Coastal resilienceFlorida coastal communities’ infrastructure officials say state government ignores sea level rise

St. Augustine, Florida, America’s oldest city, is experiencing more floods today than in the past. Its centuries-old Spanish fortress and other national landmarks sit feet from the Atlantic Ocean, the waters of which flood the city’s narrow streets about ten times a year. As sea levels increase due to climate change, city officials are looking to the state for help, but Republican Governor Rick Scott’s administration has done little to address climate change and its consequences.

Environmental and water officials serving communities along Florida’s 1,200-mile coastline say the state government has rejected the scientific consensus on man-made climate change. These officials are worried that unprecedented flood levels will erode their buildings, push seawater into drinking water wells, and overburden aging flood-control systems.

Hallandale Beach has already abandoned six of eight drinking water wells because of saltwater intrusions.

The Star Tribune reports that despite warnings from water and climate experts about risks to Florida’s cities and drinking water, deniers and skeptics of climate change science have suppressed efforts at all levels of state government to address these risks.

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Also noted:

Web app helps Miami residents visualize how sea level rise affects their homes, 30 April 2015

$500 million, 5-year plan to help Miami Beach withstand sea-level rise, 6 April 2015

Miami Beach to raise West Avenue in the face of sea-level rise, 26 January 2015

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An AP review of thousands of documents pertaining to Florida’s preparations for sea level rise show that the state’s environmental agencies under Scott have been downsized and their budget reduced, making them less effective at coordinating state-wide sea level rise planning.

“If I were governor, I’d be out there talking about it (sea level rise) every day,” said Eric Buermann, the former general counsel to the Republican Party of Florida who also served as a water district governing board member. “I think he’s really got to grab ahold of this, set a vision, a long-term vision, and rally the people behind it. Unless you’re going to build a sea wall around South Florida, what’s the plan?”

While many cities lack the money to carry out massive infrastructure projects to combat rising seas, Miami Beach is spending $400 million on new stormwater pumps to keep sea water from overwhelming outdated sewer systems. Still, a statewide plan to address sea level rise is the most effective strategy. If one city builds a seawall, it might divert water to a neighboring city, the Tribune notes.

Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has taken no official position on sea level rise, according to state documents. The agency’s spokeswoman, Lauren Engel, said DEP’s strategy is to aid local communities and others through the state’s routine beach-nourishment and water-monitoring programs. That strategy does little to prevent what climate scientists predict will happen if communities take too long to respond to sea level rise.

“Only when the frequency of flooding increases will people get nervous about it, and by then it will be too late,” St. Augustine’s civil engineer Reuben Franklin said. “There’s no guidance from the state or federal level. … Everything I’ve found to help I’ve gotten by searching the Internet.”