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Sunny-day flooding is a growing problem due to sea-level rise

We expect flooding during heavy rains or storm surge from a hurricane, but what do you do if the street floods on a sunny day?

by Carrie Stevenson
August 31, 2023
in News
0

By Carrie Stevenson, UF/IFAS

Sunny-day flooding in Pensacola Beach (Photo courtesy of Chris Curb)
Sunny-day flooding in Pensacola Beach (Photo courtesy of Chris Curb)

Watching news reports showing the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, most of us can relate to the nerve-wracking feeling of waiting for a storm to arrive. While no one wants to be in the direct path of a hurricane, it’s often a relief to have it over with so we can start moving forward, getting life back to normal. While flooding from hurricane-related rainfall and storm surge is sudden and intense, it is, mercifully, temporary.

Unfortunately, all over the state of Florida and in many coastal communities worldwide, a newer type of flooding is becoming a daily issue. Due to sea-level rise, high-tide flooding (aka “nuisance” or “sunny-day” flooding) is a frequent part of the landscape. This type of flooding occurs in low-lying areas that once had plenty of clearance between water levels and nearby streets and residences.

But now with measurable sea-level rise added to the high tide, the nearest bay or bayou overtops seawalls, floods over marshes into uplands or backs up into stormwater drains, flooding the streets on days with no rain at all. During a tropical storm or heavy rain, stormwater drains fill up in both directions and can no longer empty, pushing even more water into the roadways. This causes dangerous conditions for driving and expensive damage to property.

Trying to fix these problems is extremely expensive, often prohibitively so. In many situations, property owners and cities will just endure it until they simply abandon the location because conditions are no longer livable or insurable.

A storm drain on Pensacola Beach allows the free flow of water directly into a residential street. (Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF/IFAS Extension)
A storm drain in Pensacola Beach allows the free flow of water directly into a residential street. (Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF/IFAS Extension)

Potential solutions to this type of flooding include raising street levels or installing pumps, in-line or “duckbill” check valves that prevent backup into stormwater pipes, levees or dams. Investing in this type of infrastructure is often a case-by-case scenario, where local governments must determine whether the cost is worth the long-term benefit. In addition, the more investment made in this “drowning” infrastructure could lead to increased liability for cities and counties if the improvements are no longer working.

Green stormwater infrastructure such as pervious pavement, bioretention and living shorelines can also alleviate some of the pressure from high tide flooding, if communities are willing to invest in them.

Carrie Stevenson is the Coastal Sustainability Agent for the UF/IFAS Escambia County Extension Office, and has been with the organization since 2003. This piece was originally published at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2023/08/30/weekly-what-is-it-high-tide-flooding/?mc_cid=665c4d4de0&mc_eid=af179f24f3

Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here. If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece to The Invading Sea, email Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. 

Tags: green infrastructureinfrastructurenuisance floodingsea level risestormwatersunny-day flooding
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Soldiers from the 153rd Calvary Regiment conduct wellness checks to support the Hurricane Idalia recovery effort in Steinhatchee on Aug. 30. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Christian Wilson, CC BY 2.0, via flickr)

Florida disaster declaration approved for Hurricane Idalia; Cedar Key shows risks from rising seas

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The Invading Sea is a nonpartisan source for news, commentary and educational content about climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida. The site is managed by Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

 

 

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