NEWS

Sarasota County to discuss water quality at Oct. 18 event

Anne Snabes
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A family, visiting Sarasota from Pennsylvania, steps around dead fish as they walk in the surf just west of Siesta Public Beach in July. Red tide has been a serious water quality issue for Sarasota County this year.

Sarasota County will host a water quality update on Monday, Oct. 18.

The virtual event, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, will inform residents about county projects aimed at improving water quality.

“The Sarasota County Water Quality Virtual Update will share the latest science on water quality, as well as county projects and individual opportunities to improve our local watersheds,” the event’s webpage said.

Sarasota County staff and Commissioner Christian Ziegler will speak. Representatives from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation will also share information.  

The update is an extension of the Water Quality Summit that Sarasota County held in 2019, according to the press release.

Also:New pond program aims to improve water quality in Sarasota Bay, reduce red tide

More like this:Vern Buchanan says existing water quality rules need to be enforced, not pass more regulations

"Water quality is a priority issue both locally and across the state," said Lee Hayes Byron, director of Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability, in the news release. "We look forward to this opportunity to update residents and businesses who care deeply about our local waters." 

People can register by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-sarasota-county-water-quality-virtual-update-webinar-registration-169503283885. For additional information about the event, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at (941) 861-5000 or visit scgov.net.

Anne Snabes covers city and county government for the Herald-Tribune. You can contact her at asnabes@gannett.com or (941) 228-3321 and follow her on Twitter at @a_snabes.