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flooding. These canals generally drain the land by catching rainwater
and sending it through the canals to the Atlantic Ocean. These canals
are primarily gravity-based, meaning that they drain because the
inland water is higher than the Ocean water, so gravity is sufficient to
accomplish the draining. However, as Sea Level rises, it is becoming
more and more difficult to drain the inland areas after times of high
rain, particularly during high tide. Extreme high tide events already
preclude operation of many of the flood control gates in the system.
Courtesy of Broward County, King Tide in Hollywood
30 \| Page
Higher sea levels associated with high tide events have already
reduced the operational capacity of many flood control gates and
coastal structures in the C&SF water management system. Recent
studies, performed by the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD)12 and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)13
in 2020 and August 2022 respectively, determined that 20 C&SF coastal
structures are experiencing full bank elevation at upstream canals
during a 25-year / 4 percent annual exceedance probability surge with
1 foot or less of sea level rise, meaning that stormwater discharges
capacity to tide are limited, resulting in reduced flood protection level
of service in the entire upstream drainage basins. Local investment in
resilience from land use to design standards and infrastructure
improvements are dependent upon the effective functioning of the
C&SF Project.
The South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers executed a feasibility study partnership agreement
on September 21, 2022 to advance the Central and Southern Florida
Flood Resiliency Study under Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of
1970. This study analyzes the current Central and Southern Florida
Project (C&SF Project), that laid the groundwork for the series of flood
protection canals that exist today.
Advancing the study is justified by the changing physical conditions
already impacting the original project purposes, including land
development, population increase, sea level rise and climate change. It
assesses which infrastructure is at the highest risk of impact from a
changing climate, water supply needs, and surge protection. A phased
approach is being proposed, focusing on the critical project features
and coastal structures which can reduce the most immediate flood risk,
based on a broad C&SF system overview, resulting in actionable
recommendations to Congress.
This initial study will focus most immediately on improvements
needed at the salinity control structures, with a comprehensive
evaluation of the project still pending a broader authorization.
Additionally, the amount of money needed to complete study
recommendations will likely be in the billions of dollars. The Army
Corps has stated that the best-case scenario is to have initial projects
constructed in 15 years, assuming full funding, while sea level rise is
anticipated to further obstruct drainage and flood protection in the
ensuing years. Additional exposure includes saltwater infiltration of
South Florida’s potable water supply via the aquifer if existing salinity
control structures on the canals cannot keep saltwater at bay.
Courtesy of the South Florida Water Management District
31 \| Page
Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
As noted previously, all three counties are low-lying with very little
elevation. Low elevations combined with the area’s limestone ground
makes the region exceptionally susceptible to the impacts of sea level
rise. Traditional coastal solutions for addressing sea level rise, such as
sea walls, are limited in their effectiveness in South Florida since sea
water can rise through porous limestone and under sea walls.
Adaptation plans call for more pumps, back-flow preventers to keep
water from flowing into the systems, higher sea walls, water retention
areas, and wells to store storm water runoff and enhance drainage and
flood control.
Sewage systems, roads and homes are at risk of flooding and damage
due to the rising water levels. South Florida’s antiquated drainage
system is a “gravity fed” system meaning that when water rises, the
system ceases to function. The impacts are most acutely felt during the
fall months when king tides are prevalent and ocean pressure backs up
through pipes, pushing saltwater above ground. The presence of
numerous septic tanks throughout the region creates an exceptionally
challenging situation as it relates to sea level rise. As sea levels rise the
septic tanks can no longer drain properly, consequently sending dirty
water into groundwater, surface water, or marine water and, at times,
sending sewage into yards and homes. The overflow carries nitrogen,
phosphorus, bacteria, viruses, and pharmaceuticals into the
groundwater and ultimately surface waters. The sewage causes both
public health problems and contributes to demise of the coral reefs.
The costly challenge of converting septic tanks to centralized sewage
systems has long plagued the region.
Most properties in Monroe County are now connected to a municipal
sewer system since being ordered by the State of Florida to convert its
33,000 septic and cesspits to centralized sewer systems. In Broward
County there are an estimated 67,000 septic systems in use.14 The
Broward County Water Advisory Board has highlighted septic systems
as a top priority for connection to central systems and is working with
municipal governments to achieve this.
In 2020 Miami-Dade County, in its report Septic Systems Vulnerable to
Sea Level Rise Plan of Action Report15, estimated it would take $3 billion
for the county to make the switch from septic tanks to sewer systems,
and it was stated that as many as 56% of septic tanks in Miami-Dade
are not working properly at times. To improve the resiliency of the
region’s wastewater infrastructure, local government officials in
Miami-Dade recently announced $230 million in funding to convert
13,000 of the 120,000 septic tanks in the county to municipal wastewater
infrastructure within the next 5 years. Additionally, the Florida
Department of Environment and Protection will make funding
available for low-income households to make the costly connections
from their homes to the newly installed municipal infrastructure. This
initial step to convert more than 10% of the septic tanks is a critical step

flooding. These canals generally drain the land by catching rainwater

and sending it through the canals to the Atlantic Ocean. These canals

are primarily gravity-based, meaning that they drain because the

inland water is higher than the Ocean water, so gravity is sufficient to

accomplish the draining. However, as Sea Level rises, it is becoming

more and more difficult to drain the inland areas after times of high

rain, particularly during high tide. Extreme high tide events already

preclude operation of many of the flood control gates in the system.

Courtesy of Broward County, King Tide in Hollywood

30 | Page

Higher sea levels associated with high tide events have already

reduced the operational capacity of many flood control gates and

coastal structures in the C&SF water management system. Recent

studies, performed by the South Florida Water Management District

(SFWMD)12 and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)13

in 2020 and August 2022 respectively, determined that 20 C&SF coastal

structures are experiencing full bank elevation at upstream canals

during a 25-year / 4 percent annual exceedance probability surge with

1 foot or less of sea level rise, meaning that stormwater discharges

capacity to tide are limited, resulting in reduced flood protection level

of service in the entire upstream drainage basins. Local investment in

resilience from land use to design standards and infrastructure

improvements are dependent upon the effective functioning of the

C&SF Project.

The South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers executed a feasibility study partnership agreement

on September 21, 2022 to advance the Central and Southern Florida

Flood Resiliency Study under Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of

1970. This study analyzes the current Central and Southern Florida

Project (C&SF Project), that laid the groundwork for the series of flood

protection canals that exist today.

Advancing the study is justified by the changing physical conditions

already impacting the original project purposes, including land

development, population increase, sea level rise and climate change. It

assesses which infrastructure is at the highest risk of impact from a

changing climate, water supply needs, and surge protection. A phased

approach is being proposed, focusing on the critical project features

and coastal structures which can reduce the most immediate flood risk,

based on a broad C&SF system overview, resulting in actionable

recommendations to Congress.

This initial study will focus most immediately on improvements

needed at the salinity control structures, with a comprehensive

evaluation of the project still pending a broader authorization.

Additionally, the amount of money needed to complete study

recommendations will likely be in the billions of dollars. The Army

Corps has stated that the best-case scenario is to have initial projects

constructed in 15 years, assuming full funding, while sea level rise is

anticipated to further obstruct drainage and flood protection in the

ensuing years. Additional exposure includes saltwater infiltration of

South Florida’s potable water supply via the aquifer if existing salinity

control structures on the canals cannot keep saltwater at bay.

Courtesy of the South Florida Water Management District

31 | Page

Water & Wastewater Infrastructure

As noted previously, all three counties are low-lying with very little

elevation. Low elevations combined with the area’s limestone ground

makes the region exceptionally susceptible to the impacts of sea level

rise. Traditional coastal solutions for addressing sea level rise, such as

sea walls, are limited in their effectiveness in South Florida since sea

water can rise through porous limestone and under sea walls.

Adaptation plans call for more pumps, back-flow preventers to keep

water from flowing into the systems, higher sea walls, water retention

areas, and wells to store storm water runoff and enhance drainage and

flood control.

Sewage systems, roads and homes are at risk of flooding and damage

due to the rising water levels. South Florida’s antiquated drainage

system is a “gravity fed” system meaning that when water rises, the

system ceases to function. The impacts are most acutely felt during the

fall months when king tides are prevalent and ocean pressure backs up

through pipes, pushing saltwater above ground. The presence of

numerous septic tanks throughout the region creates an exceptionally

challenging situation as it relates to sea level rise. As sea levels rise the

septic tanks can no longer drain properly, consequently sending dirty

water into groundwater, surface water, or marine water and, at times,

sending sewage into yards and homes. The overflow carries nitrogen,

phosphorus, bacteria, viruses, and pharmaceuticals into the

groundwater and ultimately surface waters. The sewage causes both

public health problems and contributes to demise of the coral reefs.

The costly challenge of converting septic tanks to centralized sewage

systems has long plagued the region.

Most properties in Monroe County are now connected to a municipal

sewer system since being ordered by the State of Florida to convert its

33,000 septic and cesspits to centralized sewer systems. In Broward

County there are an estimated 67,000 septic systems in use.14 The

Broward County Water Advisory Board has highlighted septic systems

as a top priority for connection to central systems and is working with

municipal governments to achieve this.

In 2020 Miami-Dade County, in its report Septic Systems Vulnerable to

Sea Level Rise Plan of Action Report15, estimated it would take $3 billion

for the county to make the switch from septic tanks to sewer systems,

and it was stated that as many as 56% of septic tanks in Miami-Dade

are not working properly at times. To improve the resiliency of the

region’s wastewater infrastructure, local government officials in

Miami-Dade recently announced $230 million in funding to convert

13,000 of the 120,000 septic tanks in the county to municipal wastewater

infrastructure within the next 5 years. Additionally, the Florida

Department of Environment and Protection will make funding

available for low-income households to make the costly connections

from their homes to the newly installed municipal infrastructure. This

initial step to convert more than 10% of the septic tanks is a critical step