North Lido beach project completed

Local contractors working with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program have completed the development of a new tidal tributary near the North Lido Park beach access.

The restoration project will improve about 30 acres on the 70-acre site. The major effort launched in September removed non-native vegetation, excavated the tidal wetland, contoured the upland area, created dunes and planted thousands of native plants.

Florida Native Nursery recently planted more than 8,700 plants on the newly created shores. Volunteers will add more than 500 additional plants this summer with the Bay Guardians, a volunteer group supported by SBEP and Around the Bend Nature Tours.

Funding for the restoration project came from Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other project partners include the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].