Cortez in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Repairing Mosquito Control Ditches
Keeping Sarasota Bay Healthy
Photographed by McGhiever, April 3, 2026
1. Repairing Mosquito Control Ditches Marker
Roseatte [sic] Spoonbill
Blue Heron
Yesterday in Cortez
County Uses Dragline To Fight Mosquitoes
Manatee County Anti-Mosquito Control District's specially designed dragline is shown in action digging drains in the Bradenton Beach area as part of the long-range program to keep down mosquitos. Standing beside the machine is Bob Kerap, director of mosquito control work. Fred Eason is at the controls of the dragline, while Ed Eason drives the half track. The Bradenton Herald, October 18, 1951.
The stream nearby is an example of Florida's fight against mosquitoes. During the 1950s and 1960s, Florida tried to interrupt the mosquito lifecycle with dragline ditches carved into the tidal wetlands. This enabled small fish to reach and eat the mosquito larvae. This was a good concept, but the planning and implementation was flawed.
The ditches disrupted the natural flow of water in the wetlands, creating areas that were either too wet (in the ditches) or too dry (where they piled the dirt). This damaged the habitat of fish, crustaceans, birds and other wildlife. The ditches made it harder for wetlands to do their
this page online
Today in Cortez
We are fixing damaged wetlands by restoring tidal creeks and re-establishing tidal flushing. These shallow areas are crucial nurseries for snook, snapper, sheepshead, and tarpon, and also provide food for wading birds, oysters, and shrimp. When wetlands are properly leveled, they're better at filtering out pollution before it reaches Sarasota Bay. As water flows across the flat wetlands, plants and sediments absorb nutrients and other substances, protecting both marine life and the people who enjoy the Bay. The new tidal creeks in the Cortez F.I.S.H. Preserve are a great place for kayaking to observe the natural environment.
Keeping Sarasota Bay Healthy signs are a Cortez Village Historical Society project, funded with a grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program with additional support from the Florida Maritime Museum, 2025
For a Better Tomorrow...
What you can do to keep Sarasota Bay healthy
Practice responsible landscape management. Replace pavement with porosity: stones and shells permit rainwater reabsorption. Reduce runoff offertilizers, chemicals, and waste. These can overtax the coastal wetlands' vital role in filtering water entering our Bay.Photographed by McGhiever, April 3, 20262. Repairing Mosquito Control Ditches Marker
Be a safe boater. No discharges (fuel, chemicals, waste), avoid anchoring and running through shallow seagrass beds.
Protect mangroves and seagrass by reducing runoff and supporting natural habitats like the FISH Preserve.
Improve wastewater treatment. Make sure public officials understand the importance of upgrading wastewater treatment facilities to accommodate population growth.
Visit the FISH Preserve and other Florida wildlife areas on foot or by paddling to see nature in action and to learn more about these critical environments.
Educate others. Follow the QR code to read up on how to keep Sarasota Bay healthy, and share what you have learned about the important work of coastal wetlands preservation.
Erected by Cortez Cultural Center.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.
Location. 27° 28.037′ N, 82° 40.792′ W. Marker is in Cortez, Florida, in Manatee County. It can be reached from 119th Street W south of Cortez Road W. (Florida Highway 684), on the left when traveling south. The marker is at the Florida Maritime Museum, due east of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cortez FL 34215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Gulf Coast and on Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Seminole Chickee (a few steps from this marker); The Burton/Bratton Store / La Tienda de Burton/Bratton (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1890 Bratton Store / The 1912 Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert Sailors Artistic Haven/Refugio artístico de Robert Sailors (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Cortez/Bienvenido a Cortez (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Century of Community/Un siglo de comunidad (about 300 feet away); Pillsbury Boatshop/Pillsbury Tienda de Barcos (about 400 feet away); Propeller from the 1892 Steamboat 'Mistletoe' (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cortez.
Also see . . . Healthy Bay for All (QR code on marker). (Submitted on October 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
