WCIND designates Midnight Pass a navigable waterway, as Sarasota County commissioners had requested

Regional organization to fund maintenance dredging in south Siesta Key channel

This is an Oct. 19 aerial view of Midnight Pass, which is on the southern portion of Siesta Key. Image courtesy Sarasota County

As he began his remarks to his colleagues as part of their regular meeting on Jan. 28, Sarasota County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger pointed out that Assistant County Administrator Mark Cunningham “stole my thunder” just a bit earlier that day.

In reporting on the status of County Commission priorities for 2024, Cunningham noted that the Board of Commissioners of the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND), which is based in Venice, voted during its Jan. 24 meeting to designate Midnight Pass a navigable waterway.

This is information about WCIND from its website.

The county commissioners requested that action last year, as The Sarasota News Leader reported, after Hurricane Helene in September 2024 reopened the channel between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay with her storm surge. Although the pass closed just a couple of days later, the Hurricane Milton opened it again when it struck Siesta Key on Oct. 9, 2024. Since then, the pass has remained open.

Cutsinger represents the County Commission on the WCIND board.

As Cunningham noted on Jan. 28, the designation means that the county can use WCIND development program funds for the maintenance of the channel.

Cutsinger called the WCIND board action “a great thing.”

On Dec. 17, 2024, during their regular meeting that day, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting that the WCIND take the action that Cunningham and Cutsinger noted on Jan. 28.

That resolution also called for the pass’ “associated north and south channels” to be designated as public waterways. During a Jan. 28 telephone interview with the News Leader, Justin D. McBride, executive director of the WCIND, confirmed that the WCIND commissioners approved that facet of the resolution, as well. He referenced an exhibit that was included with the county resolution.

This is the graphic that was attached to the County Commission resolution in December 2024. Image courtesy Sarasota County

The News Leader also asked McBride whether the WCIND board had discussed any amount in regard to the expense of the maintenance of the pass. No figure was approved, McBride replied.

During the Jan. 28 discussion, Chair Joe Neunder did ask staff when it would be appropriate for an Inlet Management Plan to be created for Midnight Pass. “What synergy or involvement is there with WCIND and this board,” he added, in regard to that next step?

County staff will have to work on that, Cutsinger responded. Nonetheless, he added, the WCIND Board of Commissioners will support that initiative.

Commissioner Ron Cutsinger. File image

On a related point, Cutinsger told his colleagues that he also had talked with staff in the county’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department about the installation of temporary “No Wake Zone” signage in Midnight Pass. He indicated that the staff had conveyed that request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which is the authority that handles such signage.

The effort to get that signage in place is “moving forward as well,” Cutsinger said.

Last November, the Nokomis-based environmental nonprofit organization ManaSota-88 expressed concerns to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) about threats to wildlife because of the volume of boat traffic in and out of Midnight Pass.

Neunder told Cutsinger on Jan. 28 that he also had talked with county staff about the documentation of manatees, including “a few calves,” in the area of the pass, which is “relatively heavily utilized,” as Neunder put it.

Members of the public have raised concerns about rip currents in the environs of the pass, too, Neunder indicated.

Perhaps more public education is warranted in regard to both the wildlife and rip currents, he added.

“We’re working on that right now,” Cutsinger replied, mentioning the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff again.

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