Phillippi Creek residents press county to fund dredging after repeated floods

Several dozen residents from neighborhoods along Phillippi Creek told the Sarasota County Commission on Jan. 15 that the creek’s channels are clogged with storm-deposited sand and silt and that the county should pay to dredge the creek to reduce future flood damage.

Residents said rain and storm surge from three recent storms—Debbie, Helene and Milton—left sandbars and deposits that blocked normal outflow, sending water into houses at depths of up to 33 inches in multiple homes. They urged commissioners to add Phillippi Creek dredging to the county’s list of funded stormwater projects.

‘‘The sand bars that we’re seeing… block the main channel,’’ said Jim McWhorter, a licensed professional engineer who lives on the creek. McWhorter told the commission his calculations indicate the creek’s outflow is about 35% blocked and that restoring the old channels could lower storm surge for homeowners up to about four feet.

Other residents offered personal accounts. Bruce Merkel said his home, occupied for 26 years, took 22 inches in one flood, 33 inches in another and 30 inches in a third, forcing repeated, life-changing losses. ‘‘I had no insurance,’’ Merkel said. ‘‘It’s been rough. I’m just hoping you guys can look ahead and maybe help us out.’’

Speakers said the deposits are recent and dramatic: water and sand rose to waist height in yards and blocked access for boats and manatees, and homeowners reported fish kills, stagnant water and degraded habitat. ‘‘We had sand up to our waist. I’ve lived there since 2012 and we’ve never experienced anything like this,’’ said Lisa Temple of the River Forest neighborhood.

Residents and local organizers pressed two main requests: a county-funded dredge to reopen flow paths and a county-led, watershed-level assessment to set priorities for longer-term maintenance. Some speakers said they had contacted state and federal representatives and FEMA and had received conflicting answers about responsibility.

Commissioners listened and asked staff to clarify technical points, including how past dredging and changes to the creek’s geometry (bridges and channel cuts decades ago) affect current flow. The commission did not vote on a funding commitment at the meeting; speakers said they want the board to prioritize the channel work in the county’s stormwater and capital plans.

Ending: Residents said they will continue to press the commission for funding and presented photographs and maps at the meeting. Several asked for a county-funded dredging project before the next storm season to reduce the risk of repeated flooding and property loss.