U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Miami-Dade County host 2nd charrette for re-initiation of Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Norfolk District and Miami-Dade County, its non-federal sponsor, hosted a second charrette this week following a virtual public meeting for the re-initiation of the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study.

In November 2022, USACE and Miami-Dade County hosted their first charrette to coordinate with stakeholders, agencies, and the public, and develop a new alternative that included elements from the Recommended Plan (2021). All parties agreed to include nonstructural, natural and nature-based features, as well as refined and adapted structural features During this second charrette, participants worked to refine the two alternatives developed based on feedback from the first charrette to ensure they are engineeringly feasible, economically justified, and environmentally and socially acceptable. 

“Miami-Dade County is at the forefront of both climate change and climate solutions. We are writing the climate resilience playbook that will be used around the world for the 21st century, while also working to ensure our region is prepared to respond and rebound,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "As we navigate this newly restarted planning process with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, we’re engaging all critical stakeholders, including residents, to identify the most resilient solutions to protect our county from dangerous storm surge that threatens our residents and infrastructure alike.” 

In addition to structural and nonstructural measures, USACE evaluates natural and nature-based features when formulating coastal storm risk management projects.

“Natural and nature-based features included in the alternatives are an important element to Miami-Dade County and the public,” said Col. Brian Hallberg, Norfolk District Commander “Which is why this has been an enterprise approach. We have included experts from The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center and the Corps of Engineers National Non-structural Committee, to name a few”

During the charrette, staff from USACE, Miami-Dade County, and the County’s consulting firm Moffatt & Nichol facilitated small working group sessions to discuss, consider, and propose multiple lines of defense including natural and nature-based features.

USACE and Miami Dade plan on hosting a series of public meetings to solicit public feedback and engage with the community in the coming months. 

The Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study examines the impacts of and potential measures to reduce risk from storm surge damage in Miami-Dade County. The study area includes coastal and inland areas at risk from coastal storm flooding and sea level rise.

Submit public comments by:
▪    Public crowdsource reporter tool: https://arcg.is/0ub0Cf
▪    In-person public meeting Spring (date TBD)
▪    Standard mail:
Environmental Analysis Section
USACE Norfolk District
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

▪    Email: [email protected]

To learn more about the study and hear a recording of the virtual public meeting held on February 23, 2023 visit https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/.