Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava applauds WRDA passage for resilience measures

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, President Biden signed into law the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). WRDA is a crucial piece of federal legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of water resources infrastructure across the country.

This WRDA contains several components of vital importance to Miami-Dade County that will help create a more resilient and Future Ready community including: 

•    Authorization of the 2024 Miami-Dade County Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study (Back Bay Study) Chiefs Report
•    Reauthorization of the U.S. Economic Development Administration 
•    Increased funding for Everglades Restoration  

“Miami-Dade County is grateful to Congress, our Congressional delegation and the Biden Administration for the expedited passage of the WRDA 2024. These authorizations and funds are essential to building resilience in our County and will directly benefit some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods and people,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as we become a national model for a future ready community. My administration remains committed to delivering on the promise of safer, more resilient neighborhoods for all in the face of climate change and extreme weather.”

Authorization of WRDA is the first step towards securing federal funding to advance the Back Bay Study and protecting Miami-Dade County residents from dangerous storm surges. This initial authorization allows stakeholders to pursue funding for the voluntary elevation of up to 2,052 homes; floodproofing of up to 403 commercial buildings; and floodproofing of up to 27 critical infrastructure such as police and fire stations. These initial projects are concentrated in low- to- moderate income neighborhoods where the impacts of storms are often felt most. It also provides funding to investigate ways in which large buildings like hospitals and multifamily structures can be protected. Thanks to the support of residents, community-based organizations, and private industry across our County, the authorization also provides a path towards funding the study, design, engineering and construction of a $180 million nature-based solutions pilot program in Miami-Dade.

Reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) through Fiscal Year 2029 and established an Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience within the EDA to oversee new and existing efforts to assist communities affected by major disasters. This historic, bipartisan measure strengthens our partnership with the EDA, enhancing our community’s capacity to scale climate technologies through the ClimateReady Tech Hub and expand opportunities for small businesses to access disaster relief funds as extreme weather events grow in frequency and intensity.

Additionally, the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands and Western Everglades Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project also received critical authorizations and will serve to protect our drinking water supply and move more clean water into Biscayne Bay.