Coastal Advisory Committee seeks countywide coastal monitoring plan; estimates $300,000/year for physical monitoring
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Summary
The county’s Coastal Advisory Committee recommended creating a countywide coastal monitoring program (beach-profile surveys, bathymetry, aerial imagery) to support a future comprehensive Coastal Management Plan; the committee estimated about $300,000 per year for physical monitoring.
The Sarasota County Coastal Advisory Committee presented its 2025 annual report and recommended the county implement a countywide coastal-monitoring plan as the first practical step toward a comprehensive coastal-management plan.
Why it matters: Committee members told the commission that systematic monitoring (range-monument beach profiles, inlet bathymetry including ebb/flood shoals, and aerial photography) would provide an evidence base for beach-nourishment, inlet management and grant applications and help document storm impacts over time.
Key recommendation and cost estimate: The committee recommended launching a physical monitoring program that would coordinate existing monitoring (Town of Longboat Key, Venice, Lido, South Siesta) and fill data gaps. The committee provided a conservative rough-order estimate of about $300,000 per year to implement the expanded physical monitoring across county beaches and inlets.
Board engagement: Commissioners praised the committee’s work and asked staff to help develop a budget estimate and implementation steps. Committee chair Stacy Roberts said the monitoring plan would include range-monument beach-profile surveys at existing state monuments, targeted bathymetric surveys of inlet channels and shoals, and aerial imagery to document shoreline and sand volumes.
Next steps: Committee and staff will continue refining the proposed scope and a budget estimate for board consideration.