PI: Jason Evans, Stetson University
Recap: Researchers developed a regional Sea Grant partnership to work with local governments to identify a suite of local green infrastructure projects that would foster transportation resilience.
Relevance: Communities in the South Atlantic coastal region are increasingly experiencing the effects of flooding from sea-level-rise, which impacts local stormwater facilities, transportation infrastructure, and private homes and businesses. This impacts the quality of life for residents faced with disruption from essential services and reduced mobility. The effects of rising seas and flooding are experienced differently by coastal communities. So, much can be learned from addressing this issue at a regional perspective.
Response: The South Atlantic Sea Grant programs partnered with the NOAA Office of Coastal Management, four universities, and five coastal communities to identify transportation corridors that could benefit from green infrastructure interventions. Candidate projects range from neighborhood-scale rain gardens (Cape Canaveral, FL), wetlands restoration that mitigate flooding of major thoroughfares (New Hanover County & New Bern, NC), and living shorelines to address roadside erosion (Chatham County, GA & Georgetown County, SC).
Results: With the assistance of South Atlantic Sea Grant partners, all of the participating communities are actively moving from green infrastructure project identification and assessment into implementation. Innovative funding models are being pursued, along with holistic monitoring protocols to evaluate environmental, economic, and social performance of the green infrastructure interventions over the long-term.
Partners: Brevard County; Monroe County; Volusia County Environmental Management
