The Gulf of Mexico Watershed spans a total of 3,242.9 square miles, 14% of which lies within Sarasota County. The area within the county, totaling 451.7 square miles, is the only portion of the watershed for which information is available on the Sarasota County Water Atlas. The watershed contains 0 named lakes/ponds, 1 named rivers/streams/canals and 2 named bays/bayous.
The Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) concept is based on the idea of promoting neighborhood involvement in environmentally friendly projects to protect and restore our water resources. The NEST program projects focus on providing watershed education and getting neighbors involved in activities that improve their neighborhoods and enhance their watershed. The program goal is to help citizens and neighborhoods become advocates and champions for the watersheds they live in. The NEST program was developed in response to a need to get citizens and the general public better educated and more involved in the management and protection of the water resources of Sarasota County.
There are no NEST sites within Gulf of Mexico Watershed at this time. Please visit the NEST program to create a NEST site.
Watersheds are areas of land with waterways that flow to a common destination. The boundaries between watersheds are elevated areas called divides. In this Atlas, the watersheds are composed of groups of creeks that flow to a single bay or group of bays. Drainage basins are subunits of watersheds and are defined by the main creek that flows through them. Sarasota County has five watersheds, named after the bays or river, and 28 drainage basins, named after the creeks. Stormwater improvements to reduce flooding and improve water quality are based on the drainage basin unit. Learn more about watersheds »
| Month-to-Date Total | Historic Monthly Average | Year-to-Date Total | Historic 12 Month Average Total | Data as of | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County-Wide Data | 0.38 in. | 2.46 in. | 60.82 in. | 51.49 in. | 12/17/2024 |
This section provides links to capital improvement projects occurring in Sarasota County. Such activities may include stormwater control structures, retrofit projects, retention and detention ponds, and other stormwater pollution controls. Learn more about capital improvement projects »
Who to call about environmental concerns and to report environmentally harmful activities. For potentially life threatening emergencies dial 911.
| Concern or Activity | Contact(s) |
|---|---|
| Dangerous Boating / Accidents | FWCC, Division of Boating Safety |
| Algal Blooms | FDEP 1-850-305-3903 |
| Fish Kill | FWCC, Fish Kills |
| General Concerns/Complaints |
FDEP Sarasota County Contact Centera |
| Industrial Waste/Spill | FDEP State Watch Office |
| Injured Wildlife or Illegal Activities | FWCC, Wildlife Violations |
| Shoreline Alterations, Wetland Impacts | FDEP |
| Aquatic Plant Removal | FWCC |
| Water Pollution, Residuals Landspreading | FDEP |
| Wetlands Issues/Dredge and Fill | FDEP |
Legend:
FWCC - Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
FDEP - Florida Department of Enviromental Protection
Sarasota County needs you to help manage and protect its natural resources! Fill out this form, and we will contact you with more information about becoming a volunteer. Learn more about volunteering »
Visit the following links to view historical information on this water resource:
