Florida Representative Greg Steube yesterday called on Lieutenant General William H. Graham, Jr., of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to permanently restore Midnight Pass, which was naturally reopened by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
In his letter to General Graham, Representative Steube emphasized the opportunity presented by the storms to address long-standing environmental and economic concerns caused by the 1984 closure of the pass by the Corps.
“ Although Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused tremendous damage in my district and across the state of Florida, the storms naturally reopened Midnight Pass between Little Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, which provided an opportunity for my constituents to experience some of the benefits of a reopened pass ,” wrote Rep. Steube.
Also, Steube highlighted the environmental benefits of reopening the pass, noting that cleaner water would flow into Little Sarasota Bay, improving water circulation, reducing pollution, and fostering the return of marine life like oysters and shrimp.
In addition to calling for the permanent restoration of Midnight Pass, Steube also urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to open Little Gasparilla Pass and Stump Pass in Charlotte County.
Similar to Midnight Pass, restoring these areas would improve the natural ecosystem and benefit the community, according to the official.