More than 16 hurricanes have impacted Florida in the last decade, underscoring the importance of resilient infrastructure across the state. On March 26, VHB Gulf Coast Managing Director, Kathleen Keen, moderated an engaging discussion with a panel of industry professionals to discuss how to adapt to climate events and elevate coastal resiliency. ULI Tampa Bay members and guests explored actionable insights on community resilience.
Kathleen was joined by Kelli Cunningham, Operations Director at Waggonner & Ball; Mindy Joiner, Coastal Scientist at Moffatt & Nichol; and Maeven Rogers, Chief Sustainability & Resiliency Officer for the City of St. Petersburg at the program titled, “Coastal Resiliency: Negotiating with Mother Nature.”
The panel discussed the need for innovative strategies in planning and engineering to adapt to the evolving challenges posed by severe weather events and flooding, focusing particularly on the Tampa Bay region, where such issues are increasingly significant.
One of the key themes was the growing importance of nature-based solutions in concert with traditional infrastructure, such as living shorelines that provide protection against coastal erosion and storm surges. Safeguarding urban coastlines through traditional methods alone, like seawalls, aren’t always appropriate for the local context or sustainable. Communities are shifting towards understanding when and how it is more advantageous to use hybrid methods with nature-based features in combination with structural elements to enhance coastal defense and community resilience. Living shorelines can also incorporate community amenities, such as recreational spaces.
Speakers underscored the importance of comprehensive planning and community engagement in developing nature-based strategies and other adaptive solutions. The practical implementation of these solutions in densely urbanized areas often requires creative integration with existing infrastructure, such as roads or residential developments. The conversation also emphasized the multiplicity of benefits that come with resilient landscaping, including aesthetic enhancements and environmental health benefits.
Panelists brought diverse perspectives to the table, including lessons learned from living in cities like New Orleans, which still experiences the impacts of Hurricane Katrina and flooding.
“Conversations like these at ULI Tampa Bay reinforce the necessity for long-term planning and community collaboration in developing resilient coastal landscapes,” said Kathleen. “Along the Gulf Coast, where the impacts of storms and flooding continue to challenge traditional approaches to urban development, we need to embrace being adaptive to our environment.”
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