Three conveyances that feed Sarasota Bay have tested above the safety threshold for total nitrogen every year since 2022, and the Suncoast Waterkeeper is doing something about it. Their Stop the Flow of Nitrogen Campaign focuses on the neighborhoods upstream, starting near El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton, where everyday runoff carries grass clippings, pet waste and other debris straight into the bay. Excess nitrogen in the water can contribute to red tide, which makes these small yard habits bigger than they look.
The first neighborhood in the effort is The Estates at Glenn Lakes. Volunteers there marked 11 storm drains that lead directly into the bay, giving residents a visible reminder every time they walk or drive past. According to Water Quality and Pollution Specialist Pia Ronquillo-See, the goal is to stop nitrogen at the source, and the neighborhood’s response has been overwhelmingly positive since the markers went in.
Want to get involved? Residents can email [email protected] to learn how their neighborhood can join the campaign. Other Bradenton neighborhoods that drain into the bay may be contacted next. Have you ever checked where your street’s storm drains lead? Let us know in the comments.
