● A half century ago, on December 16, 1975, the Sarasota County Commission adopted a resolution recognizing the outstanding values of the Myakka River and recommending that Representative L. A. "Skip" Bafalis introduce legislation to add the river to the National Wild and Scenic River System. December 16, 2025 will be the Semicentennial of Sarasota County’s expressed interest in protecting the Myakka.
● On November 10, 1978, Public Law 95-625 amended section 5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1276) to require the study of a portion of the Myakka River for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
● In July 1984, the National Park Service completed the Wild and Scenic River Study for the Myakka River. The Study found that of the 66-mile-long Myakka River 37 miles were eligible for inclusion into the national Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Study recommendation at the time was for the Myakka to be added as a state administered component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This recommendation was made prior to the advent of the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers model. The first Partnership Wild and Scenic River (the Great Egg Harbor River in New Jersey) was designated in 1992.
● On April 26, 1985, the NPS Study Report was transmitted to Congress.
● In 1985, the Florida State Legislature designated the Myakka River as the first and only state designated wild and scenic river through the Myakka River Wild and Scenic Designation and Protection Act (Florida Statute Chapter 258.01). Additionally, the legislature established the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council, following recommendations from the NPS Study Report to create a
“Management Commission”.
“Management Commission”.
● The Myakka River Management Coordinating Council represents a broad cross section of partners including: the Counties of Sarasota; Charlotte; Manatee; cities of North Port, Sarasota, Venice, Florida Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of State, Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), Florida Forest Service, Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), Manasota 88, Friends of Myakka River, Inc., Sierra Club, Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Sarasota County League of Women’s Voters, Sarasota Audubon Society, Venice Area Audubon Society, Friends of Warm Mineral Springs, Greater Charlotte Harbor Sierra Club, North Port Friends of Wildlife, Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Big Waters Land Trust, the
O Bar O Ranch and other private landowners.
O Bar O Ranch and other private landowners.
● Since 1985, the time of the Study (and based on Study recommendations) significant acquisition of publicly owned lands in Sarasota County to protect the Myakka River Watershed has increased substantially. 52 percent of the land area within the Myakka River Watershed is now under protection. The Myakka River Watershed spans a total of 593.8 square miles, 53 percent of which lies within Sarasota County. The area within the county, totaling 314.7 square miles. Notably this includes: T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve, Myakka Prairie, Big Slough Preserve, Walton Ranch Preserve, Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, RV Griffin Reserve, Deer Prairie Creek, Pinelands Reserve, Old Miakka Preserve and Myakka State Forest, along with additional Conservation lands and easements.
● In 1990, the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council completed and adopted the comprehensive River Management Plan for the Myakka Wild and Scenic River.
● In 1991, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection adopted the rule 62D-15 F.A.C. which provides additional protections to preserve the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Myakka River.
● In 1998, Sarasota County’s Myakka River Protection Ordinance and Protection Plan was adopted.
● In 1999, the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council completed and adopted the Comprehensive River Management Plan for the Myakka Wild and Scenic River.
● In September 2011, the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council updated the Myakka River Comprehensive Management Plan.
● In 2022, the Upper Myakka Lake Weir was removed (technical assistance was provided by DOI US Fish and Wildlife Service). This project took out a deteriorating weir structure at the outflow of the Upper Myakka Lake, to restore the natural flow of the Myakka River, allowing for more seasonal water level fluctuations and improving wildlife habitat.
● On December 01, 2023, the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council endorsed seeking congressional support of the designation and inclusion of the Myakka River into the National Wild and Scenic River System, managed as a Partnership Wild and Scenic River.
● In January 2024, a dedicated core team including the Chair of the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council and representatives from Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of Myakka River, National Park Service and Gulf Coast Community Foundation commenced working together to provide updates to 1984 Myakka Wild and Scenic River Study and made presentations to local community groups.
● On December 11, 2024, Representative Steube (co-sponsored by Representative Vern Buchanan) introduced H.R. 10350 proposing designation of the Myakka Wild and Scenic River as a National Partnership Wild and Scenic River with NPS added as a representative to the Myakka River Management Coordinating Council and to assist the Council with updating and implementing the Comprehensive River Management Plan through the use of Cooperative Agreements and projects to protect the
Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Myakka River.
Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Myakka River.
● On December 13, 2024, a formal agreement of cooperation between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was reached to remove Downs’ Dam and restore a natural channel through a no cost agreement between the two parties. This low-head dam structure was removed in May 2025 and work to fully restore the riverbank will continue.
● On January 23, 2025, Representative Steube (co-sponsored by Representative Vern Buchanan) introduced H.R. 642 (re-introducing previous bill under a new bill number) proposing designation of the Myakka Wild and Scenic River as a National Partnership Wild and Scenic River with NPS assisting the Council with updating and implementing the Comprehensive River Management Plan through the use of Cooperative Agreements and projects to protect the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the
Myakka River.
Myakka River.
● On February 07, 2025, the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) Policy Committee submitted a letter of support for the federal partnership Wild & Scenic River designation for the Myakka River. The Myakka River is within the CHNEP area. The NEP Policy Committee is comprised of elected leaders from all 10-counties (Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and Lee as well as many of the cities therein, in addition to state and federal officials from various natural resource management agencies such as: Southwest Florida Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Central Florida Regional Planning Council, to name a few.
● On April 22, 2025, the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted in support of Representative Steube’s H.R. 642 bill to designate the Myakka River into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
CURRENT STATUS:
● There is substantial local, state and partner interest supporting river protection and the Partnership Wild and Scenic River designation. Riverfront communities, Sarasota County, City of Venice, City of North Port, in the 34-mile section eligible for designation, participate on the local Myakka River Management Coordinating Council, which has developed and oversees an adequate Management Plan for the designation.
● NPS SER has evaluated the Myakka River Comprehensive River Management Plan and finds that the Plan, community support, current management structure, and river protections meets the established criteria for a Partnership Wild and Scenic River designation. The Myakka River has maintained its Wild and Scenic River values since 1985, and in many cases, these values have been preserved and protected further.
SEE UPDATES FOR MOST RECENT STATUS.