In this project, our interdisciplinary team (PI Dr. Savanna Barry) worked closely with the Cedar Key (CK) community to design nature-based solutions (NBS) for this historic Florida seaside town.

Collaborations on living shorelines between CK stakeholders and UF over the past few years have generated great interest in further application of NBS for vulnerable public infrastructure threatened by sea level rise, frequent storms, and chronic erosion. Of particular concern was the highly exposed G and 1st Street neighborhood and adjacent low-lying areas. This focus area encompassed critical routes for emergency services, a popular shore fishing spot, and a public school in addition to private homes, local businesses, and failing stormwater infrastructure.

We assisted CK with the highly technical project design, advancing concepts toward permitting while incorporating input from the community. We deployed stakeholder-driven workshops and survey processes, conducted site visits to inform design possibilities and visualization, and integrated technical expertise with local preferences and infrastructure needs.