Tidal Flood Mitigation and Shoreline Protection

Cummins Cederberg is assisting the City Tidal Flood Mitigation and Shoreline Protection across 22 City-owned shoreline segments along 10,000+ ft. of shoreline within North Lake, South Lake, and the ICW. Conceptual designs were prepared for each shoreline segment and shared during public meetings to solicit feedback. Designs include living shorelines, rock revetments, and bulkheads as required to meet the City and County tidal flood barrier ordinances.

Our team of marine biologists completed benthic resource surveys where they identified seagrass and macroalgae. Additionally, native and exotic, invasive vegetation was mapped and included mangroves and Australian pines. These surveys informed project design to ensure impacts to these important resources are avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable and unavoidable impacts are adequately mitigated.

Engineering inspections were conducted above and below water to assess the current condition of the 22 shoreline segments. These inspections informed design of tidal flood barriers to meet City and County Codes, as well as ensuring protection against reasonably anticipated sea level during the design life of the structures. Tide gauges were deployed in North Lake, South Lake, and the Hollywood Marina to determine tidal prisms, lag time, and water level elevation differences between each lake and the ICW. This information was utilized for structure design.

As residents expressed concerns with construction of the tidal flood barriers prior to the City’s implementation of their stormwater master plan, Cummins Cederberg collaborated with the City’s stormwater consultant to incorporate removable flood gates that can be deployed ahead of king tides and removed ahead of significant storm events, to maximize protection of upland property and infrastructure.

This project will mitigate the severe flooding that occurs during king tides and is increasing due to sea level rise in the neighborhoods surrounding North Lake and South Lake. Additionally, Cummins Cederberg secured and is administering $21.2M in Resilient Florida Grants to supplement the City’s GO Bond funding for project implementation. Several project segments are nearing completion, others are actively under construction, while the remainder are wrapping up permitting.