Decades Ago, Visionary Sarasota County Commissioners Saw the Value of Protecting the Myakka
Image: Everett Dennison
In 1975, Sarasota County commissioners lobbied to have the Myakka added to the National Wild and Scenic River System. This designation was created by Congress in 1968 to preserve “certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.” At the time, only a small portion of the Myakka was public and protected (the portion in Myakka River State Park), and Congress was concentrating on rivers in large national parks that allowed for federal management of the rivers. The Myakka did not fit that model.
Image: Courtesy Photo
That’s why, in the 1980s, the late state Sen. Bob Johnson, a Sarasota resident and passionate supporter of the environment, pushed for designation at the state level. In 1985, Florida’s legislators agreed, adopting Florida’s Myakka River Wild and Scenic Designation and Preservation Act. This provided for the Myakka River Coordinating Council and adoption of rules to protect the river from development, improper use or other adverse impacts. Since then, additional lands have been purchased along the Myakka River, including the Jelks Preserve, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and many other properties, so that a much greater length of the river enjoys protection of the shoreline and watershed.
Fast forward to 2025 and the Myakka has another chance to make the national list. Rep. Greg Steube sponsored a bill in January 2025 that would make the 34 miles of the Myakka in Sarasota County a national Wild and Scenic River. The river would remain locally managed, but if enacted, the bill could make the Myakka eligible for federal grants and funding (for example, partnership rivers can receive $200,000, which can be used to study the river, its resources and to maintain its quality). The national designation also provides recognition and status for the river so that elected officials consider its importance when new development projects come before them.
