Internet search for historical information on Midnight Pass:
The top hit was the homepage of the Midnight Pass Society, which I recognized as the group spearheading the campaign to get the inlet flowing again. The Society is responsible for all of the “LET IT FLOW!” bumper stickers that I have seen on cars everywhere... Here’s a synopsis of what they claimed were the events leading up to the closing of the pass:
1883: Chart shows existence of pass in the area, archeological evidence indicates existence of pass for more than 1000 years- 1921: October, at midnight a hurricane carved a pass in between Casey Key and Siesta Key, which came to be known as Midnight Pass. Subsequent hurricanes resulted in migration of the pass southward until it came to rest near Bird Islands.
- 1960’s: Large scale dredging of Intercoastal Waterway caused a significant disruption in water flow through the Pass, which began a northward migration.
- 1974: Local citizen Gil Waters collects thousands of signatures requesting maintenance of the pass and restoration to its normal flow, but nothing was done. The Mote Marine Laboratory was forced to relocate as the Pass threatened to erode away their shark tanks.
- 1983: Pass migration threatens two private homes owned by Paso Carter and internationally acclaimed artist Syd Solomon, who petition the county and state to be allowed to close the pass. The permit is approved, with provision that they will keep it open for two years.
- 1983: Midnight Pass was filled in and closed by bulldozers on December 6th, never to be opened again. No environmental impact studies were completed prior to closing.
- 1984: Blue Ribbon Committee study conclusion: Open the pass.
- 1989: Coastal Planning/Engineering study conclusion: Open the pass.
- 1990: Application to state for permit to open pass: denied by Dept. of Environmental Resources.
- 2001: Study by Mote Marine Laboratory, conclusion: Open the pass.
- 2003: The Syd Solomon house is barricaded off and demolished as it was being engulfed by the sea and eroded away. The other house remaining required emergency steel embankments to protect it.
- 2003: Erickson Engineering Assessment of Feasibility to Restore Midnight Pass, conclusion: Open the pass.
- 2004: Sarasota Board of County Commissioners authorizes finds to secure permit to restore Midnight Pass.
Other interesting information:
- Pollutants and freshwater are now trapped in Little Sarasota Bay, left to accumulate in a massive, man-made null zone.
- Vast and vibrant seagrass beds have been destroyed.
- Some contend that a new ecosystem has developed, but it is poorer than original.
- As a direct result of closure, erosion of South Siesta Key has been accelerated. County is now faced with a multi-million dollar beach renourishment project.
- Pass closing resulted in disappearance of Quahog mussle population.
- Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program concluded that “Little Sarasota Bay has much poorer water quality” than adjoining bays. Restoring Midnight Pass would result it “...a possible increase in seagrass habitat of 448 acres.”
- Man closed Midnight Pass. Man has a responsibility, an obligation, to recognize the errors of the past and to do whatever can reasonably be done to restore Midnight Pass and the historic marine community that once thrived in the area.
- The 30-year maintenance costs of a restored Midnight Pass are considerably less than the cost of continually renourishing South Siesta Key beaches.
Thursday, February 9th, 2006
