Adaptations
Green Infrastructure
The County has historically promoted green infrastructure improvements and will continue to do so as a result of this Adaptation Plan. These adaptations are assumed to occur now and have the most positive impacts before sea level rise intensifies and the groundwater levels increase. The green infrastructure improvements include converting two-way roads to one-way roads with swales, as well as the rehabilitation of existing swales.
1,760
miles of roadway to be converted to one-way road plus swales
Storage Solutions
In addition to the green infrastructure improvements, the County identified storage solutions to increase above-ground storage and recover underground storage where possible. Increasing above-ground storage is done through increasing planned pervious areas. Recovering underground storage can be accomplished by lowering the control elevation in the canal system (much like SFWMD does before present day storms) which naturally lowers the ground water levels ahead of the storms and thereby increases stormwater storage.
159
control structures require modification
1,300
acres-ft of storage
Conveyance
The Plan identifies locations where improved or additional conveyance (enlarged culverts, pipelines, pump stations) would be beneficial. Further, telemetry will be added to coordinate throughout the County. Conveyance is required because many of the County’s waterways drain into adjacent waterways via gravity systems. In the future, as the height of the drainage system increases to provide positive head against SLR, increased culvert size, improved crossings, and/or additional pumping stations will be required. This adaptation strategy includes the locations determined by the H&H modeling efforts to require upsized culverts, improved crossings, and/or pump stations in the future.
new pump stations
33
upgraded crossings
41
Flood Barriers
In coastal areas, increasing the height of existing seawalls and/or adding seawalls will provide significant protection against sea level rise. The height of the barriers is proportionate to the anticipated sea level rise. Additionally, the stormwater collection system in public roadways will have an outfall through these seawalls. These outfalls will require a unidirectional valve (or check valve), and many will require a pump station, depending on the ground elevation compared to the expected tidal levels.
190+
miles of enhanced seawalls