SKA continues to fight Big Pass dredge proposal

Siesta Key residents are continuing their fight against plans to dredge Big Pass.

The Siesta Key Association sent a letter to Sarasota County commissioners last week asking for an official resolution demanding an environmental impact statement (EIS) from the city of Sarasota and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to proceeding with the Lido Beach renourishment project. The plan, which calls for contractors to mine 1.3 million cubic yards of sand from the inlet, has faced criticism from Siesta property owners wary of potential erosion following the dredge.

In March 2015, the Army Corps conducted a study concluding that dredging the inlet south of Lido Key would result in no significant impact to Siesta beaches. But SKA board members in the letter cite an independent study, which asserts the models used in the federal study were not ideal predictors of possible effects to the key.

Instead, the organization wants an official EIS, which would study and rank alternatives to the project in its current form. Among alternatives is removing a rock groin at the south end of Longboat Key and reducing the scope of the project, using alternative sand sources, such as trucked sand or building adjustable groins.

SKA has has partnered with SOSS2 as it prepares to launch its lawsuit against the city of Sarasota pending permit approval for the project.

“We have consistently worked toward a ‘no harm’ solution on this issue,” the letter states. “While our request may seem atypical, many corporations and government entities begin with an EIS to more efficiently address complex issues and achieve the best outcomes.”