Item N3 N3
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE �� i Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern James K.Scholl,District 3
Craig Cates,District 1
Michelle Lincoln,District 2
' David Rice,District 4
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
February 21, 2024
Agenda Item Number: N3
2023-2136
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Sustainability
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Rhonda Haag
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a letter of support to Florida Senators and
Representatives signed by Mayor Merrill Raschein on January 26, 2024 as part of a 4-county effort of
the Southeast Florida Climate Compact to support funding of the comprehensive study of the Central
and Southern Florida Flood Control Project, which has been authorized by Congress via the 2022 Water
Resources Development Act but is not yet funded.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The SE Florida Climate Compact requested a letter of support from each of the four Compact counties
for support for funding of the Central& Southern Florida(C&SF)Project. The first vital effort is the
C&SF Flood Resiliency Section 216 Study (Section 216 Study), which is anticipated to focus on
salinity control structures along the coast to reduce the most immediate risk to changing conditions.
This study is underway but requires additional funding. The second vital effort is the comprehensive
study of the entire C&SF flood control project that has been authorized by Congress via the 2022 Water
Resources Development Act, but is not funded at this time. This broader more comprehensive study
will expand the overall assessment to the broader C&SF System, with additional focus on storage and
conveyance within the system.
Flood risk and losses are not only fueling a rise in flood insurance costs but escalating the cost of auto
insurance as well. The financial pressures are severe and crippling for many households. The C&SF
Project is integral to the entirety of resilience efforts being undertaken across our region. It is imperative
that the C&SF Projects be fully supported in a timely manner to provide current and future flood
protection, and the cascading exposures and losses that come with delay.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
None
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
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CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
Compact letter.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None
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RD DE
non
M IAM t
'CORI a
January XX 2024
Senator Marco Rubio Representative Lois Frankel
284 Russell Senate Office Building 2305 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Senator Rick Scott Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz
110 Hart Senate Office Building 270 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515
Representative Brian Mast Representative Frederica Wilson
2182 Rayburn House Office Building 2080 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Representative Mario Diaz-Balart
242 Cannon House Office Building 374 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Representative Jared Moskowitz Representative Carlos Gimenez
1130 Longworth House Office Building 448 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
Representative Maria Salazar
2162 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Re: Support for the Central and South Florida Project Studies
Dear Florida Senators and Representatives:
Thank you for your ongoing support of two critical U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) studies of
the Central and Southern Florida(C&SF) Flood Control Project to collectively to address immediate flood
risks in South Florida. As you know, the C&SF Flood Control Project was authorized in 1948 — more
than 70 years ago— and has served as an invaluable contributor to the economic success of South Florida,
including Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. However, it was designed to
deliver flood protection for 2 million residents, not the 11 million it currently serves, nor the estimated 15
million people who are expected to live in the region in 30 years. Today, the C&SF system is under
substantial stress due
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to changes in the physical environment, especially increased rainfall intensity and rising sea levels.
Stormwater severely strains the system and sea level rise significantly threatens project operations. Without
a frilly functioning flood control system, South Florida's citizens, economy, and broader environment will
be at risk.
The first vital effort is the C&SF Flood Resiliency Section 216 Study (Section 216 Study) which is
anticipated to focus on salinity control structures along the coast to reduce the most immediate risk to
changing conditions. This study is underway but requires additional funding. The second vital effort is the
comprehensive study of the entire C&SF flood control project that has been authorized by Congress via the
2022 Water Resources Development Act, but unfortunately is not funded at this time. This broader more
comprehensive study will expand the overall assessment to the broader C&SF System,with additional focus
on storage and conveyance within the system.
Flood risk and losses are not only fueling a rise in flood insurance costs but escalating the cost of auto
insurance as well. The financial pressures are severe and crippling for many households.The C&SF Project
is integral to the entirety of resilience efforts being undertaken across our region. It is imperative that the
C&SF Projects be fully supported in a timely manner to provide current and future flood protection, and
the cascading exposures and losses that come with delay.
Thank you for your strong support to address ongoing flooding concerns in South Florida.We will continue
to monitor this vital issue for our community and look forward to addressing to Southeast Florida's aging
water management infrastructure.
Sincerely.
Maria Sachs Nan Rich
Mayor, Palm Beach County Mayor, Broward County
Damella Levine Cava Holly Merrill Raschein
Mayor, Miami-Dade County Mayor, Monroe County
CC: Michael L. Connor
Assistant Secretary of the Army—Civil Works
Department of the Army
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0108
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Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon
Chief of Engineers and Commanding General
Headquarters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
331 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000
Brig. Gen. Daniel Hibner
Commanding General
South Atlantic Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
60 Forsyth Street SW, Room 10M15
Atlanta, GA 30303-8801
Col. James L. Booth
District Commander
Jacksonville District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
701 San Marco Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32207-8175
Mr. Chauncey Goss
Chairman of the Governing Board
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Mr. Drew Bartlett
Executive Director
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
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