If a tree falls into Curry Creek…

…does it make a sound that the City or County can hear? Yes, when residents are engaged and involved!

Venice Thrives applauds the City of Venice and Sarasota County, who are discussing a potential maintenance responsibility exchange of Curry Creek (County) for Deertown Gully (City), as announced at the July 8 City Council Meeting. The current maintenance responsibilities are fragmented, and Venice residents with concerns about flooding in those areas have not been able to get clear answers. We hope that an interlocal agreement can be reached that clarifies responsibility for the important task of maintaining unobstructed waterflow. The City and County stormwater systems direct millions of gallons of stormwater into these waterways and others, such as Flamingo Ditch.

Curry Creek
The Central Venice Coalition, a group representing homeowner and condo associations in Central Venice, is advocating for the City and County to better coordinate the maintenance of the Curry Creek waterway after flooding from recent hurricanes. As shown in the images below, the current maintenance responsibility is complex patchwork that requires a detailed key with ten different color codes for approximately five miles of waterway.

Map showing maintenance responsibilities and lengths of waterways including Curry Creek and Blackburn Canal in Venice, Florida, with color-coded lines indicating jurisdictions.
Image source: 7/8/25 City of Venice Stormwater Department Presentation to Venice City Council
A detailed document outlining the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for Curry Creek, Blackburn Canal, and Curry Creek Canal, featuring color-coded sections for various maintenance jurisdictions.

Deertown Gully
Members of the Friends of Deertown Gully and other neighbors of this small waterway on the island have also struggled with a lack of accountability. People who called the County for help were told to call the City, then called the City and were told to call the County. A neighborhood improvement grant application could not be submitted this year because neither County nor City staff could provide land-use permissions. It is hoped that these issues will be resolved with the interlocal agreement.

Next Steps
The City is preparing a proposal for the potential terms of the maintenance exchange that will require approval by County staff then final approval by the City Council and Board of County Commissioners. Stay tuned for updates!
For more details, see the Venice City Council website for the July 8, 2025, meeting agenda and materials or to view the recording.