Dr. Savanna Barry led a team from UF to develop the proposal “Engaging Communities to Design Nature-based Solutions to Mitigate Climate-related Hazards” to the Gulf Research Program. The grant received funding to build on long-term Florida Sea Grant and IFAS Extension engagement with the City of Cedar Key on climate and coastal issues.

This project focuses on the importance of nature-based solutions as part of Cedar Key’s strategy to mitigate climate-related hazards. The project will work with citizens of Cedar Key to understand their preferences for mitigating the impact of erosion and rising seas on a critical road and park area in Cedar Key even as the project also seeks to improve water quality and stormwater flooding problems. This is an initial proposal to develop a conceptual design proposal. If the conceptual design is well received, the second phase is an application for funding to develop detailed engineering design. Other team members from UF include Dr. Michael Allen, Dr. Mark Clark, Dr. Jason von Meding, Dr. Xiao Yu, and Thomas Ruppert, Esq.