Save Our Seabirds receives grant for drainage improvements on campus

Many Sarasota residents were surprised at the magnitude of flooding from a recent mid-June storm — including some of the feathery residents at Save Our Seabirds. 

Save Our Seabirds’ campus on Ken Thompson Parkway was not safe from the flooding impacts that came from that storm, and Executive Director Brian Walton said flooding has been a long-standing issue for the campus. 

But a newly acquired grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will go toward Walton’s long-term plans to improve the campus’ drainage. 

The storm on June 11 saw about 9 inches of rainfall in some parts of Sarasota, and while downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle experienced much of the impact, so did Save Our Seabirds. 

Courtesy image

When staff returned to SOS on June 12, they found the flooding so severe that several birds had to be evacuated from their enclosures. 

In SOS’ latest newsletter, Walton said Senior Tech Jonathan Hande found himself in near-hip-deep water to evacuate the birds and get them inside for safety. 

“It was the most extensive flooding we’ve had, even including all the hurricanes that this staff has experienced,” Walton said.

No birds were harmed during the flooding or evacuation, Walton said.

Flooding isn’t unusual for SOS, Walton said. There have been other times in less severe storms where he noticed water collecting in some areas. He suspects that it has to do with the layout of the campus. 

The storm on June 11 illustrated for Walton that when there is that much water, the campus’ existing drainage system has difficulty pumping out water. One positive from the situation, he said, was that the storm shed light on how important the issue is to address.

Recently, SOS received a $10,000 grant as a part of SBEP’s regular grant cycle. The grant will go toward SOS’ large-scale project to reconstruct the underground drainage system. 

Though the $10,000 won’t cover the entire project, Walton said it will provide a good start, first by installing the new drainage system in five new aviaries that are soon to be built. After that, the remaining funds will be used to construct the skeleton of the larger system. 

Each aviary has its own drain, according to Walton. Some have become problematic over the years and clog often, he said. 

Walton said flooding wasn’t the main problem addressed in the grant and drainage system project, but the project will help. 

The main issue instead was clean water and ensuring that the campus doesn’t add to the pollution of the bay. 

Staff at SOS scrub each aviary daily, and the used water is then deposited into the aviary’s drain. Additionally, Walton said that the birds’ ponds or water features are protected with a chemical that prevents a microbial film from building. Though the chemical is very watered-down, Walton said he wants to ensure the campus has zero impact on the bay.

“We want to be better stewards than that,” Walton said.

From the perspective of clean water, the project was attractive for the SBEP’s grant. The new system will hopefully be able to filter out anything harmful, with improved drainage as a potential benefit. 

“I think long-term, it’s a good thing for everybody,” Walton said.

This upcoming drainage improvement project will be a model for a campus-wide drainage system and set the foundation for a larger vision. Walton mentioned that DSDG Architects is working with SOS on a master plan for the campus, a long-term plan that will reimagine the entire location. 

Included in that plan is a new hospital, which Walton hopes will give his veterinary staff more space and equipment they need. Additional improvements will be made to aviaries and staff facilities. 

The master plan project is still in its early phases, Walton said.