DeLand, FL - A Stetson University researcher will be discussing sea-level rise and the growing threat to coastal communities in the United States.
Jason M. Evans, Ph. D., assistant professor of environmental science and studies at Stetson University is working with Sea Grant programs and several communities in the southeast including St. Marys, Georgia, and Satellite Beach, Florida, to discover ways to adapt to sea-level rise.
Evans’ research focuses on discovering vulnerabilities of public facilities such as stormwater drainage systems, fire stations and wastewater treatment plants, and finding ways to help communities adapt to sea-level rise and become more resilient to coastal hazards. His research is in collaboration with Sea Grant programs in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
Evans will present research findings and address community concerns at several events throughout Georgia and Florida in the coming weeks.
- Planning Workshop: Sea-Level Rise and Flooding, St. Petersburg, Florida, May 11. Find more information here.
Evans will participate in the Florida Sea grant workshop geared toward local government officials, focusing on the challenges they face when dealing with increased flooding and sea-level rise. The workshop will provide a brief overview of sea-level rise and flooding projections, showcase regional efforts to evaluate vulnerability and reduce flood risk, discuss state law requiring planning for flood and sea-level rise, and review the changing landscape of flood insurance.
- Flood Resiliency Project, St. Mary's Georgia, May 15. Find more information here.
Evans and many of the authors and researchers that were part of the St. Marys Flood Resiliency Project will present their findings from a 3-year study on the rising risks of flooding to the City of St. Marys Mayor and Council.
“It has been a wonderful opportunity to work with the people of St. Marys on this project over the past few years,” said Evans. “We believe that the final report provides a base amount of information and data that will assist the continuing efforts of city officials to reduce flood risks for the benefit of current and future residents, while at the same time maintaining the unique historic character that has long made St. Marys one of the crown jewels of the Georgia coast.”
- Florida Coastal Management Program Meeting, St. Augustine, Florida, May 16. Find more information here.
Evans will discuss the City of Satellite Beach Community Resilience Campaign, a program that builds on past research to measure, map and assess areas of vulnerability to sea-level rise. The goal of the Florida Coastal Management Program is to coordinate local, state and federal agency activities using existing laws to ensure that Florida’s coast is as valuable to future generations as it is today. This event brings together stakeholders and partners to discuss local coastal management issues.
(Photo of Jason Evans courtesy of Stetson University and Rhiannon Boyer).
Cover photo courtesy of ribeiroantonio and Shutterstock.com.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
