How does stormwater management affect the residents of Bay Vista Boulevard? Let’s break it down.
Flooding
Protecting your property physically and with flood insurance. The county has their level of service graphic on this page
Flooding Aug 2024
Index of Photos overlaid on the Stormwater Design Plan
Bay Vista Blvd. Stormwater Infrastructure
Bay Vista Boulevard Design Plans
Residents can assist the Bay Vista Boulevard Association Stormwater Committee by compiling information about our neighborhood’s drainage system.
- Make a list of the pipes and/or swales that need de-silting
- Make a list of the storm drains that need repair or replacement
Bay Vista Blvd. Community Flood Map
Sarasota County Stormwater Department
How Sarasota County is addressing water quality and flooding.
Recent News
Sarasota Stormwater Department was recently formed by separating it from the Transportation Department in July, 2025. Sept. 5, 2025 was the first public meeting by the Board of County Commissioners specifically focused on the Stormwater Department. A comprehensive audit of the Department was done by a consultant, Steve Suau. Steve discussed the results of the audit in enough detail for the audience to be confident that they understand the problems and they have viable solutions. The new Department Director, Ben Quartermaine also stated the recent maintenance backlog had been completed by hiring outside contractors to supplement the workforce. He outlined the next steps to be taken by the Department. The director, consultant, and commissioners all agreed that there is no need for a tax increase to meet the short term objectives. Members of the audience were allowed to speak. By the end of the meeting they had very positive responses to the plan of action for the Stormwater Department.
The Consultant Recommendation – Stormwater Assets Status Map is 75% complete.
Lemon Bay Watershed Management Plan
Five Public Workshops have been held (zoom meetings). Agenda’s and follow-up content are available on the website. The last Workshop was on Sept. 24, 2025. Neighborhood in-person town hall sessions are coming next. The County’s website for the Lemon Bay Watershed Management Plan has a basin map that shows Ulrey being in a different basin than the rest of the Bay Vista Boulevard Community.
FEMA – Community Rating System (CRS)
Ways to lower your flood insurance premiums are explained on the FEMA website. Some of their recommendations can be implemented by residents. The Bay Vista Boulevard Association can organize and document steps we take to qualify for a better rating.
Our current CRS rating for Flood Insurance as listed in
Eligible Communities April 2025
NFIP# 125144, Sarasota County, Class 5, 25% discount
Check out your flood insurance policy to see if you are getting the discount.
Op-Ed: What is relevant to Bay Vista Blvd residents.
We have a maintenance problem that needs to be addressed first. After our stormwater infrastructure is performing as designed and we experience flooding only then can we move forward with requests for the County to correct flooding problems. We need to convince the Stormwater Department to do maintenance in a timely manner. If that does not happen, we probably need permission from the Stormwater Department to hire our own contractor to do the work.
Right now, I think it is premature to hire an engineer. Efforts should be focused on getting the Stormwater Department to do the maintenance. If we reduce the maintenance request to the pipes and structures closest to the ponds (image below) that might get our request approved sooner.
