Miami-Dade County receives $330K grant to enhance coastal resilience with natural infrastructure

This week, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced Miami-Dade County is the recipient of a $330,000 grant to enhance coastal resilience and Biscayne Bay recovery through the restoration of the cutler marsh and mangroves  in South Dade. 
Combined with a $437,142 total match from Miami-Dade County, the Town of Cutler Bay, South Florida Water Management District, and volunteers, grant funds will be used to accelerate the restoration of coastal wetlands, mangroves, and forests adjacent to Biscayne National Park. The project will advance coastal protection and resilience for neighboring communities and wildlife habitat.

"Miami-Dade is uniting diverse stakeholders in planning and implementing natural and nature-based solutions to improve our community’s resilience,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are leading the way in funding critical county resilience projects that will shield us from storm surge, protect our drinking water, enhance our fragile ecosystems like Biscayne Bay, and buffer our communities against sea level rise and climate change. This grant is a wonderful recognition of our ongoing success.”
This low-lying land, which is entirely in public ownership, is at the critical junction between urban areas inland and the coastal areas in the adjacent Biscayne National Park. The area has seen an influx of invasive species and has been severely damaged by human activity.

“We are pleased the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is investing in the health of Biscayne Bay and implementing resilience with nature-based solutions for our climate challenges that are also national priorities,” stated District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins. “Biscayne Bay is one of Florida’s most treasured natural resources. A resilient Biscayne Bay helps our environment and economy.”  

The project will bring together major stakeholders, including the land-owning agencies responsible for permitting, and community organizations already involved in volunteer-led small-scale restoration on the site. Multiple partnering agencies, including the Town of Cutler Bay, have collaborated to acquire the parcels and develop conceptual restoration plans. 
“This project is a great example of the importance of intergovernmental collaboration and alignment,” expressed Town of Cutler Bay Mayor Tim Meerbott. “In 2020, Cutler Bay purchased 8.4 acres of coastal uplands for resiliency purposes, mirroring South Florida Water Management District’s acquisition of the North Cutler Wetland parcels 2010. Now, these two acquisitions are key components in this coastal protection project. Cutler Bay remains committed to protecting Biscayne Bay and improving our community’s resilience, and we will continue working with our fellow government agencies to multiply our efforts.”

“Advancing this 135-acre restoration will enhance protection from hurricanes and sea level rise, help mitigate climate change, and improve habitat for critically endangered species such as the American crocodile, bobcats, roseate spoonbills and numerous other wadding and migratory birds,” said Miami-Dade County’s Chief Resilience Officer Jim Murley. “We are all about implementing projects that have multiple co-benefits for people and for the environment while working with our municipalities and external partners at the same time.”