Drainage difficulties delay volleyball tournament

The Dig the Beach Volleyball Tour Saturday on Siesta Key Beach was delayed by three hours due to flooding caused by the rainstorm last week. The delays further illustrated the storm-water drainage problems that have plagued the barrier island.

Organizers and participants expected the tournament to start at 8:30 a.m. but action didn't start until just before noon. The delay caused many potential players who feared injuries, including Uruguayan professional Adam Carambula, to forego the event.

Drainage problems also turned Beach Road into a traffic hazard, with water levels topping 2 feet in some areas.

Sarasota County has allocated all of the needed funding for the $2,834,757 Beach Road Drainage Improvements project, which is expected to correct some flooding problems. The county has already completed the design portion of the plan and forecasts a September 2013 completion date, according to the Sarasota County 2013 fiscal year preliminary budget posted last week.

The Running Water 5K for Costa Rica, organized by Quest Student Ministries at Sarasota Christian Church, also experienced a delay Saturday morning when the start of the running route was moved to avoid a sea turtle nest.

Click here for pictures of the Dig the Beach Volleyball Tour on Siesta Key and pick up a copy of the June 14 issue of the Pelican Press for more on the Beach Road Drainage Improvements project.

Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected].