Weather

As Hurricane Helene Nears, the Potential for Flooding Looms

We talked to the executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to learn more about potential flooding in the area.

09/24/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Preserving Paradise

The Environmental Conservancy of North Port Secures Land to Keep It Wild

"It's disturbing how much nature we’re losing by the year," says Barbara Lockhart, the nonprofit's volunteer president.

07/02/2024 By Matthew Gutierrez

End of an Era

Albritton Fruit Farms Will Likely Be Sold to Sarasota County Later This Year

The county expects to purchase the 341-acre, sixth-generation family farm for $19 million. Sarah Albritton says she and her husband hope to restart their beloved you-pick operation elsewhere.

06/04/2024 By Kim Doleatto

What Lies Beneath

Something Is Blooming on the Suncoast, and It's Not Pretty

If it's not red tide, what's that awful smell? The answer is dapis pleousa, another type of algae.

05/29/2024 By Emma Moneuse

Good News

Conservation Foundation Permanently Conserves 64 Acres Along the Manatee River

Crooked River Ranch provides opportunities for coastal resiliency, water quality protection and native habitat restoration.

02/20/2024 By Staff

Into the Wild

A New Program Aims to Protect Vulnerable Local Mangroves

Mangroves are one of the most critical parts of our ecosystem—and they're increasingly at risk.

01/31/2024 By Matthew Gutierrez

We Are the Champions

Climate Adaptation Center Announces 2024 Climate Champion Nominees

They are David Tomasko, Jessica Meszaros, Marshall Gobuty, Steve Newborn and Jennifer Rominiecki.

01/12/2024 By Staff

Looking Back

The Biggest Local Environmental Stories of 2023

From our summer heat wave to improvements in our wastewater treatment system, these are seven of the biggest environmental crises, and successes, of the past year.

12/01/2023 By Isaac Eger

Water, Water Everywhere

Sarasota Bay Water Quality Improving

Little Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay, Blackburn Bay and a portion of Sarasota Bay were proposed for removal from a list of impaired waterways. But there's still a lot to be done.

11/10/2023 By Catherine Hicks/Community News Collaborative

Let's Get Together

Filmmaker Damon Gameau Headlines a Sarasota Conference on Nature and the Environment

December's EcoSummit and Green Living Expo will stimulate audiences with a wide range of speakers and activities, including talks by Gameau and novelist Carl Hiaasen.

10/17/2023 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Development

A Developer Wants to Build 170 New Homes Next to the Celery Fields. Environmentalists Are Concerned.

Negotiations are underway to rezone 26 acres of land known as Smith Farm to facilitate its sale to Arlington, Texas-based D.R. Horton.

10/13/2023 By Jim DeLa/Community News Collaborative

Environment

Canadian Wildfires Cause Air Quality Advisory in Sarasota County

You might have noticed it's hazy outside—here's why.

10/03/2023 By Staff

Quiet Luxury

The Electric Vehicle Revolution Is Here. What Does It Mean for Sarasota?

There are now more than 3 million EVs on American roads, with more to come.

09/25/2023 By Matthew Gutierrez

Purity Test

How Clean Is Our Drinking Water?

We sent out four samples from different water sources throughout Sarasota to a private lab that specializes in analyzing environmental data to find out exactly what we are putting in our bodies.

09/21/2023 By Isaac Eger

Sinking Ships

Decaying Boats Are Often a Nuisance in Sarasota, Manatee Waters

But police have a year-old tool in which owners of vessels in peril can sign them over for rapid removal.

08/24/2023 By Catherine Hicks/Community News Collaborative

Green Dreams

Carl Hiaasen Will Headline Sarasota's Green Living Expo and EcoSummit This December

The weekend also features a trade show, film screening, panel discussions, music and more.

08/21/2023 By Staff

On a Mission

Suncoast Waterkeeper's New Patrol Boat Helps Keep Local Waters Healthy

The boat, previously used for dolphin sightseeing tours, gives the Waterkeeper a more direct way to observe the environment.

08/17/2023 By Emma Moneuse

Q & A

A New Nonprofit Wants to Rehabilitate Hundreds of Acres of Local Oyster Habitat

“Anything I can do in my power to improve the fisheries and water quality, I’m pushing hard to do it,” says Oyster River Ecology founder and executive director Damon Moore. “We’re not aiming small."

08/14/2023 By Matthew Gutierrez

Solar Curious

A New Co-op Takes the Guesswork Out of Going Solar

Sarasota and Charlotte County residents can band together for better buying power and free guidance on going solar.

07/28/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Environment

North Port Is Adding a Natural Resources Division to Help Preserve the Environment

The new division aims to respond to fast and furious development that’s exploding in south Sarasota County.

07/05/2023 By Kim Doleatto