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Sarasota News Leader December 27, 2013 Page 14 source for 2.1 million cubic yards of sand to Dolan was a professor in the Department of renourish Venice beaches in the early 1990s. Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia. In response to that proposal, a 1994 scientific study was undertaken by D.G. Aubrey and Wreford explained to the News Leader on Dec. Robert Dolan, who noted, "Siesta Key's sta- 19 that the breadth of the Army Corps work bility and low erosion rates are linked, both for the current project analysis includes scidirectly and indirectly, to the Big Sarasota entific investigation of the potential impacts Pass ebb shoal's capacity to shelter the key on navigation in Big Pass and on the Siesta from high wave and storm forces, as well as to shoreline, especially the island's beaches. the sand transport that occurs in conjunction In 2011, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida with the shoal, the pass, and the key. If [pro- International University — known internaposed] dredging … by the U.S. Army Corps tionally as "Dr. Beach" — named Siesta Public of Engineers is carried out, this will modify Beach the No. 1 beach in the United States. the wave and storm protection and alter the The Army Corps also is analyzing potential sediment supply to the onshore beaches." impacts to Lido, including Ted Sperling Park, At the time, Aubrey was president of his which the county owns on the southern end own consulting firm and a senior scientist of that island. The park is located at 2201 Ben at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Franklin Drive. Siesta Key took in more Tourist Development Tax revenue for the county in the 2013 fiscal year than any other location. Image courtesy Sarasota County Tax Collector's Office