FL - New study shows some parts of Brevard County underwater in 80 years, infrastructure at risk
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — From North Merritt Island all the way down to Sebastian, the barrier islands of Brevard are very vulnerable to sea level rise. And some studies show that parts of it will be underwater in the next 80 years.
“If nothing were to be done, we would definitely be looking at a sea level rise situation where it would impact critical infrastructure, livability of homes and things like that,” said Zachary Eichholz, Cape Canaveral’s chief resilience manager.
For the city of Cape Canaveral, its concern is coming from the west on the Banana River Lagoon side, where the city is lower.
And, as Eichholz explains, a big focus on developing their resiliency.
“Which is why the city is actively looking to implement projects and codes and things like that to begin to address those issues now so we can build for it as the future progresses," Eichholz said.
A vulnerability assessment by Florida’s Department of Transportation shows that 29% of Brevard County roads could be affected by sea level rise and have multiple projects in the pipeline to make them more resilient.
The Presidential Streets area in Cape Canaveral was quickly developed to house NASA staff during the space race that started in the 1950s. But it was not designed with rising sea levels in mind.
So, the older systems, like scant green areas for natural drainage or antiquated stormwater systems, need to be upgraded with the environmental changes afoot now and in the years to come.
“We are trying to be a leader for coastal municipalities not just in the state of Florida, but across the country. And to that end we are implementing multiple projects to address that sooner, rather than later,” Eichholz said.
By next summer, the city of Cape Canaveral says they will have completed an upgrade to a stormwater system and a water retention area at a park in a vulnerable part of the city.
