key anasota M

aterway Conditions for the

ass

P

Stump

W

(Map 3 continued from pages 16 and 17)

Pre-Development (1890)

Buck Creek

Crooked Creek

Oyster Creek

Grove City

Rocky Creek

Forked Creek

Englewood

Lemon Bay

Palm Ridge

Pass

Bocilla

Pass

Stump

Kettle

Point

Harbor

Rocky edge

20

arasota Bay

redged potholes and

eal estate crash of 1929,

KEY S

t of the proposed Ringling Isles t of the proposed

en today. COON

AND

KEY

ARM

ST.

ER

KEY OTT

Ringling’s dream failed in the r dream Ringling’s

t. Armands, Otter and Coon Keys have left an indelible have and Coon Keys t. Armands, Otter

nels and filled land as par development (Map 4). For a time, they operated a dr 4). For development (Map from Otter Key; the wrecked remains of the vessel’s boil- of the vessel’s remains Key; the wrecked from Otter ers are a popular fish hav ers are

but the boat channels adjoining the filled land on Lido, S imprint of land and water changes. D back-and-fill scars can be detected on the S bottom to this day.

e

ird

uring LIDO KEY LIDO

Map 4.

oup of small islets

way from the main- way from

way was extended to B

Ringling Isles Development Plan

erted into a continu- Lido Key

tner Owen Burns dredged chan- dredged Burns tner Owen

esulting from dredge-and-fill ac- dredge-and-fill esulting from

Lido Key and St. Armands Key illustrate some of the Armands Key and St. Lido Key

most dramatic changes r tivities in the Sarasota area. Those keys, as such, did not area. tivities in the Sarasota exist 100 years ago; instead, a loose gr called the Cerol Isles were west of the mainland. D west were Isles called the Cerol the 1920s, Ringling conv ous island, and in 1925 he built a cause land to serve it. A feeder cause Key, and the first ambitious island home was built ther Key, in 1914. Ringling and par

e

the increasing

preserving the preserving

importance of

e of the issue is

protecting and protecting

A conflict exists

habitat. On one

the region, which the region,

are threatened by threatened are

sid

population in the

demand for more

this increased use. this increased

people can use the

arassota Bay area, arassota Bay

and the increasing

the other side is the

bay and beach. On

natural resources of natural resources

S

between access and between

access points so mor

The telescope, an instrument used for observation of distant objects. orld

21

ey. By ey.

W

rand Ca-

e miles of

ell. In the ell. In

ey, most of ey,

unty in 1974

ey. In 1971, In ey.

e, phase of resi-

ird Key was trans- Key ird

esidential canals and

uction in the Grove City uction in the Grove

ater Act, which effectively ater Act,

edging on Curry Creek by Creek edging on Curry

r

W

outh Lido, and created a public outh Lido, and created

e been completed.

elopment prompted legislation elopment prompted

way system on Siesta Key, was Key, way system on Siesta

y the Arvida Corporation, which

t failed and Sarasota Co t failed and Sarasota

front community with fiv front

0s, public concern about this form of

Siesta Key 1995

oposed an exclusive development on Otter Key on Otter development oposed an exclusive

the early 197

The third, and by far the most extensiv and by The third,

A major residential waterfront development of the waterfront A major residential

By

ar II, accelerating in the 1950s and 1960s. G

dential canal development, began in 1945 after dential canal development, W nal, a 10-mile-long water created early in this period. D created the U.S. 41 bridge began in the 1940s as w early and mid-1950s canal constr area was underway, and north was being Longboat Key was underway, area dredged. Bimini Bay on north Anna Maria Island was Island on north Anna Maria Bay Bimini dredged. deepened in the early 1960s, and the canal community of Key Royale transformed the former School K Royale of Key 1969, work on the South Creek and Grand Canal (Siesta and Grand Creek 1969, work on the South Key) systems appears to hav

1960s was financed b purchased the southern half of Longboat K purchased Lido and all of Bird, Otter and Coon Keys from the Otter and Coon Keys Lido and all of Bird, Ringling estate for $13.5 million. B formed into a water interconnected canals; eight miles of r interconnected basins were dredged on south Longboat K dredged basins were Arvida pr (Map 5), but that effor (Map purchased the land, including S purchased park there. Otter Key has been left undisturbed. Otter there. park

dredge-and-fill coastal dev dredge-and-fill to control dredging and protect the environment. In 1972, In and protect the environment. dredging to control Congress enacted the Clean Congress put a halt to dredge-and-fill activities and alteration of put a halt to dredge-and-fill bay habitat. However, by that time approximately 26 per- by that time approximately bay habitat. However, cent of mangroves and 92 percent of salt marsh had been and 92 percent cent of mangroves lost in the Sarasota Bay system. Bay lost in the Sarasota

, 1971

Map 5.

Siesta Key 1940

Proposed Development of Otter Key e

pre-

22

e in the

and new

This small

t that uses a da-

e tides are semi- e tides are

esolution of both

een these differ-

eys — was ignored

v

esented.

y to subtract 0.3 feet

e rendered based on e rendered

oximately 0.3 feet along

eys and studies (for contem-

v

Sarasota Bay

er an observed period. Modern

v Longboat Key

veys (for pre-development times) and veys (for pre-development

the Sarasota Bay system. The difference be- The difference system. Bay the Sarasota

in the depth change analysis pr

pre-development and modern sur pre-development

difference — within the one-foot r difference

bathymetry comparable. data directly

from the modern depths to make the old

ap 3 presents land and water conditions befor ap 3 presents

athymetry obtained from pre-development charts is athymetry obtained from pre-development

this coastline. It would be necessar this coastline. It

B

M

tween the two datums is appr tween

elative to a datum of “mean low water” — the average of — the average water” low elative to a datum of “mean

Land and Water Changes Land and Water Along the Waterway

dredging occurred. The year 1890 is used as the “ The year occurred. dredging development” benchmark year; modern times ar benchmark development” 1990s. Shoreline and water depths ar 1990s. Shoreline the earliest coast sur the latest bathymetric sur porary conditions). Comparisons betw ent eras are possible since large-scale, detailed maps and ent eras are charts are available for each. available charts are

r all low tides occurring o all low depths were derived from a nautical char derived depths were tum of “mean lower low water” — the average of the lower — the average water” low lower tum of “mean of two low tides occurring each day wher of two low diurnal, as in in diurnal, as

Analysis:

Sarasota Bay

Part 1

Map 6.

Sound

Anna Maria

aterway Change

W

Cortez

Longboat Pass

eys in midground,

t. Armands and Lido K

S Coon Key (lower right) and Otter Key (lower left). Key (lower right) and Otter (lower Coon Key e

23

e-develop-

ea; the pre-

y distance in-

Bay

Little

y (only today), or

Sarasota

een eras, water depths ar

ea was consistently used as the

Therefore, percentage changes percentage Therefore,

lace names may be pr

Roberts Bay

Sarasota Bay

Intertidal (uncovered at low tide) at low (uncovered Intertidal Zero to 3 feet Zero Greater than 3 feet to 6 feet Greater Greater than 6 feet Greater Little Sarasota B

° ° ° °

or map comparisons betw

F

The category comprises the mapped barrier is- “land”

categorized as:

lands and other islands, but also an arbitrar land for the mainland. ( between eras were calculated based on water ar eras were between development era water ar basis for such analyses.) P ment (no longer used) contemporar common to both periods.

Analysis:

Sarasota

Part 2

Roberts Bay Map 6.

aterway Change

W

Big

Pass

iles

Sarasota Bowlees Creek Bowlees

Sarasota Bay

12 M 12

0

ater to Land

1990s Shoreline

Deepening Water

Land to Water

No Change

Shoaling Water

W

Spoil Boating Region Boundary

1 ed

aria

The

ed as

of

ter

24

ears in

deepening wa-

” may be the re-

Lemon Bay

ways from pre-develop-

epresent either shoaling

eline) may be consider

dredged material is deposited. dredged

tion. Spoil occurs where tion. Spoil

or the natural process of deposi- or the natural process

egories may be products of filling egories may be products

ing water” and “water-to-land” cat- and “water-to-land” ing water”

process of erosion. Similarly, “shoal- Similarly, process of erosion.

The map categories “

sult of either dredging or the natural sult of either dredging

ice

ter” and “land to water ter”

sland and Siesta Key. sland and Siesta

I

This is especially noticeable at Anna M

Ven

the area bounded by the 1990s shoreline. bounded by the area

poil,” which may r

e-development (1890) land to (1990s) wa e-development

area and is shown in white (no color) within and is shown area

Pr

“S

a seaward accretion in the barrier island land accretion a seaward

Deepening water Deepening

No change No Shoaling water Shoaling

Pre-development (1890) water to (1990s) land Pre-development

symbol (1890 shor

° ° ° ° ° ° water or change of water to land

line and the western edge of the map-color

The 1990s shoreline is shown for orientation. is shown The 1990s shoreline

difference between the 1990s Gulf Coast shore- the 1990s Gulf between difference

ap 6 presents a synthesis of the depth changes that ap 6 presents

These maps add geographic detail to trace and inter-

M

Bay

pret the evolution of the water the evolution pret ment to modern times.

have occurred in water areas during the past 100 y in water areas occurred have these categories:

Blackburn

enice

V

Analysis.

Bay

Little

Sarasota

Part 3

Map 6.

enice

Inlet

V

Blackburn Bay aterway Change

South Creek

arasota in 1903.

W

North Creek ay ta B raso Sa Little

ought its main tracks into S

Pass

(Closed)

Midnight

nue out onto a dock.

The fish house Spur was laid out by the United States and West Indies West and States the United was laid out by The fish house Spur Railroad immediately after it br The Spur was put down west on Strawberry Avenue across Gulf Stream across Gulf Avenue on Strawberry west was put down The Spur Ave ea

vi-

ulf

25

th Anna

ass, New

owever, the owever,

ence between

educe the natu-

y longshore drift at y longshore

e drift are most commonly e drift are

ocesses of erosion and depo- ocesses of erosion

een dredge-and-fill and naturally een dredge-and-fill

Englewood

The distinction betw

The naturally occurring pr

yale), Stephens Point and the downtown Sarasota main- Sarasota and the downtown Point yale), Stephens

aria Island by Bimini Bay and School Key (today Key and School Key Bay Bimini by aria Island

ass, Big Sarasota Pass and Stump Pass. Jetties have been Jetties Pass. and Stump Pass Sarasota ass, Big

ntracoastal Waterway.

occurring erosion/deposition in some cases may be ob ous, as in the dredge-and-fill examples of nor ous, as in the dredge-and-fill M Ro land, City Island adjoining New Pass, Bird Key, Grand Key, Bird Pass, adjoining New land, City Island Canal on Siesta Key and the main channel of the G Key Canal on Siesta I

sition associated with longshor found near tidal inlets such as at Longboat P P installed at Venice Inlet in an attempt to r Inlet Venice installed at ral process of shoaling at the inlet mouth. H ral process spoil sites adjoining the inlet and the differ the present shoreline and the historic barrier island ar shoreline the present attest to the deposition of sediments b this Gulf Coast location. this Gulf

Pass

Stump

Analysis:

Part 4

Map 6.

Lemon Bay Manasota Key

k e

aterway Change re

W

C

d

Lemon Bay rke

iles

o F

12 M 12 k

e

e

r

C

r

to

a

llig A

0

ater to Land

1990s Shoreline

Deepening Water

Land to Water

No Change

Shoaling Water

W

Spoil

Boating Region Boundary

1 26

ater

28%

W

ater

Land to

15%

W

Shoaling

ater

ater

6%

17%

W

W

Land to

Shoaling

ater

18%

W

19%

Deepening

ater

6%

No Change

W

Land to

ater

23%

W

Shoaling

20%

ater

Land

ater to

14%

W

W

ater

Deepening

11%

W

Land to

Study Area Study

ater

29%

STUDY AREA STUDY

ater

W

8%

enice

W

Shoaling

57%

V

Deepening

No Change

7%

Land

ater to

W

Lemon Bay

6%

Land

ater to

W

56%

Little Sarasota Bay

44%

No Change

ater

7%

No Change

W

Deepening

9%

Land

ater to

W

ater

9%

ater

W

10%

W

Land to

Land to

ater

ater

22%

17%

W

W

Map 7.

Shoaling

Blackburn Bay Blackburn

Shoaling

ater

20%

W

ater

50%

ater

Land to

15%

19%

W

W

No Change

46%

Deepening

ater

Deepening

11%

W

No Change

Shoaling

Roberts Bay

7%

Land

ater to

5%

Land

ater to

W

ater

W

14%

W

Summary of Depth Changes by Boating Regions

Deepening

41%

ater

2%

No Change

W

Land to

ater

14%

W

Anna Maria

14%

Shoaling

Land

ater to

W

Sarasota Bay

ter Area per Boating Region)

ater

16%

W

Wa

Deepening

(Percentage Basis: Pre-Development Era Pre-Development Basis: (Percentage

62%

6%

Land

ater to

No Change

W 27

eation

ea has

arasota Bay

ay. Table 2 shows Table ay.

enice area.

V

w the least change, largely be-

egions have been through deep- been through egions have

egions follow the same overall egions follow

eas where depths have remained depths have eas where

y deepening, shoaling or the cr

lackburn Bay and Lemon Bay; water-to-land trans- and Lemon Bay; lackburn Bay

ap 7 summarizes relative (percentage) depth changes (percentage) relative ap 7 summarizes

ig Sarasota Bay (from Cortez Bridge on the north Cortez to Bridge (from Bay ig Sarasota

B

M

B

The other boating r

y,

lackburn Bay, Venice and Lemon B Venice lackburn Bay,

ridge on the south) sho

ay and Roberts Bay. Changes spurred by shoaling of by Changes spurred Bay. ay and Roberts

ound, Big Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay, Sarasota ound, Big

iesta Key Bridge to the south) and Little S iesta Key Bridge

from the pre-development 1890s era to the 1990s for the from the pre-development entire region. Boating areas identified are Anna Maria identified are Boating areas region. entire S B the following overall trends. More of the water area (56 of the water area More trends. overall the following percent) has not changed in depth than has changed (44 percent).

S (Stickney Point Bridge at the north to Blackburn Point at the north to Blackburn Bridge Point (Stickney B cause of the large bay ar the same. On the other hand, the most dramatic changes in the Sarasota Bay system have occurred in the Venice in the occurred system have Bay in the Sarasota area (Albee Bridge on the north to Hatchett Creek Bridge Creek on the north to Hatchett (Albee Bridge area to the south). There, 81 percent of the water ar There, to the south). been transformed b of land by fill or natural deposition.

trend. Where changes have occurred, the predominant occurred, changes have Where trend. processes in the boating r ening of water, found in Anna Maria Sound, Big Sarasota Big Sound, found in Anna Maria ening of water, B water have occurred in the Roberts Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, in the Roberts occurred water have Ba

formation has taken place in the

.

0

9

9

%

(

1

s

e

d

g

e

n

n

g

a

a

n

h

a

0

C 5 3 5

4

5 8 5 4

h

9

8

C

1

e

v

n

%

i

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arasota bayfront. October 7, 1926. arasota bayfront. October

a

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* y

)

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City.

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28

t

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us and

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awmills

ve

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ro

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eas, a sig-

S

(

e rich nursery

e than boating

The most dra-

d life. Although

er categories of

esort, while 150

y

v

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e

B

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vered with pine forest, vered

h

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s

ap 8, Table 3). S 3). Table ap 8,

t

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o

r

s

n

u

l

k

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n

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c

imilarly, the considerable imilarly,

arasota and Osprey. As the arasota and Osprey.

s

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g

S

a

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o

a l

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J H R

B B L

ap 8 is the phenomenal urban

ea has not been offset b

k

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w colonies in spoil ar

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eloped at S

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lished, the local economy expanded with citr

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v

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r

r

W

C

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-

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The mainland was largely co

A striking difference is apparent between the is apparent A striking difference

etable production, lumber, naval stores and fisheries naval stores lumber, etable production,

a

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)

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but land along the bayside had been mostly homesteaded in small individual holdings (M were situated on Whitaker Bayou and later at Englewood; Whitaker Bayou situated on were settlements had dev inland waterway was improved and road and rail connec- and road inland waterway was improved tions estab ve products. By 1900, Cortez was a fishing village of 150 products. By people; Sarasota and vicinity had a population of 3,000 people; Sarasota and were becoming a health and tourist r and were people lived at Englewood and another 80 at G

predevelopment waterfront use of 1890 and that of the predevelopment bayside and barrier islands in the 1990s. matic change visible on M development. Table 4 summarizes the major changes in 4 summarizes Table development. mangrove and salt marsh, two land-co mangrove special interest to boaters. The significant reduction in The significant reduction to boaters. special interest their distribution has implications for mor enjoyment, since these ecological niches ar enjoyment, habitats for many species of marine and bir the decrease in mangrove area has been ameliorated b area in mangrove the decrease the appearance of ne nificant net loss still exists. S decline in salt marsh ar creation of new suitable areas, and its relative loss is and its relative of new suitable areas, creation considerably greater.

w

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uch of the

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eeted late-19th-centur

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eline

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B

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R D B W G W

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est Florida and what is today the est Florida

a

e

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f

ansen’s Bayou. ansen’s

r

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ea’s finest. ea’s

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A sparsely settled coastline gr

L

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A

arasota Bay system. Windswept dunes and beach v Windswept system. arasota Bay

’

s

’

’

c

K

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p

s

’

mariners nearing southw S etation such as sea oats and seagrapes co shores of the barrier islands off the coast. M shores barrier islands’ eastern shore was fringed with mangr eastern shore barrier islands’ with shrub and brush land vegetation covering the is- with shrub and brush land vegetation covering lands’ interior. lands’

e

y

a

Land Use and Land Cover Changes Along the Shor

e

o

o

e

t

l

r

n

e

i

l

h

v

r

a

L

o

i

s

h

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S W B C B W O

z

e

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Gs

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M

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Iw

The Bay Island Hotel, built in 1912 adjacent to H Hotel, Island The Bay The Bay Island Hotel was one of the ar Hotel Island The Bay e

e-

e-

e-

ed-

.

29

ere re- ere

ehabili-

onment.

ere able to ere

er the spoil

wever, Jew- wever,

v

olmes Beach

The replace-

tially demol-

ent bridge in

ucture provided ucture

ere more-or-less ere

ntracoastal Water-

eastern shore. The eastern shore.

eplacing the current

een 1932 and 1958,

tez and Anna Maria

’s

arch 1932 storm. The arch 1932 storm.

ears ago. These islands ears ago.

, the current Bradenton , the current

oposed at Manatee Av- oposed at Manatee

e been longer and wider

om the DOT workplan. om the DOT

enovated by the Florida De- the Florida by enovated

lorida Department of Trans- of lorida Department

T in court and through an ad-

aria Island objected to the larger aria Island

tter Island portion, while exotic tter Island

e had a road bed about 78 feet e had a road

tation in 2003-04.

eplace the bridge with a high, fix

nt of Transpor

1988, the Florida Department of Transportation Department of 1988, the Florida

joined as a result of naturally occurring longshor joined as a result

esidents of Anna M

5. Manatee Avenue Bridge. The bridge, completed in Bridge. Avenue 5. Manatee

tme

R

DOT now plans to rehabilitate the curr plans to rehabilitate now DOT

6. Cortez Bridge. The first Cortez Bridge was a The first Cortez Bridge 6. Cortez Bridge.

In

7. Longboat Pass Bridge, first built in 1927, washed Bridge, 7. Longboat Pass

8. Jewfish Key today is one bay island situated off the 8. Jewfish

9. Sister Keys, formerly Otter Island, has been built- formerly Otter Island, Keys, 9. Sister

re

wned by the Town of Longboat Key. Town the wned by

sland at Bradenton Beach. In 1957, the bridge was r In Beach. sland at Bradenton

1957, was originally a toll bridge linking H to Perico Island and the mainland. After tolls w Island to Perico moved in the late 1960s, the bascule str moved free access to the island. F free portation officials began discussing r bridge in 1988. In 1992, after receiving approval by re- by approval 1992, after receiving bridge in 1988. In gional transportation planners, plans w finalized for a new, $13.8-million bridge. finalized for a new, ment bridge would hav above the water and would hav above than the current, with a fixed span in lieu of a draw with a fixed than the current,

bridge’s height, ambience and impact on the envir bridge’s They challenged the DO ministrative hearing process and, in 1998, w ministrative have the big bridge deleted fr have

1999.

wooden-decked structure, built in 1921, that was the lone wooden-decked structure, link between the mainland at Cor link between I placed by a concrete, bascule structure with tolls collected bascule structure placed by a concrete, at its western end. The old bridge was par end. at its western ished and used as a fishing pier; due to safety concerns, however, it was eventually demolished in 1978 and r it was eventually however, placed with a 660-foot fishing pier Beach City Pier.

announced plans to r span bridge similar to the one pr enue. Residents of Cortez and Bradenton Beach opposed of Cortez and Bradenton enue. Residents the structure. DOT officials changed plans and r the structure. DOT tated the current bridge in 1996. tated the current

away in a surge tide during the M pass had no bridge connection betw when the present structure was completed. The current was completed. structure when the present bridge is scheduled to be r par

area of Longboat Key called Longbeach; ho of Longboat Key area fish comprised two islands 100 y we deposition as well as dredging in the 1920s, which r as dredging deposition as well aligned the improved channel of the I aligned the improved way to a position along the island island is now home to a dozen single-family homes. island is now

up along its western edge with “spoil” material dredged edge with “spoil” up along its western from the Intracoastal Waterway. Mangrove habitat is Mangrove Waterway. the Intracoastal from found on the natural O species such as Australian pine (casurina) co species such as Australian upland site. Sister Keys is currently a wildlife preserve is currently Keys upland site. Sister o

ts

e re-

th by

illage.

ement

oted to

V

ov

lorida’s Gulf lorida’s

vided shallow

o

oach from south

edged and filled

estern beaches have

es

aterfront

enourishment effor

ee municipalities: Anna

thern part of the key in the

th, which was opened in the

tez was founded in the late 1880s

thern Sarasota Bay was once one of Bay thern Sarasota

t in 1993, while the eastern shor

cial fishing locations on F

ea known today as Longbeach ea known

These features, identified on Map 8, are described be- 8, are identified on Map These features,

1. Anna Maria Island is bounded on the nor Island 1. Anna Maria

2. Longboat Key is a barrier island bounded on the 2. Longboat Key

3. The village of Cor 3.

4. Palma Sola Pass was the first channel impr Pass Sola 4. Palma

aria City, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Most and Bradenton Beach Holmes aria City,

exico. The island was homesteaded in the late 1880s exico.

varese of Tampa, in 1895 provided the first scheduled in 1895 provided Tampa, of varese

ampa Bay, on the east by Anna Maria Sound, on the Sound, on the east by Anna Maria ampa Bay,

ampa Bay. The deepening of this pass pr ampa Bay.

arasota. The steamer “Mistletoe,” owned by John owned The steamer “Mistletoe,” arasota.

enourishment effor

Prominent Featur of the Boating W

low from north from to south. low

T south by Longboat Pass and on the west by the Gulf of the Gulf and on the west by Longboat Pass south by M and is today comprised of thr M of the western shore was the focus of a beach shore of the western r ceived major dredge-and-fill activities and canalization in ceived major dredge-and-fill the 1950s and 1960s.

north by Longboat Pass, on the east by Sarasota Bay, on Bay, Sarasota on the east by Longboat Pass, north by the south by New Pass and on the west by the Gulf. Home- by the Gulf. and on the west Pass New the south by steading took place in the nor late 1890s at an ar The eastern shore has been heavily dr The eastern shore through creation of canals, while the w creation through been the recipient of two beach r been the recipient since 1991.

by a group of families from North Carolina. The village Carolina. North of families from by a group on the banks of nor the busiest commer Coast. For more about Cortez, see the section dev more Coast. For the village elsewhere in this publication. the village elsewhere

made by the federal government to the intracoastal wa- made by the federal government terway in 1895. “The a name originally ap- Bulkhead,” plied to this improvement, also refers to another dredged also refers plied to this improvement, cut a half-mile to the nor 1920s to shorten and straighten the appr T draft commercial vessels with access from Tampa to Tampa with access from vessels draft commercial S Sa transportation area. Bay service for the Sarasota

John Savarese, John

by

ed

wn

The steamer “Mistletoe, ” The steamer “Mistletoe, o was the first scheduled transportation to serve the Sarasota Bay area, Bay the Sarasota beginning in 1895. ough

30

om New

en-foot-deep

y pioneer William y pioneer

eally expand. In a special eally expand. In

r

Land Use/Land Cover

edged in the 1920s fr

tlands

1990s

No Pre-Development Era No Pre-Development LULC Data (Approx. Boundary) LULC Data (Approx.

Major Road

Urban & Built–Up* Agriculture Shrub, Brushland, Rangeland Brushland, Shrub, Upland Forest Wate We Mangrove Barren Land

*Towns and Homesteads in *Towns Pre-Development Era Pre-Development

emoved during the dredging created during the dredging emoved

Land Use/Land Cover

4

5

10. New Pass is believed to have been created by the by been created is believed to have Pass 10. New

The following excerpts from historical documents tell from excerpts The following

“Sarasotans were not satisfied with a sev were “Sarasotans

w Pass to Payne Terminal, now Centennial Park, at Centennial Park, now Terminal, to Payne w Pass

ass to Payne Terminal. Although the channel quickly Terminal. ass to Payne

hurricane of 1848 and named b Whitaker. A channel was dr Whitaker. P filled in, the spoil r City Island.

the story of the dredging of New Pass. the story of New of the dredging

channel into New Pass and decided a deep-water chan- Pass channel into New nel was needed for the city to r election Jan. 12, 1926, Sarasotans agreed to sell the mu- agreed 12, 1926, Sarasotans election Jan. nicipal power plant to Florida Power & Light for $1 mil- Power plant to Florida nicipal power lion. The proceeds went to R.A. Perry of United Dredg- of United to R.A. Perry went The proceeds lion. ing Co. of Tampa, to dredge a 10-foot channel thr to dredge Tampa, of ing Co. Ne 10th Street.”

3

9

1

6

8

2

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8

s

s

1

7

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Use/Land Cover

t

ABLE 4.

g

,

n

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a

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e

n

a

v

m

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u

Pre-Development Era Land

p

M

S

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.

.

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d

q

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2

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r

Cortez

r

Gulfview

.

.

o

P*

d

4.

1.

l

n

F

a

angrove and Saltwater Marsh Area Bordering the Bordering Area Marsh and Saltwater angrove

t Anna Maria Island

t

s

s

h

e

M

e

arasota Bay System: Pre-Development Era and 1990s Era Pre-Development System: arasota Bay

a

s

v

r

w

o

S

:

o

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Ilexhurst

S

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t

.

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*

M. S

S.

*

*

ass

P

Longboat 31

18

19

Sarasota

12

21

23

26

14

24

20

25

27

11

28

17

16

13

15

22

ass

Big

10

P Siesta Key

Sarasota

Part 1

MAP 8.

Grant

Greer

Bidwell

Willard

Sawmill

E.W. Blair E.W.

Riggen

Bass

ost Office

Sarasota

Sarasota

Heiser

P

Abbey

Crawley

Dr. Dunham Dr.

Madsey

Land Use and Land Cover Changes:

ashington

Miles

W

oint

Spang

Whitaker

P

Cedar

Butler

Albee

Hanson

Jeffcott

023

Robinson

Drumright

Costello

Bickford

Olive's Wharf Olive's

Bishop's Wharf

allace Lodge

11

r W

d Wharf Corey's

Bean's Wharf White's Wharf o o

o

rb

w a

n

H The tto

Shore Acres u B Mangroves ,

d

ew

The

uled

edged

32

: “The

y-eyed

uction.

e as fate

eported:

r

t, and no

w the coast

’ reasoning

erglades,’ of

v

ed the boating

raxton of Jack-

v

edging was prac-

y currents, would y currents,

ass and bulkheads

P

ere determined that ere

arasota’s marine in- arasota’s

tory of Sarasota

e ‘city island’ was cre- island’ e ‘city

S

ere built into the Gulf ere

ew

comers, who then r

ears of debate on its sit-

Sarasota Times Sarasota

w

, fuel sales and facilities for

eight ever came through it. came through eight ever

ed at Payne Terminal. But Terminal. ed at Payne

om the book

The area at 10th Street and U.S. 41 at 10th Street The area

As the old

huge dredge, with a capacity of 1,000 huge dredge,

Fr

exico. The city then will be in a posi- exico.

essels to all parts of the world.”

“A

M tion to bid for some of the big steam- ship business of companies operating

cubic yards an hour, is digging a chan- an hour, cubic yards

ew Pass entrance and channel eastwar ew Pass

nel through New Pass. Within eight Within Pass. nel through New

months Sarasota will have one of the fin- will have months Sarasota

v

est deep-water ports on the Gulf of est deep-water ports on the Gulf

harbor expert who drafted plans for the

The logic of the old-timers

port, and advocated the New Pass en- Pass port, and advocated the New

trance, was Col. J.M. B

sonville. Old-timers who kne sonville. Old-timers

and were familiar with Gulf currents familiar with Gulf and were

“

warned Braxton time and again that the warned Braxton

N

to the mainland were impractical — that to the mainland were

ay; a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary station on Auxiliary ay; a U.S. Coast Guard

shifting sands, carried b

constructed. On Friday, March 18, 1927, March constructed. On Friday,

fill up the pass and harbor as sur

unless long jetties w

and Bay. Braxton brushed their arguments Braxton and Bay.

“By autumn of 1926, the dr “By

aside — who were they to argue with him, a aside — who were

former government engineer? former government

didn’t change the minds of the starr didn’t

re

optimists, mostly ne

ut railroads, trucks and the silted channel ut railroads,

the city. They envisioned Sarasota as another They envisioned Sarasota the city.

Los Angeles — and they w

a big league harbor must be built, willy-nilly

currents or no currents. currents

B

tically completed, a 58-acr

ated at the east end of N

we

an ‘ocean-going’ ship crept cautiously through ship crept an ‘ocean-going’

11. New Pass Bridge was first built in 1927 and Bridge Pass 11. New

the pass and anchor

what a ship! It was only 100 feet long and dr what a ship! It

only six feet of water: the ‘City of E

the Collier Line.”

doomed the $1-million deep-water por

12. Payne Terminal was created by Calvin Payne by was created Terminal 12. Payne

more than 50 tons of fr more

And yes, the pass did eventually fill in with sand. And yes, the pass did eventually

eplaced in the 1980s after y

linked Lido Shores to Longboat Key. The bridge was to Longboat Key. linked Lido Shores

r

ing and height. The current bridge is a bascule draw- The current ing and height.

bridge design with a center clearance of 23 feet.

in the 1920s to accommodate S

dustry. A deep-water harbor dustry.

boat construction and maintenance ser

ig Sarasota B ig Sarasota

public for decades.

was used as a spoil site in the 1960s, when silt dr

from Whitaker Bayou was placed there. The area was The area was placed there. Whitaker Bayou from

turned into a public boat ramp in the mid-1980.

current Centennial Park provides deepwater passage into deepwater provides Centennial Park current

B

the south bank of the boat basin offers boating instr

1990s

29

Land Use/Land Cover

31

35

30

ass

34a

34b

P

(Closed)

Midnight

32

enice

33

V

Land Use/

ost

P

Office

rson

Osprey

North

Creek

Jr.

Marsh

Brown

Pete

South

Creek

Webb

Clower

Camp

Webb,

Land Cover

Huckleberry

Bacon

Jesse Knight

Blackburn

Blackburn, Jr. Blackburn,

ons

oberts Bay

Ly

ass R

Little

P

Sarasota

Pre-Development Era

Roberts

Higel

ass

P

Casey's e-

ere

33

om fill

ocess being

da,’ reason-

e operated a

A

es bordered by es bordered

tered the launch tered

thward in 1926 thward

y Otto Schmidt y Otto

ertised locally to

onment of excep-

ark users may enjoy

vida Corporation (r

ohn Ringling dredged

ol Isles, as discussed ol Isles,

eated South Lido Park. eated South

The park has a number The park

k are to provide, protect to provide, k are

, environmentally sensitive

es passive recreational needs es passive recreational

ey.

v

d 1970s). In 1974, Sarasota d 1970s). In

ulf in the launch ‘

way he built from the mainland way he built from

tto Smith in command, and w tto Smith

w becoming extremely limited else- w becoming extremely

uction of a hotel, the Ritz-Carlton,

ter business and adv

ound the former Cer

Land Use/Land Cover

etlands

ater

No Pre-Development Era No Pre-Development LULC Data (Approx. Boundary) LULC Data (Approx.

Miles

Major Road

W

Urban & Built–Up* Agriculture Shrub, Brushland, Rangeland Brushland, Shrub, Upland Forest W

Mangrove Barren Land

*Towns and Homesteads in *Towns Pre-Development Era Pre-Development

13. Lido Key was created in the 1920s fr was created 13. Lido Key

14. Bird Key originally was a small island on which 14. Bird

15. South Lido was homesteaded b 15. South

16. South Lido Park contains 100 acr Lido Park 16. South

da,’ with Captain O

oldan (Otto Smith) in the early 1900s. H Smith) oldan (Otto

dredged ar dredged elsewhere in this chapter. Several homes were built homes were Several in this chapter. elsewhere on St. Armands, a bathing pavilion was built on Lido on St. in 1940 and constr was begun on Longboat K

the first home was built in 1914. J and filled an extension of the island nor to connect to the cause to Lido Key. The present Bird Key development was Bird The present to Lido Key. dredged to its present size in 1959. size to its present dredged

Z motor-launch char “… take a trip to the G able rates for parties to any part of the bay.” Newspaper able rates for parties to any part of the bay.” accounts confirm that passengers “… char ‘A soon speeding down Sarasota Bay.” This prime location Bay.” Sarasota soon speeding down changed ownership several times, in the pr several changed ownership held by the Ringling family and Ar sponsible for developments on Bird Key and Longboat Key on Bird sponsible for developments Key during the 1960s an County purchased the land and cr

the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay and Big Sarasota Pass. Sarasota and Big Bay Sarasota of Mexico, the Gulf Goals established for this par and maintain a high-quality area and open space that ser area of county residents and visitors. of county residents of pristine habitats, no where in the Sarasota area. Brushy Bayou, in the center Bayou, Brushy area. in the Sarasota where of the park, is a unique estuarine envir tional diversity; the presence of certain species of marine the presence tional diversity; life reflects its healthy ecosystem. P life reflects bathing in the Gulf and Big Pass, picnicking in the Pass, and Big bathing in the Gulf wooded areas and hiking, bird watching and canoeing in and hiking, bird wooded areas the Brushy Bayou area. Bayou the Brushy

023

11

Part 2

MAP 8.

Land Use and Land Cover Changes: ay

ohn

tner

ts and

tanley

34

ucted to

ey to the

ncle Ben

arasota area.

eminole In-

wis Roberts,

esidence from

wing travel be- wing travel

emaining swing

ont of Siesta Key. ont of Siesta

esent pair of two-lane

iesta, or Sarasota Key iesta, or Sarasota

erted to a private boat- erted to a private

first post office.

’s

The first Stickney Point The first Stickney

om Siesta Key by a man- Key by om Siesta

ea’s finest. ea’s

eplaced the original “B

esidents of Siesta Key. He Key. esidents of Siesta

ont acreage in this area. The in this area. ont acreage

e in bringing the S

ield Museum of Natural History of Natural ield Museum

those on foot it was a blessing, but

ulf. After several attempts to open a After several ulf.

To

23. The current Siesta Key Bridge replaced one built replaced Bridge Key Siesta The current 23.

24. Bay Island is separated fr Island 24. Bay

25. Roberts Bay is named for Captain Le Bay 25. Roberts

26. The Field Club was originally the estate of S The Field 26.

27. “The Mangroves” and “The Narrows” are two are and “The Narrows” 27. “The Mangroves”

28. Stickney Point Bridge was named for U Bridge Point 28. Stickney

29. The name “Osprey” was chosen by John Webb, an Webb, John was chosen by The name “Osprey” 29.

30. Casey Key was named in honor of Captain J 30. Casey Key

31. Blackburn Point Bridge is named after the Bridge Point 31. Blackburn

32. Albee Road Bridge was named to honor a noted Bridge 32. Albee Road

ridge was installed in 1926; the pr

ridge” built in 1917. The Bay Bridge was the first bridge Bridge The Bay built in 1917. ridge”

lackburn family, this area’s pioneers. John S. and his sons, pioneers. John this area’s lackburn family,

nking the mainland to a barrier island in the S

ield, founder of the F

tickney arrived in Sarasota in 1894 and managed in Sarasota tickney arrived

arasota’s finest hotel, the DeSoto. He later moved to the later moved He finest hotel, the DeSoto. arasota’s

wned considerable bayfr

tickney, an early resident whose home was located south an early resident tickney,

in the 1920s, which in turn r B li

made canal, Hansen Bayou. The Bay Island Hotel, built Hotel, Island The Bay Bayou. made canal, Hansen here in 1912, was one of the ar here

who was among the earliest r built the first hotel on the island and later was a par in Harry Higel’s Siesta development. Siesta in Harry Higel’s

F in Chicago. He used the estate as a winter r He in Chicago. 1927 until 1957, when it was conv ing club. The Field Club today also has tennis cour The Field ing club. a restaurant. to boaters it was a curse, as it was impossible to navigate the bay at low tide, forcing early boaters to take a long the bay at low names given to the part of Sarasota Bay where in pioneer where Bay to the partnames given of Sarasota detour in the open G days it was possible to walk to S channel through “The Narrows,” a navigational passage “Thechannel through Narrows,” from the mainland. became a reality in the early 1900s, allo became a reality tween Roberts Bay and Little Sarasota Bay. and Little Sarasota Bay Roberts tween

S of the current bridge on the bayfr of the current S S key, where his home and grounds became the scene of his home and grounds where key, numerous community picnics. numerous B bridges was opened to the public in 1968.

early settler, for this community early settler,

Casey, a significant figur Casey, dian Wars to a close. Wars dian

B Benjamin Franklin and George Washington Blackburn, Washington and George Benjamin Franklin o bridge, installed in 1926, is the only r bridge on Florida’s west coast. west bridge on Florida’s

surgeon, Dr. Fred Albee, who was responsible for the large- Albee, who was responsible Fred surgeon, Dr. scale development of Nokomis and Venice during the Venice and scale development of Nokomis 1920s. In 1922, a private toll bridge was constr 1920s. In link the Treasure Island subdivision on Casey K Island Treasure link the mainland. The present bridge was built in 1963. The present mainland.

e

oss

opi-

pio-

.

anu-

arina

’s

ears, and

eplaced by

y developer

eplacement

arasota’s City arasota’s

arasota’s Main arasota’s

chased by John chased by

ed-span structure

oint (now Golden oint (now

operty on Longboat,

cellent fishing, a large

essels that docked her

The boat docks at Marina

y a group of Scottish immi-

er the years the name Siesta er the years

way was completed on J

sland, Muscle Island, Little Island, sland, Muscle

t. Amand, who gained title to

e island.

northern tip in 1907 b

ohn Ringling’s island development ohn Ringling’s

’s

The island was pur

The decision on bridge r

ndian mound remnants in the area. ndian mound remnants

was completed in 1965.

lorida Department of Transportation officials pro- Transportation of lorida Department

F

r,

17. St. Armands Key was named for the island 17. St.

18. Indian Beach was platted in 1891 and named for Beach 18. Indian

19. Yellow Bluffs, a prominent yellow limestone bluff a prominent yellow Bluffs, Yellow 19.

20. The Ringling Cause 20.

21. Marina Jack occupies the site of S Jack 21. Marina

22. Siesta Key was known by several names in the by several Key was known 22. Siesta

eet dock, built in 1886 b

amlin Snell settled in 1843, can still be seen today amlin Snell

arry L. Higel. Higel’s Siesta development boasted tr Siesta arry Higel’s L. Higel.

r

ate Point) to Bird Key. Ringling donated the bridge to Key. to Bird ate Point)

ier. The Marina Jack facility, originally called M facility, Jack The Marina ier.

arasota with Bird Key with a high, fix Key arasota with Bird

arasota Key and Sarasota Key. The name “Siesta” was The name “Siesta” Key. arasota Key and Sarasota

ack have expanded several times in the past 30 y ack have expanded several

neer resident, Charles A. S neer resident, the island in 1893. Ringling in the 1920s along with pr Lido and Bird Keys. Lido and Bird

the abundance of I

when Sarasota’s first pioneers, William Whitaker and William first pioneers, when Sarasota’s H

ary 1, 1926, to link J with the mainland. Ringling himself was the first to cr the 8,300-foot span that linked Cedar P G the City of Sarasota in June 1927. The bridge fell into 1927. in June the City of Sarasota disrepair, and the current bridge was built in 1959. and the current disrepair,

posed replacing the four-lane, bascule bridge linking posed replacing S in the early 1990s. was still pending in 1999.

St grants. The steamers and sailing v grants. provided Sarasota’s primary transportation link to the out- Sarasota’s provided side world. The original wooden dock was r side world. one made of concrete in 1912; this became S one made of concrete P Ma J a renovation of the restaurant was completed in 1998. of the restaurant a renovation

1800s, including Clam I S assigned to the island H cal surroundings, bathing beaches, ex cal surroundings, hotel and a post office. Ov was applied to the entir

, 1895.

lden Gate Point, lden Gate

rk

arasota bayfront.

S Go Cedar Point and Sunset Cedar Point Pa et

35

et was not

. The com-

ough promotional ex-

. Some say early settlers . Some

wn site was developed by wn site was developed

ks in the bay in the early

xposition in Chicago

38. Lemon Bay appears on maps as early as 1883, y 38. Lemon Bay

39. Englewood was settled in the 1870s, y

40. Tom Adams Bridge links Englewood with links Englewood Bridge Adams Tom 40.

41. Grove City, established in the 1880s, attracted City, 41. Grove

anasota Key. The current bridge was built in the 1960s. The current anasota Key.

the origin of its name is unclear had lemon groves along the shore; one account credits along the shore; had lemon groves the abundance of lemon shar days for how the area received its name. received the area days for how

named until 1897, when a to the Nichols brothers of Englewood, Ill. Englewood’s chief Englewood’s Ill. of Englewood, brothers the Nichols industry in the pre-development period was fishing. industry in the pre-development

M

nationwide attention in 1893 thr hibits at the Columbia E munity boasted a large hotel and sought to attract the attention of wealthy sportsmen. attention of wealthy

e

ed

esi-

oint

, en-

ulf of

When

e in the

nglewood

e privacy.

The present

wned by leading wned by

esort in Sarasota

When residential

om the old com-

operty to Glenn

The key, originally The key,

ounding cottages hav

eal estate investors. In eal estate investors.

e deep water boat dock-

, hunting and sailing.

y Curtis, who added two r y Curtis,

y coastal Florida. The original y coastal Florida.

enice, who settled her

V

33. Venice Inlet is situated south of the former Casey Inlet Venice 33.

34. Lyons Bay (a) and Roberts Bay (b) were named (b) were Bay (a) and Roberts Bay 34. Lyons

35. Eagle Point Club was originally o 35. Eagle Point

36. Manasota Key takes its name fr Key 36. Manasota

37. Manasota Key Bridge was originally a wooden Key Bridge 37. Manasota

exico.

istoric Places. The property is being developed to ac- is being developed The property istoric Places.

oodman and Danny Overstreet in 1989, Eagle P Overstreet oodman and Danny

ass. The federal government created the Venice Jetties in Jetties Venice the created The federal government ass.

arasota resident and developer Bertha Potter Palmer. She Palmer. and developer Bertha Potter arasota resident

P 1937 to maintain this navigational link to the G M

after early pioneers of 1870s.

S acquired the club property in 1916 and designed the land the club property acquired to meet the needs of potential r 1923 the property changed hands when it was acquir by Cornelius and Kingsbur dences. Guests came to vacation during the winter came to vacation dences. Guests joying horseback riding, golf joying the Curtis family heirs sold the pr the Curtis G was the oldest continuously operated r County. Today, the property’s 24 acres retain much of the retain 24 acres the property’s Today, County. flavor of early 20th-centur heart-of-pine clubhouse and surr been restored and are listed in the National Resister of Resister listed in the National and are been restored H commodate 50 homes that featur age, tennis courts and cypress fencing to ensur age, tennis courts and cypress

munity of Manasota on the mainland. munity of Manasota lot sales failed, Manasota became a timbering commu- lot sales failed, Manasota nity that thrived in the early 1900s. nity that thrived called “Palm Ridge,” was the scene of many E called “Palm community picnics.

bridge built by Sarasota County in 1926. bridge built by Sarasota bridge was built in 1965.

The Whitaker family

m

Edge of

© 1983

ilderness:

—

arasota Bay

1528-1885

W

with its lush

the Spaniards

lorida, and it

land from their land from

was a trait that

F

would follow in would follow

and S

sun. Prehistoric

the west coast of the west

was a wild and

who were fiercely who were

characterized the

of Manatee River of Manatee

centuries to come.

It

easily conquered. It easily conquered.

people surveyed the people surveyed

world horizon, they world horizon,

unnamed history in

appeared on the new appeared

what would become

beckoned early man

independent and not

anet Snyder Matthews anet Snyder

A Settlement History A Settlement

beautiful land along

the earth itself. When the earth itself.

found a native people found a native

mounds and left their

men and women who

landscape and war

J 36

aterway

Map 9.

along the Gulf Intracoastal W

Dredge-and-Fill Photograph Locations w

th

ed to

37

edged

v

y charts,

radenton

ws as a strik-

one in 1940.

d

These photo-

ewfish Key (e) ewfish Key

ister Keys, where ister Keys,

ut and along the

ustralian pine, is no

eating a linear north-

ways. Longbar Cut (a), ways. Longbar Cut

radenton Beach-Holmes

e and shape of the nor

’ location by the inlet and to ’ location by

vide a foundation for the bridge

o

y 100 feet wide, sho

nlet channel to the ICW in the early

ey (g) and the south end of B

1. North Longboat Key. Aerials show 1998 (color) show Aerials Longboat Key. 1. North

The dredging, both at Longbar C The dredging,

elocated Intracoastal Waterway channel, removed Waterway elocated Intracoastal

emained as individual islands in 1940, although a build

and 1940 (black-and-white) conditions. graphs illustrate both naturally occurring and human- induced changes in the water dredged five feet deep by 100 feet wide by the U.S. Army five feet deep by 100 feet wide by dredged Corps of Engineers in 1890, is still clearly visible in 1940, but more diffuse today. The present channel (b), dr The present diffuse today. but more in 1919 to nine feet b ingly demarcated dark-tone (deep water) z The dredged material, called spoil (c), was placed side- The dredged cast and parallel to the channel, cr west-southeast trending extension to S west-southeast trending upland exotic vegetation, such as A upland exotic vegetation, the predominant cover. the predominant

r seagrass habitat. A side channel at (d), which ser connect Longboat I 1900s, has shoaled and no longer exists. J and Picket Key (f), Key and Picket which appear on 19th-centur r up of sediment was taking place (white tone in photo), in part due to the islands nearby dredging. Today, these islands are one feature (ef). these islands are Today, dredging. nearby The striking changes in the siz end of Longboat K Beach (h) are due to erosion and deposition of sediments due to erosion Beach (h) are at Longboat Inlet. The south end of Bradenton Beach also Beach The south end of Bradenton at Longboat Inlet. was artificially filled to pr at Longboat Inlet. Beach renourishment commenced in renourishment Beach at Longboat Inlet. 1992-93 along much of the B Beach shore.

Photographic Recor of Waterway Changes of Waterway

a

c

a

c

d

b

d

ef

e

b

f

Aerial view of North Longboat Key

h

g

h

g

Figure 1. 1940 Aerial view of North Longboat Key Figure 1. 1940

Figure 1. 1998 th-

38

d

ohn Ringling

c

way (c) he built from

e

ey (d) and Lido Key (e). A ey (d) and Lido Key

ey (a), midground, was originally a small island ey (a), midground,

K

2. South sector of Big Sarasota Bay. The high, oblique Bay. Sarasota sector of Big 2. South

rd

esidence on Bird Key. The extensive seagrass area, locally The extensive Key. esidence on Bird eferred to as the “Middle Ground” (g), was an impor- Ground” to as the “Middle eferred

black-and-white aerial illustrates late-1920s conditions. Bi (Map 3, Pre-development Conditions). J 3, Pre-development (Map dredged and filled an extension of the island (b) nor dredged ward in 1926 to connect to the cause ward the mainland to Coon K dredged channel (f)dredged access for the one nearshore provided r r tant sport fishing locale. Big Sarasota Pass (h) is in the Pass Sarasota tant sport fishing locale. Big background.

b

a

f

g

h

marine life.

eagrasses also

area from the area

Sarasota Bay, Sarasota

S

more than 170 more

tide to, in some

arieties and the

cases, as deep as

inhabit the bay.

seagrass dwellers

ygen required by ygen required

v

In

common seagrass

much of the bay’s

species of fish that

is home to the four

ox

water’s edge at low water’s

provide some of the provide

seven feet. This area feet. seven

generally inhabit an

Figure 2. 1920s condition of the south sector of Big Sarasota Bay th

39

elop-

between

ey: Late-1920s

om the dredge,

ew Pass (b) has ew Pass

igure 3A is a high,

en Burns, is moored off the is moored en Burns,

outh Big Sarasota Bay (Figure 2 (Figure Bay Sarasota outh Big

3. Otter Key, St. Armands and Lido K St. 3. Otter Key,

tical black-and-white aerial enlargements, taken in

r

tter Key and Lido Key (f)tter Key and Lido Key to create has been dredged

dredge-and-fill and land clearance. F dredge-and-fill oblique black-and-white aerial taken during the same period as the one of S on previous page). St. Armands (a) is under dev page). St. on previous ment (smoke from land clearance). N ment (smoke from been dredged and the spoil, side-cast fr been dredged has formed City Island (c). A causeway (d) has been has formed City Island built from dredging the bay bottom along the nor built from dredging shore of St. Armands. The dredge used by the develop- used by The dredge Armands. of St. shore ers, John Ringling and Ow ers, John south shore of Otter Key (e). The entire area area The entire (e). Key of Otter south shore O fill for waterfront development. Figures 3B and 3C are Figures development. fill for waterfront ve 1948, which show remnant dredged scars (g) in the bay dredged remnant 1948, which show bottom.

c

b

g

g

g

g

d

g

f

a

e N

f

, St. Armands and Lido Key , St.

Figure 3A. 1920s Otter Key

Figure 3C. 1948

Figure 3B. 1948 The

40

ulf shore.

b

e waterfront canal

way and Bird Key. way and Bird

ently no water connec-

c

edged, but work was still edged, but work

ulf shore.

eline. This photo predates eline.

der areas in 1995, did not ex- der areas

c

c

edge-and-fill, were created after 1945. The after 1945. created edge-and-fill, were

4. Sarasota Bayfront, Ringling Cause Bayfront, 4. Sarasota

5. North Siesta Key and Grand Canal. Aerials show Canal. Aerials and Grand Key Siesta 5. North

igh, oblique black-and-white aerial photography taken

elopment on Siesta Key in 1945 (e) was limited to scat- Key elopment on Siesta

sland Park and Marina Jack. and Marina sland Park

H in June 1960. Bird Key (a), midground, was filled to its (a), midground, Key 1960. Bird in June present size in 1959 by dredging the bay bottom. in 1959 by dredging size present new Ringling Causeway Bridge (b) was opened in 1959. new Ringling Causeway Bridge The Sarasota bayfront (c) was dredged and filled and U.S. (c) was dredged bayfront The Sarasota 41 was re-routed along the shor 41 was re-routed I

1995 (color) and 1945 (black-and-white) conditions. Beach ridges (a) are clearly visible on the 1945 photo; Beach ridges (a) are they mark former beach deposits along the G they mark The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (b), marked by the dark by (b), marked Waterway Intracoastal The Gulf tone and parallel white bor ist in 1945. Shoreline residential developments (c), the developments residential ist in 1945. Shoreline product of dr creation of the Grand Canal, an extensiv of the Grand creation community on Siesta Key (d), had begun in 1945; the feeder Key community on Siesta canal and inner loop had been dr progressing at the mouth and appar progressing tion had yet been excavated to deep water. Residential de- Residential to deep water. been excavated tion had yet v tered beach cottages along the G tered

1995

b

c

Figure 5. North Siesta Key and Grand Canal

a

d

d

a

e

a

a

1945

Figure 4. 1960 aerial of Sarasota Bayfront, Ringling Causeway and Bird Key 41

th end of

iesta Key (c) was for resi-

This equipment was used

e the creek flowed out into flowed e the creek

ear-vertical aerial view south ear-vertical

ulf Intracoastal Waterway at Waterway ulf Intracoastal

waterway separating the main-

way, has been deposited at mid- way,

has cut through “Thehas cut through Mangroves”

ow

conditions. Phillippi Creek is in the Creek conditions. Phillippi

6. Roberts Bay. Low, oblique black-and-white aerial Low, Bay. 6. Roberts

7. Dredge “Charleston.” 7. Dredge

8. Dredge and spoil site. N 8. Dredge

oberts Bay. Spoil, consisting of bay bottom sediments Spoil, oberts Bay.

oberts Bay (Venice) with Red Lake at the nor with Red (Venice) oberts Bay

ntracoastal Waterway ntracoastal Waterway

shows 1962-65shows foreground. The 9-foot-deep by 100-foot-wide Gulf The 9-foot-deep by foreground. I (a), a tidal delta deposit wher R dredged along the water dredged bay locations (b). Landfill on S dential development. Bird Key is under construction (d) Key dential development. Bird in the background.

beginning in August 1966 to excavate the C-1 connector 1966 to excavate beginning in August canal, which linked the G R Lemon Bay.

of Alligator Creek, Lemon Bay, 1965. Dredge (a) is oper- 1965. Dredge Lemon Bay, of Alligator Creek, ating in the long, narr land from Manasota Key. Suction dredge is transferring dredge Suction Key. Manasota land from slurry pipeline to upland sites (b). by

b N

d

b

b

a

Figure 7. Dredge “Charleston”

a

c

Figure 6. Roberts Bay

Figure 8. Dredge and spoil site 42

w north

oute taken

ucted near the

om the dredging of the om the dredging

ound. This photo shows dredge This photo shows ound.

ont of Manasota Key (formerly ont of Manasota

th Lemon Bay, 1964-65. A diked th Lemon Bay,

9. Dredge and dike. Low, oblique aerial vie and dike. Low, 9. Dredge

10. Intracoastal dredging and residential waterway and residential dredging 10. Intracoastal

aterway, with the use of back-filling land along the aterway,

ey Bridge is in the midgr ey Bridge

alm Ridge). A residential canal (c), constr alm Ridge). A residential

from Manasota Beach, taken circa 1964-65. Manasota Beach, taken circa from Manasota K (a), pipeline (b), dike or containment wall (c) and back- filled/spoil (d). This phase of dredging the Intracoastal This phase of dredging filled/spoil (d). W shoreline, differed from the early dredging where spoil where the early dredging differed from shoreline, was side-cast in strips or islands parallel to the r by the dredge.

development. Near-vertical aerial shows a location at the aerial shows development. Near-vertical junction of the Intracoastal Waterway and Forked Creek and Forked Waterway junction of the Intracoastal (bottom of photo), nor area (a) for containing spoil (b) fr area ICW is along the bayfr P mouth of Forked Creek, occupies a natural drainage chan- Creek, mouth of Forked nel (d). Only a few waterfront homes have been built; the a few waterfront homes have nel (d). Only photo shows many empty lots. photo shows

c

a

d

c

b

d

a

b

Figure 9. Dredge and dike

Figure 10. Intracoastal dredging and waterway development w

ey,

te-

43

e spoil

edge (a)

e coastal

ov

om Adams

ea between

T

eation of a navi-

esent-day car ferry.

w water and inter-

The inland water-

ed at low water. Ac- water. ed at low

The causeway (b) con-

ce, served as a catalyst

t the slurry to a water-

arasota Bay region. The region. arasota Bay

e dredging occurred. The occurred. e dredging

c

ys.

egion’s physical landscape egion’s

ed conditions at Leachs K

nglewood is built on Beach

way.

ntracoastal Waterway channel, using Waterway ntracoastal

ol.

extensive seagrass beds, and spoil was de-

c

a

b

oday, the area includes the 45-mile-long ICW ar the area oday,

11. Natural and spoil-alter 11. Natural

12. Intracoastal dredging and landfill at dredging 12. Intracoastal

13. “The Cutoff”This high, oblique aerial at Placida.

The past 100 years witnessed the cr

T

ulf Intracoastal Waterway, designed to impr Waterway, ulf Intracoastal

utoff (a), about one mile long, bar

ridge, Englewood. The Intracoastal Waterway (a) was Waterway The Intracoastal ridge, Englewood.

, Lemon Bay

Lemon Bay. Low, oblique aerials, taken in 1965, sho Low, Lemon Bay. the effects of spoil deposition on shallo tidal habitats. The aerial at left is of the site befor tidal habitats. deposition occurred. In the photo at right, the dr In deposition occurred. is operating in the I a floating pipeline (b) to transpor front site where deposition is filling in the ar front site where Leachs Key and Manasota Key (c). Key and Manasota Leachs Key

B dredged through through dredged posited on several mid-bay islands. necting the mainland with E spoil landfill. Wetlands have been ditched (c) for drainage have Wetlands spoil landfill. and mosquito contr

shows waterwayshows conditions befor Epilogue C cess to Don Pedro Island from the mainland was at point from Island Pedro cess to Don (b), approximately the location of the pr (b), approximately gable waterway system in the S A relict channel (c) from Bocilla Pass has been diked and Bocilla Pass channel (c) from A relict G land clearance is under navigation for safety and commer to spark shorefront land development. Access channels Access land development. shorefront to spark were dredged, bayfront property was filled and finger ca- bayfront dredged, were nals and basins were cut to extend available waterfront cut to extend available nals and basins were for residential purposes. for residential

rial, some 75 miles of collector (access) channels and 180 miles of residential canals and basins. miles of residential way has helped transform the r and local economy in many wa

b

c

a

b

om Adams Bridge, Englewood om

T

a

c

Figure 11. Natural and spoil-altered conditions at Leachs Key Figure 11.

f” at Placida

b

c

c

Figure 12. Intracoastal dredging and landfill at

Figure 13. “The Cutof T)

egister

44

ess, 1st

nagboat

egister No.

arasota Bay,

arasota, Smally,

aterways Associa-

egister No. 1314b. egister No.

aterways of Florida

W

mooth] Sheets)

ngineers, 1821-1975,

W

nlet and Bar (To accom- (To nlet and Bar

ngineer Office, Tampa, Fla. Tampa, ngineer Office,

ay, Florida (Bocilla Inlet to (Bocilla Inlet Florida ay,

ay, Florida (Stump Pass to Rob- Pass (Stump Florida ay,

arasota Bay, Florida, topographic Florida, arasota Bay,

egister No. 1272. egister No.

egister No. 1517b. egister No.

arasota Bay, Florida, topographic ( Florida, arasota Bay,

egister No. 1517a. egister No.

ngineer Water Resources Support Center, Support Resources Water ngineer

sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

Carthy, John, n.d., South Lido. n.d., South John, Carthy,

ited States, Waterways Improved by Non-federal Agencies, by Non-federal Improved Waterways ited States,

. 1518b.

ellford & Nalven Consulting Engineers, Sarasota, Fla. Consulting Engineers, Sarasota, & Nalven ellford

aterways Unimproved, and the Potential Artificial Waterways Artificial and the Potential aterways Unimproved,

stitute for Water Resources, U.S. Government Printing, Of- Printing, U.S. Government Resources, Water stitute for

ump Pass), topographic (T) sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R ump Pass),

eport of Monthly Operations for Improving Sarasota Bay, vari- Bay, Sarasota Operations for Improving eport of Monthly

uker, George E., n.d., Sun, Sand and Water: A History of the Water: and Sand George E., n.d., Sun, uker,

ri-Monthly Report of Operations of the U.S. S of Operations Report ri-Monthly

erraceia and McGill’s Bay, and Bishop’s Harbor, hydrographic Harbor, and Bishop’s Bay, erraceia and McGill’s

ession, Doc. No. 14, 96 pages, one map (1:1,000,000 scale, No. ession, Doc.

acksonville District U.S. Army Corps of E acksonville District

tion, Relative to the Waterways in Florida Improved by the Improved in Florida Waterways to the tion, Relative Un W Connecting Natural Waterway Systems),” 71st Congr Systems),” Waterway Connecting Natural S approximate): Map Showing Existing and Potential Waterways and Potential Existing Showing Map approximate): U.S. Senate, 1929, “Inland and Coastal 1929, “Inland U.S. Senate, of Florida. in the State (Report of the Florida Inland and Coastal Inland (Report of the Florida Alperin, Lynn M., 1983, “History of the Gulf Intracoastal Wa- Intracoastal M., 1983, “History of the Gulf Alperin, Lynn terway,” Navigation History, National Waterways Study NWS- Study Waterways National History, Navigation terway,” 83-9, U.S. Army E In fice, Washington, D.C. fice, Washington,

2. Unpublished Government Reports Government 2. Unpublished

R ous months for 1890 -1907, U.S. E

T “Suwanee,” various for 1902 operating in Little S “Suwanee,” submitted by Capt. O.N. Bie, Sarasota, Fla. Sarasota, Capt. O.N. Bie, submitted by

n.a., 1986, Historical Places Along the Intracoastal Waterway Along the Intracoastal Places n.a., 1986, Historical in Sarasota County, Sarasota County Historical Archives. County Historical Sarasota County, in Sarasota

n.a., n.d., County’s History, Sarasota County Historical Archives. County Historical Sarasota History, n.a., n.d., County’s

3. Other Reports 3. Other

B J no publisher cited.

n.a., 1970, Shoreline Analysis of the City of S n.a., 1970, Shoreline W

n.a., n.d., Explore Sarasota County’s History. County’s Sarasota n.a., n.d., Explore

Mc

4. Government Charts (Compilation [S 4. Government

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1875, Palmasola Bay and Pass, Bay 1875, Palmasola U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, T (H) sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

______, 1876, Long Boat I pany chart of Sarasota Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Inshore Sound- Inshore of Mexico, Gulf Bay, pany chart of Sarasota ings), hydrographic (H) sheet, 1:4,000 scale, R ings), hydrographic

______, 1883, S sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

______, 1883, Little S (T)

______, 1883, Lemon B erts Bay), topographic (T)erts Bay), sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R 1518a.

______, 1883, Lemon B St

No

e-

.i.).

oximate):

ap of Lemon

ers and Har-

ay, Fla. (With Fla. ay,

ess, 1st Session,

ess, 1st Session, Doc.

ess, 2nd Session, Doc. No. Doc. ess, 2nd Session,

er to Withlacoochee River, Fla., River, Withlacoochee er to

arasota Bay, Fla., from Sarasota Bay from Sarasota Fla., arasota Bay,

ess, 2nd Session, Doc. No. 191, five No. Doc. ess, 2nd Session,

ay, Fla., to Gasparilla Sound),” 63rd Sound),” to Gasparilla Fla., ay,

er to Withlacoochee River, Fla. (Let- Fla. River, Withlacoochee er to

e profile sheets (1:10,000 h.i, 1:100 v

ess, 2nd Session, Doc. No. 1002, eight No. Doc. ess, 2nd Session,

arasota Bay, Fla., Between Sarasota and Between Sarasota Fla., arasota Bay,

Through Casey’s Pass, Fla., Authorized by Authorized Fla., Pass, Through Casey’s

urvey Intracoastal Waterway, Caloosahatchee Waterway, urvey Intracoastal

orida),” 58th Congr

Fl

ey of Sarasota Bay, Florida),” 51st Congr Florida),” Bay, ey of Sarasota

Florida, from New Pass to Red Lake). to Red Pass New from Florida,

ith a Letter from the Chief of Engineers, Reports on Exami- Reports the Chief of Engineers, ith a Letter from

ith a Letter from the Chief of Engineers, Report on Prelimi- the Chief of Engineers, Report ith a Letter from

. 844, 16 pages, one map (1:45,000 scale, appr

. 377, 12 pages text, one map (1:15,000 scale): M

y,

y,

rv

nice, and Channel

orida (With Reports Upon the Preliminary Examination and the Preliminary Reports Upon orida (With

orida (With a Letter from the Chief of Engineers, Reports of the Chief of Engineers, Reports orida (With a Letter from

ar; 3. Sarasota Bay, Fla. Post Office Point to Casey’s Pass). to Casey’s Point Office Post Fla. Bay, ar; 3. Sarasota

ay to Lemon Bay, Florida),” 56th Congr Florida),” ay to Lemon Bay,

ay and Big Sarasota Pass),” 63rd Congress, 2nd Session, Doc. 2nd Session, Congress, 63rd Pass),” Sarasota ay and Big

enice, Thence Through Casey’s Pass to Lemon Bay, and Thence and to Lemon Bay, Pass Through Casey’s Thence enice,

arasota Bay, Florida, Tampa Bay to Venice. to Bay Tampa Florida, arasota Bay,

une 14, 1939, Submitting a Report, Together with Accompa- Together a Report, une 14, 1939, Submitting

(in chronological order) References

1. Published Government Reports Government 1. Published

U.S. House of Representatives, 1889, “Survey of Sarasota Bay, of Sarasota 1889, “Survey of Representatives, U.S. House Fl Su

Ex. Doc. No. 61, seven pages text, three maps (1:24,000 scale, pages text, three 61, seven No. Ex. Doc. approximate): 1. Palma Sola Pass; 2. Sarasota Bay, Fla. Long Fla. Bay, 2. Sarasota Pass; Sola 1. Palma approximate): B

U.S. House of Representatives, 1900, “Examination and Sur- of Representatives, U.S. House vey of Inside Passage Through Sarasota Bay to Lemon Bay, Bay Through Sarasota Passage vey of Inside Fl Examination and Survey of Inside Passage Through Sarasota Through Passage of Inside Examination and Survey B No Ba

U.S. House of Representatives, 1903, “Gasparilla Sound and Sound 1903, “Gasparilla of Representatives, U.S. House Lemon Bay, Florida, (With a Letter from the Chief of Engi- a Letter from (With Florida, Lemon Bay, neers, Report of Examination of Gasparilla Sound and Lemon Sound of Examination of Gasparilla neers, Report Ba pages.

U.S. House of Representatives, 1910, “Sarasota Bay, Florida Bay, 1910, “Sarasota of Representatives, U.S. House (W nation and Survey of Sarasota Bay, Florida, from Tampa Bay to Tampa from Florida, Bay, of Sarasota nation and Survey V to Gasparilla Sound),” 61st Congr to Gasparilla Sound),” 849, 12 pages.

U.S. House of Representatives, 1913, “Lemon B of Representatives, U.S. House a Letter from the Chief of Engineers, Reports on Preliminary Reports the Chief of Engineers, a Letter from Examination of Lemon B Congress, 1st Session, Doc. No. 247, seven pages. No. Doc. 1st Session, Congress,

U.S. House of Representatives, 1914, “Sarasota Bay, Fla., In- Fla., Bay, 1914, “Sarasota of Representatives, U.S. House cluding Little Sarasota Bay and Big Sarasota Pass (With a Letter (With Pass Sarasota and Big Bay cluding Little Sarasota from the Chief of Engineers, Reports on Preliminary Examina- on Preliminary Reports from the Chief of Engineers, tion and Survey of Sarasota Bay, Fla., Including Little Sarasota Including Fla., Bay, of Sarasota tion and Survey B No S

U.S. House of Representatives, 1918, “Little Sarasota Bay, Fla. Bay, 1918, “Little Sarasota of Representatives, U.S. House (W nary Examination of Little S to Venice),” 65th Congr Venice),” to pages.

U.S. House of Representatives, 1939, “Intracoastal Waterway 1939, “Intracoastal of Representatives, U.S. House from Caloosahatchee Riv 30, 1935, and R August Approved Act the River and Harbor ter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Dated Army, States United the Chief of Engineers, ter from of the Committee on Riv quested by Resolution J 18, 1934),” 76th May Adopted of Representatives, bors, House nying Papers and an Illustration, on a Preliminary Examination and an Illustration, on a Preliminary nying Papers 371, 27 pages, one index map No. Doc. 1st Session, Congress, and Survey of, and Review of Reports on, Intracoastal Water- on, Intracoastal of Reports and Review of, and Survey (1:250,000 scale), S way from Caloosahatchee Riv way from 24 project Sheet); (Index Florida River, Withlacoochee to River and Channel in Little S maps (1:20,000 scale); fiv Ve The

45

The Sarasota

est Coast Inland Navi- est Coast Inland

eep Water,” eep Water,”

W

ngineers, Jacksonville

, August 21, pp. 1-2. 21, pp. , August

, July 9, p.1. , July

Comp and staff, Natural Resources Department, Sarasota Resources Natural Comp and staff,

rothy Korwek, Venice Archives, Venice Archives, Venice rothy Korwek,

iversity of South Florida, Sarasota Florida, of South iversity

ry

an Brown, information specialist, an Brown,

aria Island

arboring Boats with a Channel to D

onald Fore, U.S. Army Corps of E onald Fore,

iana Harris, former president, Lemon Bay Historical Society Historical Lemon Bay former president, iana Harris,

avigation District, Manasota Key Manasota avigation District,

mes Armstrong, former executive director, West Coast Inland West director, former executive mes Armstrong,

obert Jorgensen, Holmes Beach Canal Commission, Anna Beach Holmes obert Jorgensen,

ohn McCarthy, Parks and Recreation Department, Sarasota and Recreation Parks ohn McCarthy,

ohn Morrill, Division of Natural Sciences, New College of the Sciences, New of Natural Division ohn Morrill,

6. Newspaper Articles 6. Newspaper Times

______, 1913, “Reclaiming Waste Places: Dredges Busy Trans- Busy Places: Dredges Waste ______, 1913, “Reclaiming Sources 7. Other forming Water Front, Government Surveyors in Port,” in Port,” Surveyors Government Front, Water forming Sarasota Times Sarasota Ja N ______, 1914, “Dredging Out Hudson Bayou: Yacht Basin for Basin Yacht Bayou: Hudson Out ______, 1914, “Dredging H Ev gation District, Venice gation District,

Ga County

Ernest Estevez, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Laboratory, Marine Mote Ernest Estevez,

D

D

Ralph Hunter, Longboat Key Historical Society, Longboat Key Society, Historical Longboat Key Ralph Hunter,

R M

Do

J County

J Un

Ann Shank, Historical Archives, Sarasota County Sarasota Archives, Historical Ann Shank,

edge

opriations

egister No.

ig and Little

opriations for the

edge “Florida” begin edge “Florida”

ested in improvement

us and early vegetables

us and early vegetables

edging at South Creek edging at South

egister No. 1653. egister No.

egister No. 1559b. egister No.

ers and Harbors, to Major F. to Major ers and Harbors,

ngineers, Jacksonville, Tampa, ngineers, Jacksonville,

arasota, Bay, Florida, hydro- Florida, arasota, Bay,

ay: Bocilla Inlet to Stump Pass, to Stump ay: Bocilla Inlet

een Blackburn Point and Venice. and Point een Blackburn

The Mangroves.

arasota Bay, Florida (East Shore), to- (East Shore), Florida arasota Bay,

arasota Bay, Florida, hydrographic (H) hydrographic Florida, arasota Bay,

egister No. 1559a. egister No.

ts.

orge Higel, grower and shipper of citr grower orge Higel,

orge Higel, grower and shipper of citr grower orge Higel,

presentatives Committee on Riv presentatives

mpa, Fla., November 26, 1907, requesting that the dr 26, 1907, requesting November mpa, Fla.,

arry L. Higel, president of the Sarasota, Osprey and Venice and Osprey of the Sarasota, president arry L. Higel,

orida, hydrographic (H) sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R orida, hydrographic

ransportation Co., to W.H. Caldwell, U.S. Engineer Office, Caldwell, U.S. Engineer W.H. to ransportation Co.,

la., June 7, 1905, states that people inter la., June

la., August 5, 1907, providing local knowledge about bay bot- local knowledge 5, 1907, providing la., August

la., July 26, 1907, concerning the dr la., July

arasota Bays.

tephen M. Sparkman, Florida Representative, U.S. House of U.S. House Representative, Florida tephen M. Sparkman,

______, 1883, S sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

______, 1883, Little S graphic (H) sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

______, 1884, Lemon B Fl 1595a. ______, 1883, S pographic (T) sheet, 1:20,000 scale, R

5. Letters

S Re R. Shunk, U.S. Army Corps of E R. Shunk, F of Sarasota Bay are insistent that the dr are Bay of Sarasota work there at once. work there

L.J. Knight, citizen of Venice, Fla., to Senator Taliaferro, De- Taliaferro, to Senator Fla., Venice, L.J. Knight, citizen of Tampa, Caldwell, U. S. Engineer Office, W.H. to Fla., Venice, at cember 8, 1905, requesting additional appr F purpose of opening up and making navigable both B tom sediments and shoals betw S Tampa, H. Caldwell, U.S. Engineer Office, W. to Fla., Venice, at F H L.J. Knight, citizen of Venice, Fla., to W. H. Caldwell, U.S. H. Caldwell, W. to Fla., Venice, of L.J. Knight, citizen Fla T Engineer Office, Tampa, Fla., May 4, 1906, on behalf of citi- May Fla., Tampa, Engineer Office, Ta zens of Venice and Laurel, requesting additional appr requesting and Laurel, Venice zens of Ge widen the cut at “Suwanee” to extend dredging south of Osprey to Casey’s Pass and Venice. and Pass to Casey’s south of Osprey to extend dredging

Ge

iss Florida hopefuls iss Florida

M pose in front of the Lido Casino in 1967. This was the site of many beauty pageants.