Miami-Dade Considers New Storm Protection Plan: Dunes, Mangroves and Barrier Gates

Local and federal officials have agreed to a plan to study new ways to protect much of Miami from rising seas and storm surge in the decades ahead, measures that could include dune reinforcements, extensive mangroves and barrier gates at three inlets.

This is Miami-Dade County’s second attempt to come up with a plan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The first, which proposed to study high seawalls around the metropolis, was essentially vetoed after residents complained about the idea of a giant wall on their shoreline, the Miami Herald reported this week.

The new plan, reached after extensive input from the public, allows a $7 million study to proceed on the feasibility of a new protection system, which could also include elevating thousands of homes and fortifying businesses, hospitals and fire stations. Storm surge gates, not unlike those seen in other parts of the world, including London and the Netherlands, could be installed at Government Cut inlet, Norris Cut and at the Rickenbacker Causeway, to the south, which would also be elevated, according to ideas proposed by the Corps.

A final plan may not be ready for another two years and actual work could take more than a decade, the Herald noted. A cost estimate was not available but the earlier wall plan was pegged at more than $5 billion.

A public meeting was scheduled for Wednesday evening to discuss the new study plan.

Topics Windstorm