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Sea Level Rise Study. Background. TBRPC was contracted by SWFRPC, through a grant from the US EPA to participate in this nationwide sea level rise planning and awareness project Similar projects are underway or have been completed in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Maryland. EPA Purpose.
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Background • TBRPC was contracted by SWFRPC, through a grant from the US EPA to participate in this nationwide sea level rise planning and awareness project • Similar projects are underway or have been completed in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Maryland.
EPA Purpose • To ensure long-term survival of coastal wetlands • Diminish losses to life and property (from erosion and/or inundation) • To stimulate government planning for adaptation to the effects of sea level rise
Overall Objectives • To encourage local government planners and citizens to think about sea level rise • To predict response to a five foot rise in sea level • To produce a report and maps consistent with the statewide approach already established in completed sea level rise studies (TCRPC, NEFRC, SWFRPC)
Study Method • Creation of maps that portray the expected responses of counties and municipalities to sea level rise • Based on: current land use designations, future land use policies, federal, state, & local programs & policies, and local planner input
Anticipated Response • Four general mapping categories • Protection almost certain • Protection reasonably likely • Protection unlikely • No protection • Protection is defined as: physically holding back or diverting the sea water rise to avoid inundation of the land
Mapping Procedures • Includes all areas of each county that are below 10 feet in elevation or within 1000 feet of the shoreline • Anticipated response categories are identified for all land within the study area • Adjustments were made based on local input
Example • An area identified as: • Existing Land Use = Urban OR • Designated a future growth area (FLU = residential/office/commercial/industrial) • That also falls within the study area • Would be categorized as “Protection Almost Certain” based on the Statewide Approach.
Example • An area identified as: • Existing Land Use = Agriculture or Rangeland AND • Future Land Use = Agriculture or Preservation • That also falls within the study area • Would be categorized as “Protection Unlikley” based on the Statewide Approach. • All categorization was then adjusted based on local knowledge and input (through the map review)
Conclusions & Uses of the Report • Approximately 64% of the study area is identified as “protection almost certain”. • 23.5% of the study area is currently identified as either tidal or non-tidal wetlands. • Tidal wetlands that are expected to be inundated with sea level rise will in many cases be unable to migrate inland due to coastal development. • Utilize in siting criteria for future public facilities and infrastructure.
Tampa Bay Sea Level Rise Study The entire report and maps are available at: http://www.tbrpc.org/gis/sealevelrise.htm