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Stormwater: Hudson Bayou (and The Euclid Canal) |
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Stormwater Maintenance Projects lookup map
There's now a user-friendly map accessible from the County website where you can view your local stormwater maintenance projects. For more information specifically about "our" Euclid Canal, see Euclid Canal page.
There's now a user-friendly map accessible from the County website where you can view your local stormwater maintenance projects. For more information specifically about "our" Euclid Canal, see Euclid Canal page.
Hudson Bayou Dredging & Stormwater Mitigation Project / Hudson Bayou Dredging & Resiliency Project
The City's Sarasota County’s Resilient SRQ Round 2 (CDBG-DR) grant package was approved; this includes, among other important things, the dredging project for Hudson Bayou -- "our" Euclid Canal drains into Hudson Bayou -- covering the entire tidal reach of Hudson Bayou, from Sarasota Bay to the headwaters at Bahia Vista Street (≈ 2.9 miles).
Excerpts:
The [$15million] Project is a critical flood mitigation and water quality initiative that restores the function of one of Sarasota’s oldest urban waterways. Sediment accumulation, bank erosion, and undersized outfalls have reduced channel capacity and led to routine flooding of streets and homes during moderate storms.
Sediment accumulation, bank erosion, and undersized outfalls have reduced channel capacity and led to routine flooding of streets and homes during moderate storms. 2024 bathymetric and hydraulic studies identified over 80,500 cubic yards (CY) of sediment that must be removed to achieve the 100-year (1% annual-chance) Level-of-Service (LOS) standard adopted by the City and County for primary drainage basins. The project also addresses chronic bank erosion and delivers nature-based stabilization using native vegetation. Without intervention, neighborhoods surrounding Orange Avenue, Alta Vista Elementary, and Osprey Avenue will continue to face public safety hazards, infrastructure damage, and declining water quality.
The City's Sarasota County’s Resilient SRQ Round 2 (CDBG-DR) grant package was approved; this includes, among other important things, the dredging project for Hudson Bayou -- "our" Euclid Canal drains into Hudson Bayou -- covering the entire tidal reach of Hudson Bayou, from Sarasota Bay to the headwaters at Bahia Vista Street (≈ 2.9 miles).
Excerpts:
The [$15million] Project is a critical flood mitigation and water quality initiative that restores the function of one of Sarasota’s oldest urban waterways. Sediment accumulation, bank erosion, and undersized outfalls have reduced channel capacity and led to routine flooding of streets and homes during moderate storms.
Sediment accumulation, bank erosion, and undersized outfalls have reduced channel capacity and led to routine flooding of streets and homes during moderate storms. 2024 bathymetric and hydraulic studies identified over 80,500 cubic yards (CY) of sediment that must be removed to achieve the 100-year (1% annual-chance) Level-of-Service (LOS) standard adopted by the City and County for primary drainage basins. The project also addresses chronic bank erosion and delivers nature-based stabilization using native vegetation. Without intervention, neighborhoods surrounding Orange Avenue, Alta Vista Elementary, and Osprey Avenue will continue to face public safety hazards, infrastructure damage, and declining water quality.
Brief Overview of Sarasota area drainage and watersheds
In the west part of Sarasota County including the City of Sarasota, Phillippi Creek and Cowpen Slough are two major drainage systems (our "rivers"), along with the coastal bayous: Hudson Bayou, Whittaker Bayou, and little Hog Creek. All the little canals and ditches drain into one of these, eventually to the Bay. Originally most were dug out, ditched or enlarged for agricultural use; urban residential development, with its impervious surfaces and different requirements and issues, has grown around them over the past 100 years.
County Stormwater Environmental Utility (SEU)
Sarasota County Stormwater Department maintains stormwater facilities within the county, including those within the City. In the late 1990s the City signed an Interlocal Agreement with the County for the County SEU to maintain all stormwater facilities within the City. In July 2025 the County broke their Public Works into separate Transportation and Stormwater Departments. See 7/2/25 Observer article. The County recently added 40% more area in the county for which they will start maintaining the stormwater drainages, due to extensive, mainly-residential development in previously-unmaintained areas. The County funds their SEU through non-ad-valorem property tax assessments.
In the west part of Sarasota County including the City of Sarasota, Phillippi Creek and Cowpen Slough are two major drainage systems (our "rivers"), along with the coastal bayous: Hudson Bayou, Whittaker Bayou, and little Hog Creek. All the little canals and ditches drain into one of these, eventually to the Bay. Originally most were dug out, ditched or enlarged for agricultural use; urban residential development, with its impervious surfaces and different requirements and issues, has grown around them over the past 100 years.
County Stormwater Environmental Utility (SEU)
Sarasota County Stormwater Department maintains stormwater facilities within the county, including those within the City. In the late 1990s the City signed an Interlocal Agreement with the County for the County SEU to maintain all stormwater facilities within the City. In July 2025 the County broke their Public Works into separate Transportation and Stormwater Departments. See 7/2/25 Observer article. The County recently added 40% more area in the county for which they will start maintaining the stormwater drainages, due to extensive, mainly-residential development in previously-unmaintained areas. The County funds their SEU through non-ad-valorem property tax assessments.
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Other local flooding issues Regular longtime flooding issues nearby, in the west half of Paver Park (west of Shade, north of Legacy Trail), aren't directly related to the Euclid Canal. The Pelican Drive area is a very low neighborhood that was built without drainage infrastructure. The drainage pattern runs west thru what is now Payne Park Village (and now channelized around PPV and alongside the Legacy Trail) towards that ditch in what is now Payne Park, which runs towards Sarasota Ford (at the end of East Av), and from there underground beneath Tamiami Trail to the The Ravine (still there), and thence into Hudson Bayou, and again, thence into the Bay. Image shows areas likely to flood. |
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2025 Call for Dredging of Hudson Bayou
After the 2024 flooding issues, in March 2025 the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association spearheaded an initiative calling for long-overdue dredging of Hudson Bayou. laurelparksarasota.org
"The county is considering dredging all of Hudson Bayou. Here are the details and how YOU can help.
Hudson Bayou’s 2700 acre watershed provides storm drainage for a substantial portion of the City of Sarasota. As such, it serves a critical function in minimizing flooding of our neighborhoods. But years of storm runoff have deposited large quantities of silt, pollutants, and debris into the Bayou. Recent hurricanes only made matters worse. Dredging has not occurred since 1996. If nothing is done, in the not too distant future, the bayou is at risk of silting over and becoming unusable for drainage, navigation and wildlife.
Sarasota County will soon be receiving $75 million of FEMA/HUD funds which it has targeted to dredge key County waterways for flood resilience. But there will be much competition to use these funds among interest groups so we need to make our voices heard.
Submit comments to the County in support of dredging of Hudson Bayou BEFORE APRIL 3 when the comment period closes. Your message need not be long but should, in your own words:
Ask that the county dredge the entirety of Hudson Bayou, including the two north channels that feed into it
Stress the importance of proper storm drainage for the entire City
Discuss how shallow Hudson Bayou has become
Describe any flooding and damage that you or your neighbors have experienced"
After the 2024 flooding issues, in March 2025 the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association spearheaded an initiative calling for long-overdue dredging of Hudson Bayou. laurelparksarasota.org
"The county is considering dredging all of Hudson Bayou. Here are the details and how YOU can help.
Hudson Bayou’s 2700 acre watershed provides storm drainage for a substantial portion of the City of Sarasota. As such, it serves a critical function in minimizing flooding of our neighborhoods. But years of storm runoff have deposited large quantities of silt, pollutants, and debris into the Bayou. Recent hurricanes only made matters worse. Dredging has not occurred since 1996. If nothing is done, in the not too distant future, the bayou is at risk of silting over and becoming unusable for drainage, navigation and wildlife.
Sarasota County will soon be receiving $75 million of FEMA/HUD funds which it has targeted to dredge key County waterways for flood resilience. But there will be much competition to use these funds among interest groups so we need to make our voices heard.
Submit comments to the County in support of dredging of Hudson Bayou BEFORE APRIL 3 when the comment period closes. Your message need not be long but should, in your own words:
Ask that the county dredge the entirety of Hudson Bayou, including the two north channels that feed into it
Stress the importance of proper storm drainage for the entire City
Discuss how shallow Hudson Bayou has become
Describe any flooding and damage that you or your neighbors have experienced"
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And, did you even know that there was once a canal into Laurel Park neighborhood? Only the lowermost portion remains (with a public kayak launch).
The Hudson Bayou Dredging Project will also address issues with the lower portion of the Oak Street Canal. There's a somewhat-related initiative from 2022 regarding the Oak Street Canal (which apparently did not come to pass); You can read about Laurel Park Neighborhood Assn's Hudson Bayou Committee's progress on Bayou cleanup for the Oak Street branch of the Bayou, in neighboring Laurel Park, in the LPNA Feb 2025 Newsletter (page 3). |
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References: Interesting sources for deeper detail about Euclid Canal, Hudson Bayou watershed, and stormwater issues
- Local radio station WSLR's program "Our Changing Environment" 9/3/24 show: Sarasota Flooding: Jono Miller and Julie Morris discussion with Steve Suau, a very knowledgeable engineering professional with decades of experience working for County on stormwater projects. A really good overview of general flooding and local stormwater management.
- Sarasota Water Atlas. About Euclid Canal. An essential research tool on local waterways, in general as well as in-depth. Explore this! sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu
- Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) About Euclid Canal. Lots of info about Sarasota Bay and the waters that drain into it. sarasotabay.org
- Suncoast Searchtlight 3/7/25 newsletter has a really good comprehensive article about Phillippi Creek regarding issues of flooding, maintenance and dredging.
- Sarasota County flood maps
- Hudson Bayou Basin Master Plan 1994 (in Sarasota Water Atlas)
- Local radio station WSLR's program "Our Changing Environment" 9/3/24 show: Sarasota Flooding: Jono Miller and Julie Morris discussion with Steve Suau, a very knowledgeable engineering professional with decades of experience working for County on stormwater projects. A really good overview of general flooding and local stormwater management.
- Sarasota Water Atlas. About Euclid Canal. An essential research tool on local waterways, in general as well as in-depth. Explore this! sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu
- Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) About Euclid Canal. Lots of info about Sarasota Bay and the waters that drain into it. sarasotabay.org
- Suncoast Searchtlight 3/7/25 newsletter has a really good comprehensive article about Phillippi Creek regarding issues of flooding, maintenance and dredging.
- Sarasota County flood maps
- Hudson Bayou Basin Master Plan 1994 (in Sarasota Water Atlas)
