The Big Slough Canal, in North Port, Florida, runs from its origin point, South of Edgeville, Florida, through the center of North Port, where it merges with the Myakka River. The Big Slough normally flows as a creek under I-75, down past Price Blvd. and U.S. 41, where it meets the Myakka River. The heavy rain in the area, before and during Hurricane Ian, not only saturated the coast, but flooded the swamp region to the North of North Port. The River Surge that North Port experienced, due to Hurricane Ian, reestablished antiquated river systems the area hasn’t seen fully since 1928. This geological abnormality, coupled with city development that had never experienced the old flow pattern of The Big Slough, led to a river surge event that shocked the city in waves.
