Page 21 - RV0523

Special Feature continued

Mangrove+panel+designs
Hatchee Park, the Himmarshee Canal, Lake Sylvia, Middle Green-Gray Living Seawalls show
River/George English Park, Royal Palm Drive, the Sandbar, solutions and mitigation promise
Sunrise Bay, Hugh Taylor Birch Park, Sweeting Park, and Several of Fort Lauderdale’s neighboring cities along the
Tarpon River. Intracoastal are experimenting with an approach known
Test results data can be found on the Miami Waterkeeper as “Green-Gray” infrastructure. Green-Gray infrastructure
website, or on the Swim Guide App (see below). Sites that combines conservation and/or restoration of ecosystems with
test consistently high for bacteria are Annie Beck Park, the the selective use of conventional engineering approaches
Himmarshee Canal, Sweeting Park, Tarpon River, and Cootie to provide people with solutions that deliver climate change
Hatchie Park. resilience and adaptation benefits. According to FEBA,
(Friends of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation), a founding member
When asked how the city is responding to those areas that of the Global Green-Gray Infrastructure Community of
frequently test high, Dr. Gassman said “While the city is Practice, led by Conservation International, a hybrid approach
awaiting the final Miami Waterkeeper annual report for can generate more benefits and climate resiliency for people
2022, designated water-sport activity areas consistently have and nature than either strategy applied alone.
bacteria levels that meet the more stringent EPA standard
for swimming beaches. The more inland sites have greater Here in Fort Lauderdale and in many other coastal cities,
impacts from urban runoff, especially after rain events, seawalls are used as the first line of defense against rising
and are less often compliant with the FDEP Class III water seas. With the threat of rising sea levels more evident today
standards for bacteria.” than ever before, new height requirements for seawalls have
already been enacted and may even be raised again. This
According to Dr. Gassman, the city has accomplished a number means more seawall updating projects throughout our city for
of clean up initiatives throughout our waterways since 2020. both the public and private sector, including projects on our
From the $200 million new storm water infrastructure investment, Las Olas Isles, i.e. Hendricks Isle, Lido Drive, Merle Fogg Park,
to dredging and installing aerators at specific contaminated sites. San Marco Drive and Coral Way.

Species Diversity
rio vista civic associartion • www.riovistaonline.com 19

5/3/23 6:17 PM
RV 0523.indd 19 5/3/23 6:17 PM
RV 0523.indd 19