County addresses erosion issues

County staff filled in erosion at Vamo Park Drive after receiving a complaint earlier in October.

A resident who lives near the small kayak launch emailed Sarasota County Commissioners Oct. 2 to ask the county to address the issue, as the erosion was making the ramp difficult and risky to use.

County staff fixed the eroded spots Monday morning.

George Tatge, manager of Sarasota County beaches and water access parks, said the erosion was caused both by friction from Little Sarasota Bay and stormwater runoff from Vamo Drive. The county had received erosion reports a few years ago, he said in his email, and the county had hardened parts of the road and the shoreline and also roped off two sections of the park, which narrowed the launch to help reduce erosion.

The kayak launch, even with some erosion, works well, but the erosion causes a bigger problem for motorized vessels, Tatge said. The growing popularity of the park leads to more frequent maintenance problems.