preparing for a sea change: a strategy for florida coast - summary

8/9/2019 Preparing for a Sea Change: A Strategy for Florida Coast - Summary

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A Strategy to Cope with the Impacts o Global Warming on the States Coastal and Marine System

Caribbean Conservation Corporation, Environmental Deense Fund, Gul Restoration Network, National WildlFederation, Natural Resources Deense Council, Ocean Conservancy, Ree Relie, Te Surrider Foundati

Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalitio

Executive Summar


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Preparing For A Sea Change In Florida

Foreword

As a longtime Florida resident, as well as an ocean lover, explorer and scientist, I amdeeply aware o the essential role that the coasts and ocean play in the lie o this greatstate. From the coral rees in the Keys to the glorious Panhandle beaches, rom thequiet bays near Clearwater, where I grew up, to the oyster beds o Apalachicola Bay, thesurfng beaches o the Atlantic and the estuaries o the Gul, Florida possesses a rich

coastal and ocean heritage. Tis heritage is threatened today as never beore. Sea leverise, extreme weather patterns, warming waters and increasing ocean acidifcation areall predicted to result rom the build up o CO

2in the atmosphere. No state is more

likely to suer these impacts than Florida, with its low- lying and ood- prone areasextensive coastline and high coastal population density. Florida can and must be a leadernot only in curbing the build up o C0

2and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

but also in implementing smart, common-sense coastal and ocean policies that willhelp preserve the states natural coastal and ocean heritage. Tis guide, put togetherwith careul thought by an impressive coalition o conservation organizations, lays out

a roadmap or State policymakers to ollow in preserving that heritage. Te pathway is clear; what is needed now

is action.

Sylvia A. Earle, marine biologist, is the ormer chie scientist o the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration. She is chairman o Deep Ocean Exploration and Research and has served as explorer-in-residenceat the National Geographic Society since 1998. She is a trustee o Floridas Mote Marine Laboratory and graduatedrom St. Petersburg College and Florida State University (Duke PhD). She serves on various corporate andnonproft boards, including the Ocean Conservancy, the Explorers Club and as honorary trustee o the NaturalResources Deense Council.

Sylvia A. Earle,Marine Biologist


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Execut ive Summar y

Florida is unique not only or her beauty and wealth o marine resources but her position o leadership and abilityto orge a path or coastal communities worldwide to proactively ace the looming and potentially devastatingimpacts o climate change. Te Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition, a group o environmental organizationsworking together to conserve, protect and restore Floridas coastal and marine environment examines an ecosystem-based approach to coastal and ocean management in light o climate change, along with the important linkagesbetween the health o Floridas economy and the health o its beaches and dunes, coral rees, mangroves, seagrasses, wetlands and other natural resources.

Floridas coastal and marine habitats and the numerous ecological and economic resources they provide areinvaluable to the millions o people who live in Florida or visit the state each year. Te world class beaches generatetens o billions o dollars rom tourism and recreation and provide habitat or numerous species o birds, seaturtles, and other wildlie. Coastal marshes, mangrove orests, seagrass beds, and other habitats remove excessnutrients and pollutants, act as a buer against ooding, and support the vast majority o Floridas marine fshand shellfsh. And the coral rees in the Southeast and the Florida Keys are home to thousands o marine speciessupport a thriving tourism industry, and protect Floridas coasts rom erosion and storm damage. Tese coastaland marine systems defne Florida and rame the lives o Floridians.

Unortunately, Floridas coastal and marine systems already have experienced serious degradation as a result oa variety o actors, including pollution, poorly sited coastal development, altered reshwater ows, and harmufshing practices. Numerous restoration and protection eorts have been undertaken to tackle these problemsbut the uture o Floridas coastal and ocean resources also depends on addressing the very real threat o globalwarming. With Floridas human population expected to grow considerably in the coming decades, proactivelyconronting these challenges today is o paramount importance.

Global Warming and Florida

Few coastal states are as vulnerable to the consequences o global warming as Florida, and we are already startingto see its eects. Average temperatures in parts o the state have increased by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit sincethe 1960s (U.S. EPA, 1997). Without a signifcant reduction in global emissions o carbon dioxide (CO

2) and

other heat-trapping greenhouse gases over the next ew decades, average temperatures in Florida will continue toincrease in the coming decades, with average low temperatures in winter increasing 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheitand average high temperatures in summer increasing 3 to7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 (Harwell, Gholz, and Rose2001).

Global warming means more than just hotter weather. It is contributing to higher ocean temperatures, more-extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. In addition, the higher concentration o CO

2in the atmosphere is

directly altering the chemistry o our oceans, causing the water to become more acidic (Kleypas, et al., 2005). Le

unchecked, all o these changes will have a proound impact on Floridas coastal and marine ecosystems:

Rising sea levels will increase erosion o beaches, cause saltwater intrusion into water supplies, inundate coastamarshes and other important habitats, and make coastal property more vulnerable to storm surges.

More-extreme weather events, including intense rainall, foods, droughts, and tropical storms, will alter reshwate fows into estuaries and lagoons, exacerbate polluted runo and water supply problems, and damage coastahabitats and property.

Higher ocean temperatures will cause extensive coral bleaching, enhance marine diseases, alter species ranges andpopulation abundances, and harm sheries.


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Higher ocean acidity will inhibit the ability o corals and other marine organisms to build up calcium carbonatethe substance that orms their protective skeletons.

Meeting the Challenge

While it may seem daunting, Florida has a real opportunity to conront these collective problems but it will takea concerted eort on two important ronts: minimizing global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions,

and preparing or changes that are already underway.

First and oremost, Florida and the rest o the nation must work to lessen the impact o global warming by reducingthe pollution causing it. In particular, the State o Florida, Congress and the administration must place mandatorylimits on the nations global warming pollution to ensure we meet the necessary target o an 80 percent reductionin emissions below current levels by 2050 [see Box 1 on page 12].

However, even i we successully achieve critical greenhouse gas reduction goals, Florida is still acing impactsrom climate change over the coming decades due to the continuing eects o greenhouse gases that are alreadyin the atmosphere and those that we will continue to emit while transitioning to new energy sources. New andenhanced ecosystem restoration and adaptation strategies will be needed.

Tis report outlines the issues and concerns, but more importantly, identifes a series o recommended actions orlocal, state and ederal agencies to cope with the signifcant challenges posed by rising sea levels, more-extremestorm events, higher ocean temperatures, and acidifcation o ocean waters. Some o the recommended actionswill require Floridas Governor, Legislature, and Congressional delegation to provide the directives, undingmechanisms, and leadership to move orward. However, many programs and policies are already in place andcan be used to begin making adaptive changes to a warming world. Tese recommendations, more ully detailedwithin, can be summarized as ollows:

To prepare for sea-level riseFlorida and the ederal government must take steps to implement ecologically and economically sound adaptivepolicies and strategies that discourage development in vulnerable areas and support eorts to site structures artherlandward o eroding shorelines. Tis is essential not only to help reduce the serious risks to human saety and welbeing o communities, but also to ensure the preservation o beaches, dunes, and other natural coastal habitats thaare so important to our economy and quality o lie. For example:

Te state should undertake a comprehensive reevaluation o the Coastal Construction Control Line regulatoryprogram to ensure that it is accomplishing the intended goals o protecting lie, property, and the beach/dunesystem.

Te Florida Department o Environmental Protection and other relevant agencies should develop state wetlands

conservation and restoration plans that promote designation o wetland migration as sea levels rise, therebyprotecting the valuable benets they provide.

Federal, state, and local governments should replace economic incentives or private development in high riskcoastal areas with incentives to relocate and build in other areas and invest in coastal conservation.

To deal with extreme weather eventssuch as heavy downpours and droughts, Florida and ederal agencies must emphasize the protection and restorationo shoreline and streamside riparian vegetation and wetlands, upgrade stormwater management to take account o


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more requent and heavier rainall events, and increase water use e ciency and opportunities or benefcial reuseFor example:

Te Florida Department o Environmental Protection should upgrade stormwater regulations, taking the likelihoodo heavier rainall events into consideration. Policies should ocus on Low Impact Development methods, both ornew developments and retrots in existing developed areas.

Te Florida Department o Environmental Protection should evaluate/revise the Florida Water Plan (and regiona

water management plans) to explicitly address climate change.Te States o Florida, Georgia, and Alabama should actively engage in a collaborative eort to develop andimplement a long-term regional water management plan that incorporates climate change and takes a morecoordinated approach to water management.

To reduce the impacts of higher ocean temperaturesFlorida and ederal agencies must work to protect and restore coastal and marine ecosystems in order to enhancetheir ability to deal with the additional stresses caused by climate change. For example:

Te Florida Department o Environmental Protection should evaluate and monitor the eectiveness o the statescollective coastal and aquatic managed areas and coastal zone management programs in supporting biologica

diversity among sh and wildlie species and should develop strategies to strengthen these programs.

Te Fish and Wildlie Conservation Commission should promote the rebuilding o depleted coastal and oceansh populations since depleted populations will have a harder time dealing with the additional stresses posed byclimate change and warming waters.

Congress should enact climate adaptation legislation that would provide unding as well as require ederal andstate agencies to protect and strengthen the health o coastal and ocean ecosystems.

To address acidificationFlorida and the nation must be leaders in eorts to minimize global warming through signifcant reductions in

greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to supporting research and monitoring eorts to assess and mitigate theimpacts o acidifcation on fsh and wildlie.

Federal and state agencies should make monitoring o ocean pH and calcication rates a part o the coral monitoringplans in the ortugas Ecological Reserve, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Parkand Oculina Bank Habitat Areas o Particular Concern.

Relevant ederal and state agencies should invest in studies to better understand the ecological impacts o oceanacidication.

By implementing these and the other recommendations expounded in the ull report (available at: www

coastalandocean.org/PreparingoraSeaChange), we can help change the orecast or Floridas coastal and oceanresources and ensure that the economic opportunities, ecological benefts, and outdoor traditions they providewill endure or generations to come.


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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to science icon, ocean adventuress, and longtime Florida resident Sylvia Earle or not only the oreword to thisreport but or her lies work committed to better understanding and conservation o our oceans.

Many thanks to Patty Glick, primary author o this report, or her patience, dedication, and hard work. Sincere appreciationas well to David Conrad, Senior Resource Specialist, National Wildlie Federation; Raychelle Daniel, Conservation ScientistOcean Conservancy; Robert E. Deyle, Proessor, Department o Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University; erryGibson, Projects Editor, Florida Sportsman Magazine; Dennis Heinemann, Senior Scientist, Ocean Conservancy; CharlesPattison, President, 1000 Friends o Florida; Lisa Suatoni, Ocean Scientist, Natural Resources Deense Council; Craig QuiroloMarine Projects Director, Ree Relie; Amanda Staudt, Global Warming Scientist, National Wildlie Federation; and HalWanless, Proessor o Geology, University o Miami or providing meaningul comments and guidance in the developmeno this report. In addition, thank you to John Wark with Florida Media Strategies or shepherding this report through fnadesign and public release. Special thanks to World Wildlie Fund or contributing resources toward the reports release.

Te Steering Committee members o the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition each developed, directed, and authoredsignifcant portions o this report. Steering Committee members are: Gary Appelson, Caribbean Conservation CorporationSarah Chasis, Natural Resources Deense Council; Ericka DAvanzo, Te Surrider Foundation; Paul Johnson, Ree Relie

Gerald Karnas, Environmental Deense Fund; Joe Murphy, Gul Restoration Network; and David White, Ocean ConservancyTe Steering Committee would like to thank and recognize its Coordinator, .J. Marshall, and his Assistant, Georgia Bell, ortheir proessional and dedicated work in keeping us on track and schedule in preparing this report.

Finally, the Steering Committee wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation to the Directors o the Elizabeth OrdwayDunn Foundation and the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation. Teir belie in and generous support o the Coalitionsmission to conserve, protect, and restore Floridas unique coastal and marine environment made this report possible. We alsosincerely thank the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation or its generous support or this work and or their commitment todeveloping a meaningul national strategy to cope with the serious impacts o global warming.

About the Pr imary Author

Patty Glick, Senior Global Warming Specialist at the National Wildlie Federation (NWF), has more than 18 yearsexperience working on the issue o climate change. She has developed a targeted campaign at NWF to buildgreater awareness and understanding o the known and potential impacts o climate change on North Americasfsh and wildlie and identiy and implement meaningul solutions. Ms. Glick has led several research studies onsea-level rise and coastal habitats in Florida, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Pacifc Northwest, and she is the authoror co-author o numerous public reports, includingAn Unavorable ide; Coral Rees and Climate Change;A GreatWave Rising; and Te Gardeners Guide to Global Warming. Ms. Glick has a Masters Degree in economics rom theUniversity o North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Copyright 2008 by the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition

This report is printed on Forest Stewardship Council Certified Recycled Paper


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Caribbean Conservation Corporation and Sea urtle Survival LeagueCaribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC), ounded in 1959 by Dr. Archie Carr and based in Florida, is the oldessea turtle conservation organization in the world. It is dedicated to theconservation o sea turtles through researchtraining, advocacy, education and protection o habitats. Learn about CCC and sea turtles at www.cccturtle.org.

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Deense Fund, a leading national nonproft organization, represents more than 400,000 membersSince 1967, Environmental Deense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sectorpartnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Visit us at wwwenvironmentaldeense.org or www.oceansalive.org

Te Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) is a network o environmental, social justice, and citizens groups andindividuals committed to restoring the Gul o Mexico to an ecologically and biologically sustainable condition. TeGRN was ormed in 1994 to raise awareness o environmental issues in Gul States and to increase communicationand coordination o member activities across the region. We are playing a pivotal role in providing our member

and partners with the technical inormation, Gul-wide networking opportunities, and communication thaempowers local communities to successully address the environmental threats that they ace.Visit us at www.healthygul.org

Natural Resources Defense Council

NRDC (Natural Resources Deense Council) is a national nonproft environmental organization with more than1.2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialisthave worked to protect the worlds natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has o ces in NewYork City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Beiijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org.

National Wildlife Federation

National Wildlie Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlie or our childrens uture. Trough a nationwidenetworka ederation o grassroots activists and wildlie enthusiasts dedicated to protecting wildlie and wildplaces, NWF has built a national coalition o members who carry our message to cities and rural communitieshomes and town halls, Congress and state legislatures, elementary schools and universities, courts and internationa

venues. Visit us at www.nw.org.

Ocean ConservancyOcean Conservancy works to protect ocean ecosystems and conserve the global abundance and diversity o marinwildlie. Trough research, education and science-based advocacy, Ocean Conservancy inorms, inspires, andempowers people to speak and act on behal o the oceans. Learn more at www.oceanconservancy.org.

Reef ReliefRee Relie is a nonproft grassroots membership organization dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral ReeEcosystems through local, regional and international eorts. Visit us at www.reerelie.org.

Te Surfrider Foundation

Te Surrider Foundation is a nonproft environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoymeno the worlds oceans, waves and beaches or all people, through conservation, activism, research and educationRepresented by over 50,000 members and 64 local chapters in the U.S., the Surrider Foundation also has a liationin Australia, Japan, France, and Brazil. Visit us at www.surrider.org.

About the Author ing Organ izat ions


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A Strategy to Cope with the Impacts o Global Warming on the States Coastal and Marine Systems

Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition

Read the ull report at: www.fcoastalandocean.org/PreparingoraSeaChange

9 Island Avenue, Suite 501, Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 586-1961

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