Midnight Pass Beach

Skarkyfl, on January 31, 2008, said:

midnightpass-reopening.org

The Midnight Pass Story... Midnight Pass was a strong, stable, naturally-formed inlet in Sarasota, Florida. It was an invaluable “saltwater doorway” between the Gulf of Mexico and Little Sarasota Bay. The pass separated the barrier islands of Casey & Siesta Keys.

The inlet ancestors of Midnight Pass date back to at least the mid-1800’s. Note the curious configuration of the pass in this 1883 topographic survey map; the bay connection is down by the Bird Islands while the Gulf exit is way up by Point of Rocks! This pass was known as Little Sarasota Pass to differentiate it from Big Sarasota Pass… which we now call simply Big Pass.

There’s abundant evidence a pass existed in this area for hundreds of years… perhaps for as long as the barrier islands! Native American Indians made their home in the Spanish Point area as evidenced by the shell mounds, burial grounds and even a fish holding pond! They would surely have settled by an active inlet for easy access to and from the Gulf of Mexico. Same for the commercial fishing industry which was originally based in the Vamo area of Sarasota County. Then there’s the Bird Islands which were likely formed from the flood tidal delta of an active inlet… following hundreds of years of sand accumulation.

In October,1921, a hurricane cut through the elongated Casey Key spit up in the Turtle Beach area… supposedly at midnight. However, for a few years the inlet was known as Musketeer’s Pass. Both Musketeer’s and Little Sarasota passes existed until 1926. Two major hurricanes came to town that year. The first pinched off flow above Musketeer’s Pass in an historic washover area and the second storm sealed for good the mouth of Little Sarasota Pass. Heron Lagoon, still 15’ deep in places, is a remnant of the historic pass configuration.

Midnight Pass rapidly migrated south until it found equilibrium opposite the Bird Islands; the spot where the influences of the north and south channels were in balance. You’d expect a pass to be located just “seaward” of the flood tidal delta of an active inlet (where sand accumulates in the bay on an incoming tide).

In the early 1960’s the Intracoastal Waterway was widened and deepened to 100 feet by 10 feet. Several earlier digs were less ambitious. But this time the improper dumping of over 200,000 cubic yards of undyked dredge spoil had a major impact on Midnight Pass. Water flow over and through the Bird Islands was disrupted and the northern channel flow was impeded. The two-channel pass system was thrown out of balance; the pass began to migrate to the north.

By 1974 the problem was obvious. Mr. Gil Waters initiated a “Save Our Waters” campaign to have the northern channel cleaned out. He submitted a petition with the signatures of thousands of concerned citizens. But nothing was done. Erosion continued, undercutting Australian Pines that fell into the channel… acting as a dam. But nothing was done. Mote Marine was forced to relocate their laboratory. And still nothing was done.

By 1983 the relentless northerly migration of Midnight Pass claimed the Mote shark tanks and threatened the property of two homeowners. State and local authorities permitted them to relocate the pass on their promise to keep it open for at least two years. Well, they plugged the pass and didn’t keep their promise. Thus began the environmental tragedy that exists to this day.

stevearvey, on March 9, 2009, said:

I have lived next to this pass for 7 months now. I spend a lot of time studying this area. Open the Pass!! It will help waters in the bay, The Ocean will help invigorate the ecosystem!!