Port Richey committee prioritizes short-term drainage fixes, explores dredging and longer-term sea-level planning

The Port Richey City Coastal Resiliency Committee on March 10 discussed near-term drainage fixes, longer-term roadway and utility adaptations and the possibility of dredging and floodplain purchases as part of a broader sea‑level rise strategy.

Committee members front‑loaded near-term priorities for areas that flood during high tides — notably Sunset Boulevard and the Old Post/Bay Boulevard corridor — and agreed to seek additional study, funding paths and agency coordination before recommending concrete capital projects to city council.

"If we do work, even a small amount," the committee’s Tracy Muzitschka said of park and shoreline projects, "we're in the process of updating all of our unit management plans for our district, which is a pretty heavy lift for this year." Muzitschka, who identified herself as representing a district parks office, urged coordination with district park plans and natural‑shoreline approaches.

Member Devon Aaron said he plans to compile permitting and historical dredging records and use artificial‑intelligence tools to prepare proposals and outreach materials. "It can basically put together a full on comprehensive ... pitch deck, and it will do it all," Aaron said, describing a tool he intends to test to accelerate permitting and grant proposals.

Why it matters: committee members said short‑term projects that improve drainage and outfall capacity could reduce routine "blue‑sky" tidal flooding now, while planning and larger capital work are required to address future storm surge and…