Southeast Florida's Resilient Water Resources

Southeast Florida, with a population of 5.5 million, is ranked as one of the ten most vulnerable coastal metropolitan areas in the world, Expected local impacts of global climate change include sea level rise, extremes in precipitation patterns, and more intense storms.

Freshwater resources in southeast Florida must be maintained in order to offset the consequences of saltwater intrusion and drought. However, to prevent flooding, sufficient volume must be left in water systems for sudden downpours. As a result, water managers need to find a balance between retaining as much freshwater in the water system as possible, and allowing for increased quantities of stormwater.