Manatee County: Water released from Lake Manatee dam not to blame for flooding along Braden River

MANATEE COUNTY — More than a month after Tropical Storm Debby came through the area, Manatee County officials are trying to educate the community on how the Lake Manatee Dam works – and why they say it was not to blame for severe flooding that ruined so many homes.

Tropical Storm Debby dropped as much as 17 inches of rain in parts of the county, requiring the rescue of more than a couple hundred residents from their homes or vehicles.

Many in the community have blamed county officials for how water was released from the dam during Debby, forcing county commissioners to order an independent investigation.

“When you’re searching for answers if you’ve gone through this calamity in y our own home, you want to find answers that just make sense to you,” Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker said on Wednesday morning. “But I can tell with 100 percent certainty, the Manatee River basin and the discharge from the dam did not move through the Braden River basin and creating the flooding there.”

County officials have remained steadfast that the dam worked as designed during Debby. On Wednesday, local members of the media were invited to tour the dam and question leaders about operations.