Tigertail Lagoon Proposal

If Ian showed us anything, it’s nature will do what it wants. The Tigertail Beach renovation is once again pushing against nature in trying to retain a channel from the Hideaway opening to the lagoon at Tigertail a mile away. The channel is now completely closed for several hundred yards with the beach being only 20 yards wide. The cut made during a big storm last year is still open and allowing water to flow into the lagoon. Let’s try something different. Cutting a channel from Clam Bay through the south end of the lagoon on County land to the Gulf will greatly increase the free flow of water into the lagoon as well as Clam Bay and the channels throughout the NW portion of the island. This channel existed at one time. Reopening it would increase biodiversity, cleanse the water throughout the NW channels and Tigertail lagoon, and reduce boat traffic in Collier Bay and the Big Marco River. It would also reduce the distance to the Gulf for many, thus reducing use of fossil fuels and decreasing air and water pollution from boat engines by reducing time in the canals. This would also result in a big economic advantage to the city and its residents on Clam Bay by converting over 90 single family houses and hundreds of condominiums from indirect water to direct water, thus increasing homes values and the City tax base. It’s time to quit doing the same thing and expecting different results.