The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has a number of active projects in Miami Dade County that are building Miami Beach’s resilience to coastal flooding.
Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project
In January 2020, the USACE began $15.9 million project to truck over 305,000 cubic yards of sand to four erosion hot spot locations in the vicinity of 64 Street, 53 Street, 46 Street, and 27 Street. This project is fully funded by the federal government. It should be noted, the USACE is in the planning phase of another large-scale beach renourishment project which is slated to begin in 2021.
The Federal participation in the Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project is set to expire in 2025. The USACE is currently conducting a feasibility study to inform future decades of beach renourishment after the current project expires. The USACE will be releasing the preliminary findings in late summer/fall 2021.
Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study
In 2018 the USACE began a 3 year and $3 million Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study to investigate solutions that will reduce damages and risks from impacts of coastal storms with consideration to sea level rise. The study area includes all-of Miami-Dade County’s urbanized area. The focus of the study is on critical infrastructure such as fire stations, medical facilities, police stations, potable water facilities, emergency shelters, and wastewater facilities and areas of the county that exhibit high levels of risk and vulnerability to coastal storms resulting in repetitive economic losses.
The draft plan includes structural measures on the mainland including flood walls along the coast and flood gates along the Miami River and major tributaries. However, the plan also proposes non-structural measures for seven socially vulnerable areas in Miami-Dade County, including two areas of Miami Beach including segments of North Beach and South Beach. Nonstructural mitigation includes wet and/or dry flood proofing, elevating, acquiring, and relocating structures and utilities.
The USACE will be releasing the draft Tentatively Selected Plan on May 29, 2020.The public, including the City of Miami Beach will have a chance to provide formal comment once the draft plan is released. Below is the current scheduled provided by the USACE regarding public engagement:
Virtual Presentation - (30 mins followed by Q&A)
June 9, 2020 5 pm - 7 pm
June 11, 2020 1 pm - 3 pm
Virtual Office Hours (only Q&A)
Jun 10 - 1pm - 2pm
Jun 18 - 5pm - 6 pm
Once the report is released the administration will send via a Letter to the Commission the draft report and full details for the virtual public engagement meetings. The administration will continue to participate in the development process of the CSRM and will be submitting formal comments as part of the public input period.