Miami City Council Not Wild About Proposed Flood Wall Lining The Shore; Army Corps: Uh, Well . . [View all]

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The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a project to fortify the Miami-Dade County coast from sea level rise and storm surge. The project is in dispute, particularly their idea of a large concrete flood wall. At stake are billions of dollars, but local leaders are continuing to work to find a balance.

“Elevating about 5800 structures and flooding proofing some 4600 non-residential commercial buildings,” explained U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District Commander Col. Patrick Kinsman.

One sticking point has been a proposed flood wall running parallel to Miami’s waterfront, a looming concrete structure that some local city and business leaders have argued would sink property values. At a recent Miami City Commission meeting, new renderings presented to the Army Corps of Engineers showcased an alternative vision; a hybrid approach with lower walls paired with nature-based solutions. “That looks like a great presentation,” said Col. Kinsman “I don’t think the islands are going to stop the storm surge.”

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“I’ve been paying attention to this Army Corps proposal since when I was a commissioner,” said Cava. “And as a commissioner, I wrote a letter with my concerns about the proposal – that it didn’t incorporate some of the natural solutions that are really critical... some natural barrier islands, some mangroves, other things that would really help a lot and be less intrusive, and we need to be sure that those things are in the plan. So I’ve met with the Army Corps and I told them that we need a waiver to extend the time until they put those things in the plan. We are not moving forward without those things being in the plan.”

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https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/02/16/us-army-corps-of-engineers-plan-to-protect-miami-dade-coast-from-flooding-and-storm-surge-ongoing/