County examines Harbor Acres flooding issues

When it rains in Sarasota during the summer, it floods.

It’s a natural byproduct of a confluence of factors. Heavy rains, proximity to the bay, aging infrastructure and urban development increase the odds that water will build up instead of draining without issue. In some cases, it’s just a fact of life.

In the Harbor Acres neighborhood, located on the bayfront just south of Hudson Bayou, residents believe their problems are more complicated. Bonnie Lancaster has lived in the area for more than 30 years. Over that time, she’s seen the annual flooding issues get steadily worse.

“I get so much water in front of my house that it’s unsafe,” Lancaster said. “I’m not even able to leave my house.”

The flooding doesn’t just happen after significant weather events, like named storms. Normal afternoon rain will leave water standing in her driveway and the street in front of her house. And, from what she can gather, there’s no easy solution.

County officials are aware of the problem, and they agree it’s a particularly challenging situation. They have identified a short-term change they think will help, though, and are working on addressing the flooding in the long-term, too.

First, the quick fix: Throughout Sarasota, flooding is often exacerbated when vegetation washes into drains, according to county Stormwater Utility Manager Molly Williams. This is particularly problematic in Harbor Acres, where the water gets cleared through grated inlets. The smaller openings amplify the effects of blockages.

“Even if it’s cleared out ahead of time, there’s vegetation that gets blown off the trees,” Williams said. “That blocks the grates, and water sits on the road and builds up.”

Beginning next month, the county will start installing “open throat” intakes along curbs in the neighborhood. Those wider openings will have a basket inside, designed to catch any vegetation and prevent blockages.

“This will probably alleviate a lot of the problem,” Lancaster said. “Right now, we have to go out there and clear the drain.”

Even when the county finishes that project in August, residents and officials believe more needs to be done. Lancaster said there’s been a change in building standards in the neighborhood during the past several decades.

Builders used to construct homes just a few feet above sea level. Now, regulations require an 11-foot base level of elevation in the neighborhood. As a result, newly constructed homes can sit more than a dozen feet above a neighboring property.

Water works its way down to the lowest point possible. For people like Lancaster who have older homes, that means dealing with more pronounced flooding problems. As more homes get rebuilt, it means a heavier concentration of water in the streets.

“There’s no way the neighborhood can manage the water if any more houses are torn down and built up,” Lancaster said.

The stormwater system dates back to the 1940s, when the sea level was a foot lower. Originally, the neighborhood was platted for 3,000-square-feet lots. New homes in Harbor Acres are closer to 12,000 square feet.

Often, it floods because the rain has nowhere else to go.

“There’s not necessarily a blockage,” Williams said. “It’s just high tide.”

In January, the County Commission approved a $162,830 contract with engineering firm Kimley-Horn to further study the issue — and hopefully, to identify solutions. The study will consider building regulations, sea level rise and the county’s access to land in the area where it could install improved infrastructure. Officials hope the findings will be applicable to other neighborhoods dealing with similar issues.

To fund any improvements, Harbor Acres residents might have to pay a special assessment, because the county’s stormwater utility doesn’t collect money for capital projects.

Even though there won’t be a definitive resolution anytime soon, Lancaster is appreciative officials are taking a serious look at the flooding problems in the neighborhood.

“I do think it’s time to step back and evaluate what they’re doing going forward,” Lancaster said. “Nobody’s going to be able to drive in the streets.”