Braden River Cleanup Underway Ahead of Hurricane Season: Debris Removal, Maintenance Plans, and Flood Prevention in Focus

As hurricane season approaches, Manatee County has launched an aggressive cleanup campaign along the Braden River, aiming to reduce flood risks and restore natural water flow. The effort comes after years of resident concerns and severe flooding caused by recent storms, including the devastation from Hurricane Debby.

On March 25, county commissioners allocated $2 million to address debris and overgrowth along major waterways, including the Braden River, Buffalo Canal, Cabbage Slough, and Gamble Creek. Work began in early April, with the Braden River cleanup starting May 10. The initial results have revealed just how obstructed the river had become, with one resident noting its widened appearance post-clearance.

The section between Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and River Club Boulevard was prioritized first due to its connections with neighborhood stormwater ponds. County crews, led by contractor Rick Richards, Inc., removed massive amounts of debris using amphibious equipment capable of traversing both land and water. The specialized vehicles, such as the Gator Foot, have drastically accelerated the work, completing in 10 days what county staff estimated would have taken over a month.

An additional $7.5 million was approved on May 20 to extend clearing to 95 more locations across the county’s 545 maintained canals. For the Braden River, cleanup will continue westward to Interstate 75 and eastward to Lorraine Road. Completion is expected by mid-June.

Despite the success, county staff emphasized the limited resources available to maintain hundreds of miles of canals and natural waterways. With only 62 stormwater staff—and even fewer dedicated to debris removal—contracted assistance has become critical. Many team members are still addressing over 150 work orders left over from the 2024 hurricane season, which featured the back-to-back impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

Unlike engineered canals, the Braden River is a natural system that had previously been left untouched unless a blockage posed a direct threat. Now that work has been completed, the river has been assigned an asset number and will be monitored before and after major storms moving forward. While the county cannot use chemical vegetation treatments near sensitive habitats, such as gopher tortoise areas, mechanical clearing will now be part of regular maintenance.

County officials are urging residents to report any potential blockages using the county’s 311 system. However, staff clarified that only issues affecting water flow will be addressed. For example, mangroves or brush that do not impede drainage fall outside the stormwater department’s jurisdiction.

In the midst of county efforts, Lakewood Ranch’s parent company, Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), is also conducting a topographical survey along the river. Engineering firm Stantec is collecting elevation data behind neighborhoods such as Tumbleweed Trail and Rivers Bluff Circle. This comes after SMR launched its own investigation into the causes and severity of past flooding.

Moving forward, county staff and residents alike hope that this renewed focus on Braden River maintenance and better storm readiness will provide relief and resilience during the upcoming hurricane season.