Coastal Vulnerability in GTM NERR

Extreme weather, sea-level rise and degraded coastal ecosystems are placing people and property at greater risk of damages from coastal hazards. Coastal habitats (e.g., marshes, oyster beds, and new mangrove stands) work as buffers from storms and floods, reducing the need for and investment costs in riprap, bulkheads, and other types of ‘hard’ shore protection.

Researchers and stakeholders are codeveloping a tool to identify where investments in habitat conservation / restoration will be most effective for reducing risk of coastal communities to sea-level rise and storms.

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COASTAL VULNERABILITY INDEX (CVI)

• Differentiates relative exposure to erosion and inundation during storm events.
• Accounts for biodiversity's individual or combined role in buffering wave energy.

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VARIABLE RANKS

• Six biophysical variables were ranked from 1-5.
• Shoreline segments ranked '4' or '5' drive highest coastal exposure and CVI scores.

COASTAL VULNERABILITY INDEX   Scale

SHOW ME...
current habitats



  
DRIVERS OF COASTAL EXPOSURE Variable Ranks  







  

Note: Dark areas suggest priority sites where habitat protection or elevation maintainence strategies may be appropriate.

AOI SUMMARY [■]
COASTAL ASSETS Socioeconomic



Ecological



  
DOCUMENTS • Hands-on exercise
• Poster
• WETFEET website

GIS DATA CVI model inputs
• Land mass: NOAA ESI
• Administrative:  Florida DEP
• Elevation:  USGS; University of Florida
• Geomorphology:  NOAA ESI; Florida DEP
• Wave exposure:  Open Weather Data
• Boat wakes:  PGIS survey; NOAA Marine Cadstre
• Storm surge:  NOAA SLOSH model
• Natural habitats:  National Wetlands Inventory, FWC Commission, Florida DEP, University of Florida