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Sarasota News Leader September 20, 2013 Even if sand is removed from New Pass, federal and local officials will likely have to find an additional source. "The volume of sand that is needed for the Lido Beach renourishment exceeds the expected available supply of sand that currently exists in New Pass," reads the Sept. 17 county memo. BIG PASS Because of the amount of sand in Big Pass, that inlet appears to be the most viable sand source for the Lido project, Wreford said. Just north of Siesta Key, Big Pass has become the focal point for the Corps, Wreford added. The Corps is working on a plan with the City of Sarasota to dredge the inlet. In that scenario, the main purpose of the undertaking would be to harvest sand to mitigate erosion damage on Lido, but dredging could also have a secondary effect — at least temporarily — of Page 45 making the inlet more navigable for boaters, county staff says. At Tuesday's meeting, Patterson referenced the "controversial history" related to past efforts to dredge the pass. "Some of that history would be good to bring back to our board," she said. A consulting team that studied the possibility of dredging Big Pass a number of years ago showed that some removal of sand from the pass's ebb shoals — on the seaward southern portion of the pass — would be more positive than negative for the nearby stretches of beach. "But the recommendation was that amounts [dredged] be limited," Patterson pointed out. Past attempts to dredge the pass have led to lawsuits and intense political debate. Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid (right) and Longboat Town Manager Dave Bullock are ready for the joint meeting Tuesday. Photo by Norman Schimmel