Inside the fight over wetland protections in Manatee County

This collection of stories covers how Manatee County leaders removed local wetland protections in 2023 at the request of developers, sparking community backlash and ongoing efforts to restore the protections.

In 2025, a new group of commissioners is attempting to reinstate the environmental protections, but faces a fresh obstacle from the state. Several Florida agencies have cited a 2023 law known as Senate Bill 250, claiming that it prohibits Manatee County from restoring local environmental protections.

With a vote to restore wetland protections temporarily delayed, commissioners have vowed not to give up on the issue.

Read the stories below.

45 acres of wetlands are under construction as plans for phase one of Bradenton’s Lake Flores project have been submitted to Manatee County by new owners.

NO. 1: AFTER YEARS OF WATER ISSUES, MANATEE COUNTY WANTS TO CUT BACK ON WETLANDS PROTECTIONS

How it all started. | Published August 9, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

Local environmentalists have raised concerns over recent mangrove trimming along Sarasota Bay where Aqua by the Bay and Cirrus Apartments at Aqua are under construction on El Conquistador Blvd. Shown is Cirrus at Aqua apartments under construction.

NO. 2: ‘WE MUST DO BETTER.’ BRADENTON RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST CUTS TO WETLANDS PROTECTION

“The abundance of sea life is gone. We can do better. We must do better,” one resident said. | Published August 10, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

At the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage’s roughly 100-acre preserve in the fishing village of Cortez, mangroves are numerous - and a key feature of the surrounding wetlands.

NO. 3: MANATEE COUNTY OFFICIALS OK CUTS TO WETLANDS PROTECTIONS. BUT IT’S NOT A DONE DEAL YET.

Only one Manatee County commissioner spoke out against the proposed changes. | Published August 17, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Callihan

Brice Claypoole founded Kids for our Wetlands to educate people and help protect sensitive lands in Manatee County.

NO. 4: ‘WE LOVE OUR WATERS.’ KIDS FOR CLEAN WATER PROTEST MANATEE’S WETLAND PROTECTION CUTS

The group appealed to commissioners ahead of a final vote. | Published October 2, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

Looking south towards Cirrus and Aqua along El Conquistador Pkwy. overlooking Sarasota Bay. Manatee County Government officials are on the verge of minimizing a rule that protects natural Florida wetlands from the environmental impact of developing new homes and businesses. Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.

NO. 5: WILL MANATEE COUNTY CUT WETLAND PROTECTIONS? SCIENCE AND DEVELOPER INTERESTS CLASH

Inside the debate over the effectiveness of wetland buffers. | Published October 4, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg and Ryan Callihan

Several people protested the proposed changes to the counties wetland buffers during a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

NO. 6: MANATEE COUNTY VOTES TO CUT LOCAL WETLAND PROTECTIONS IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPER INTERESTS

Commissioners argued that rights to develop property outweighed the science backing local wetland protections. | Published October 5, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg and Ryan Callihan

Former commissioner Joe McClash addresses the board during a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

NO. 7: FORMER OFFICIAL FILES LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST MANATEE DECISION TO CUT WETLAND BUFFERS

The rollback of environmental protections in favor of development interests and “property rights” drew strong opposition from residents and scientists. | Published November 28, 2023 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

Looking westward towards Anna Maria Island from El Conquistador near the developments of Aqua, Cirrus, and soon, Lake Flores. Manatee County Government officials are on the verge of minimizing a rule that protects natural Florida wetlands from the environmental impact of developing new homes and businesses. Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. By Tiffany Tompkins

NO. 8: CHALLENGE TO MANATEE COUNTY WETLAND BUFFER ROLLBACK DIES. IS NEW FLORIDA LAW TO BLAME?

A former county commissioner says a new Florida law killed his legal challenge. Here’s what happened. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

Views of the developments along El Conquistador Parkway on Sarasota Bay called Aqua and Cirrus. By Tiffany Tompkins

NO. 9: MANATEE COUNTY OFFICIALS MOVE TO RESTORE WETLAND PROTECTIONS AFTER ELECTION SHAKEUP

Restoring the buffers will require more public hearings, according to the county attorney. | Published September 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ryan Callihan and Ryan Ballogg

NO. 10: WILL FORMER MANATEE OFFICIAL PAY $250K FEE AFTER WETLAND BUFFER CHALLENGE? BOARD DECIDES

Newly elected Manatee County commissioners weighed in on the issue during their very first meeting. | Published November 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

06/22/21—The State of Florida wants to preserve 2,300 acres of environmentally sensitive Terra Ceia mangrove swamps and flatwoods.

NO. 11: WHEN WILL MANATEE COUNTY WETLAND PROTECTIONS BE RESTORED? OFFICIALS LOOK FOR FASTER WAY

Newly elected commissioners are trying to get the protections back on the books sooner. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

Cirrus at Aqua Apartments from the Sarasota Bay shown here on April 24, 2025. By Tiffany Tompkins

NO. 12: ARE WETLAND CHANGES ILLEGAL? MANATEE SETS UP SHOWDOWN WITH FLORIDA OFFICIALS

Angry commissioners said they would fight state efforts to stop the return of local environment protections. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ryan Ballogg

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.