Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to release update to CCMP

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to Unveil Five-Year Plan aimed at Protecting and Restoring Sarasota Bay

SARASOTA – The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) will unveil an update to its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) at its upcoming Policy Board meeting on September 16, 2022.

The CCMP serves as a blueprint to guide future decisions and actions and addresses a wide range of environmental management and protection issues including water quality, habitat, wildlife, and public access to Bay resources. SBEP last updated its CCMP in 2014.

The updated plan includes a robust list of action items centered around:

• Improving water quality and the timing, quantity, and distribution of freshwater flow to the estuary.
• Restoring shoreline, wetland, and bay environments.
• Engaging, educating, and encouraging environmental stewardship of Sarasota Bay and increasing community connections to the estuary through low impact recreational use and enjoyment.

“Sarasota Bay was, until fairly recently, a success story. Compared to conditions in the late 1980s, our nutrient loads were down about 50%, our water quality showed multiple signs of improvement, and we had gained about 50% more seagrass. However, our bays have suffered some recent setbacks that require us to re-examine our path forward. This CCMP update gives us the framework to do just that,” said David Tomasko, Executive Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

The SBEP Policy Board meeting is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM on September 16, 2022 at The Bay Park Conservancy Community Center. The public and members of the media are encouraged to attend and learn about SBEP and its plan for a thriving Bay.