MIAMI, Florida -- USACE Norfolk District, in partnership with Miami-Dade County, has released the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study Integrated Draft Report and Environmental Assessment for public review and comment.
The draft report is a detailed summary of the coordination, plan formulation and alternatives evaluations for addressing coastal storm risk for highly vulnerable communities in Miami-Dade Co. The draft report reflects an extensive collaboration among Miami-Dade Co., the study’s non-federal sponsor, municipalities, diverse stakeholders and environmental resource agencies. The report and its supporting appendices detail an interim response comprising actionable recommendations for managing storm surge flooding risks in the short-term, while additional study efforts continue.
“This report marks the initial stride in a comprehensive long-term collaborative strategy with our partner, Miami-Dade Co., aimed at improving coastal resiliency,” said Col. Brian Hallberg, USACE Norfolk District Commander. “We value the public’s input during this critical comment period, recognizing its integral role in refining the report and ensuring its effectiveness in addressing community needs.”
The report is also considered an integrated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document, meaning it discusses current environmental conditions, the potential impacts and benefits of considered alternatives, and documents environmental compliance status with federal and state resource agencies pursuant to NEPA.
“This Draft Report is a major milestone in our journey to make Miami-Dade Co. future-ready and to protect our residents and businesses from increased storm surge,” said Miami-Dade Co. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
“From the beginning of this process, we’ve listened to the community and incorporated your feedback. We now ask our residents to offer their input once again as we continue refining the plan to include the nature-based solutions and other measures you have suggested. This will maximize our golden opportunity to receive federal funding to advance projects that provide yet another layer of integrated protection for our community.”
The report includes a mix of initial recommended measures to reduce coastal storm damage, prioritizing communities at the highest risk for storm surge flooding. These include non-structural strategies such as floodproofing critical infrastructure such as fire stations, wastewater pump stations and the like, elevating residential structures and floodproofing nonresidential buildings such as commercial sites and businesses.
The report also includes a request for Congress to authorize two new programs, a Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Pilot Program and a Nonstructural Program. The NBS Pilot Program proposes working with partners to design, implement and monitor a mix of NBS projects. The aim is to study storm surge damage reduction and ecosystem health benefits to improve USACE’s ability to apply effective solutions in other current and future coastal storm risk management feasibility studies.
The Nonstructural Program is designed to develop and implement nonstructural measures for unique buildings for which USACE policy guidance and implementation practices are presently under development.
How can the public provide input?
Links for reviewing the report and its supporting documents may be found on the study webpage – https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
Comments may be submitted via email to mdbb-csrmstudy@usace.army.mil or through the Public Commenting Tool at https://arcg.is/0ub0Cf.
Comments must be received by May 23, 2024, for consideration.
The feedback will be reviewed by the joint USACE-Miami-Dade Co. study team and considered to inform the development of the final feasibility report, which USACE aims to complete in time for congressional authorization and appropriation in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024.