patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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elevations in coastal regions may be subject to more
frequent flooding during spring tides and storm
surges (Bloetscher et al., 2009).
Interior regional hydrologic systems of Florida should
not be significantly affected (Trimble et al., 1998).
Municipal sewer systems will have to be tightened to
significantly reduce groundwater seepage in order to
protect wastewater treatment operations (Bloetscher
et al., 2009).
WHAT IS POSSIBLE:
Eventually, as sea level continues to rise, coastal surficial aquifers throughout the state will be increasingly
threatened (Murley et al., 2008).
Water and wastewater treatment facilities that are located at low elevations in coastal regions will require
enhanced flood protection (Bloetscher et al., 2009).
II. Sea-Level Rise and Its Effects
on Florida’s Ocean
and Coastal Resources
II

14

WHAT IS PROBABLE:
With rising sea level and associated larger waves
and greater magnitude of storm surges, erosion will
increase, and beaches will require more frequent renourishment. The quantity of sand required to keep
pace with erosion will increase.
There will be increased reliance on sand sources
from outside the U.S. or from inland sand mines in
Broward, Miami-Dade, and other counties that can
II. Sea-Level Rise and Its Effects
on Florida’s Ocean
and Coastal Resources
EFFECT : Increases in Beach Erosion and Renourishment
Florida’s beautiful beaches are a major tourist destination and thus have a high economic value to our state.
They also provide critical habitat for marine animals: for example, nesting sites for sea turtles. Our beaches
experience varying degrees of erosion, which is due not only to natural processes such as tropical storms
but also to man-made situations, including inlets that enhance downshore sand loss. In areas where there is
a net loss of sand, beaches are maintained by renourishment. Rising sea level may have a number of effects
on the short- and long-term sustainability of our beaches and on how frequently the sand needs to be
replenished.
WHAT WE KNOW:
During the 20th century, all 30 coastal states, including Florida, have experienced moderate to
severe erosion of some of their shorelines and
beaches. Much of the erosion can be attributed to
man-made inlets and to storms, and it is difficult to
ascertain the influence of coincident sea-level rise
(Williams et al., 2009).
There is a high degree of variability in shoreline
erosion rates. Some areas along Florida’s coast
display rapid erosion, whereas others experience
a net gain in sand over time (Absalonsen and
Dean, 2010).
Beach nourishment and renourishment (adding
sand that is dredged from offshore areas) has
been necessary to maintain beaches in locations
that were experiencing a net loss of sand in the
early part of the 20th century (Absalonsen and
Dean, 2010). By adding sand, it has been possible to keep pace with losses in areas of moderate
erosion and high economic value.
In some coastal Florida counties, there is a large
deficit of nearshore, readily available sand. Local
governments will increasingly be forced to look
for “beach quality” sand in other regions of the
state (therefore requiring a regional approach to
sand-sharing) and from more expensive or nontraditional sources (such as sand from deeper waters, from inland sand mines, or imported from the
Bahamas) to maintain beaches in upcoming
years. Local expectations as to “beach quality”
may have to be modified in this event. In Broward
and Miami-Dade counties, there is estimated to
be a net deficit of 34 million cubic yards of sand
over the next 50 years (Bender et al., 2010).
More than 90% of the loggerhead sea turtle nesting and almost all the green and leatherback nesting in the United States take place on Florida’s
825 miles of sandy beaches. Florida’s midAtlantic beaches host one of the most important
loggerhead turtle rookeries in the world.
II

15

afford the considerably higher cost compared to traditional nearshore sand sources (Bender et al.,
2010).
There will be increasing pressure and need to
harden shorelines with sea walls and implement
other engineering strategies to protect upland structures and infrastructure.
WHAT IS POSSIBLE:
Shoreline protection projects, which are typically advocated as a solution to erosion, may not be effective against substantial rises in sea level because of
escalating costs, dwindling sand reserves, cumulative
impacts on natural resources, and the porous nature
of Florida’s geology (Parkinson and Donahue,
2010).
If beaches are lost to erosion, there will be significant
impacts on animals including sea turtles, which depend on the state’s beaches as major nesting habitat
(National Research Council, 1990). Loss of nesting
beaches could threaten the recovery and survival of
marine turtle populations.
Loss of beaches could result in substantive impacts on
Florida’s tourist-based economy (Bell, 2005).
Almost half of the state’s beaches are already experiencing critical erosion that could threaten adjacent
development, and an increasing number of structures
and amount of infrastructure could be at risk from the
surf.

elevations in coastal regions may be subject to more

frequent flooding during spring tides and storm

surges (Bloetscher et al., 2009).

Interior regional hydrologic systems of Florida should

not be significantly affected (Trimble et al., 1998).

Municipal sewer systems will have to be tightened to

significantly reduce groundwater seepage in order to

protect wastewater treatment operations (Bloetscher

et al., 2009).

WHAT IS POSSIBLE:

Eventually, as sea level continues to rise, coastal surficial aquifers throughout the state will be increasingly

threatened (Murley et al., 2008).

Water and wastewater treatment facilities that are located at low elevations in coastal regions will require

enhanced flood protection (Bloetscher et al., 2009).

II. Sea-Level Rise and Its Effects

on Florida’s Ocean

and Coastal Resources

II

14

WHAT IS PROBABLE:

With rising sea level and associated larger waves

and greater magnitude of storm surges, erosion will

increase, and beaches will require more frequent renourishment. The quantity of sand required to keep

pace with erosion will increase.

There will be increased reliance on sand sources

from outside the U.S. or from inland sand mines in

Broward, Miami-Dade, and other counties that can

II. Sea-Level Rise and Its Effects

on Florida’s Ocean

and Coastal Resources

EFFECT : Increases in Beach Erosion and Renourishment

Florida’s beautiful beaches are a major tourist destination and thus have a high economic value to our state.

They also provide critical habitat for marine animals: for example, nesting sites for sea turtles. Our beaches

experience varying degrees of erosion, which is due not only to natural processes such as tropical storms

but also to man-made situations, including inlets that enhance downshore sand loss. In areas where there is

a net loss of sand, beaches are maintained by renourishment. Rising sea level may have a number of effects

on the short- and long-term sustainability of our beaches and on how frequently the sand needs to be

replenished.

WHAT WE KNOW:

During the 20th century, all 30 coastal states, including Florida, have experienced moderate to

severe erosion of some of their shorelines and

beaches. Much of the erosion can be attributed to

man-made inlets and to storms, and it is difficult to

ascertain the influence of coincident sea-level rise

(Williams et al., 2009).

There is a high degree of variability in shoreline

erosion rates. Some areas along Florida’s coast

display rapid erosion, whereas others experience

a net gain in sand over time (Absalonsen and

Dean, 2010).

Beach nourishment and renourishment (adding

sand that is dredged from offshore areas) has

been necessary to maintain beaches in locations

that were experiencing a net loss of sand in the

early part of the 20th century (Absalonsen and

Dean, 2010). By adding sand, it has been possible to keep pace with losses in areas of moderate

erosion and high economic value.

In some coastal Florida counties, there is a large

deficit of nearshore, readily available sand. Local

governments will increasingly be forced to look

for “beach quality” sand in other regions of the

state (therefore requiring a regional approach to

sand-sharing) and from more expensive or nontraditional sources (such as sand from deeper waters, from inland sand mines, or imported from the

Bahamas) to maintain beaches in upcoming

years. Local expectations as to “beach quality”

may have to be modified in this event. In Broward

and Miami-Dade counties, there is estimated to

be a net deficit of 34 million cubic yards of sand

over the next 50 years (Bender et al., 2010).

More than 90% of the loggerhead sea turtle nesting and almost all the green and leatherback nesting in the United States take place on Florida’s

825 miles of sandy beaches. Florida’s midAtlantic beaches host one of the most important

loggerhead turtle rookeries in the world.

II

15

afford the considerably higher cost compared to traditional nearshore sand sources (Bender et al.,

2010).

There will be increasing pressure and need to

harden shorelines with sea walls and implement

other engineering strategies to protect upland structures and infrastructure.

WHAT IS POSSIBLE:

Shoreline protection projects, which are typically advocated as a solution to erosion, may not be effective against substantial rises in sea level because of

escalating costs, dwindling sand reserves, cumulative

impacts on natural resources, and the porous nature

of Florida’s geology (Parkinson and Donahue,

2010).

If beaches are lost to erosion, there will be significant

impacts on animals including sea turtles, which depend on the state’s beaches as major nesting habitat

(National Research Council, 1990). Loss of nesting

beaches could threaten the recovery and survival of

marine turtle populations.

Loss of beaches could result in substantive impacts on

Florida’s tourist-based economy (Bell, 2005).

Almost half of the state’s beaches are already experiencing critical erosion that could threaten adjacent

development, and an increasing number of structures

and amount of infrastructure could be at risk from the

surf.