Hurricane Helene’s storm surge has reopened Midnight Pass in Sarasota County – at least temporarily.

In the middle of the destruction The impact on barrier island topology caused by the Category 4 hurricane over a huge stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast could reshape a decades-long debate. Just this month, Sarasota County commissioners addressed the controversy surrounding a historic pass that has been closed since 1983.

Numerous videos were shared on social media, many online Restore midnight pass now group on Facebook, show water that now flows between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay. It is unclear how deep a channel has formed, but it appears to be large enough to be seen by small aircraft.

Sen. Joe Grutersa Republican from Sarasota, also confirmed that the pass had been opened.

Just this month, Sarasota County commissioners voted to lobby the Legislature for a change in the law to allow the waterway to reopen based on the fact that it was closed by humans, not nature.

Such action has pitted environmental groups and government agencies against each other almost since the pass was closed, an action originally taken to protect homes. including one of the late artist Syd Solomon.

The Midnight Pass Society, which has formed in several stages over the years, has advocated for Sarasota County and the state of Florida to reopen the pass.

“It’s time to bring the natural beauty of Little Sarasota Bay back to life,” one website says Midnight Pass Society.

Lawmakers this year budgeted $500,000 for a study on the impacts of dredging the pass to allow water to flow.

But environmental groups have long opposed such moves, saying the ecology of Little Sarasota Bay has changed since the pass was first closed. Additionally, the group said there were indications that any dredging work would prove unsuccessful at this point.

“Historically, Midnight Pass lost its tidal interchange many years ago,” he said Glenn ComptonChairman of Manasota-88. “We doubt the dredging would ever be successful.”

He was surprised to hear that Hurricane Helene’s storm surge resulted in a surge of water, but said the question now is whether that will continue.

“If it stays open, if it is actually open, it would be far too early to say what will change,” he said. “If it’s reopened there’s no reason to dredge it, but I doubt it will stay open for any period of time.”

It is also too early to know whether reintroducing saltwater to the estuarine environment of Little Sarasota Bay will have significant impacts on the natural habitats there.

But if the pass is permanently restored, it could end the debate over the costs and consequences of government action.

“Whatever happens will largely depend on the natural forces that occur,” Compton said. “If Mother Nature decides to reopen the pass, then so be it.”

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