Northwest Florida Water Management

District

81 Water Management Drive, Havana, Florida 32333-4712

(U.S. Highway 90, 10 miles west of Tallahassee)

Douglas E. Barr (850) 539-5999 • (Fax) 539-2777

Executive Director

FOR RELEASE: September 24, 2010

FOR INFORMATION: Ron Bartel, Director, Division of Resource Management

Faith Eidse, Public Information Specialist

District to Partner in Rising Sea Level Studies

Havana, FL—The Northwest Florida Water Management District will explore

potential impacts of rising sea levels on aquatic resources in partnership with

the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The District Governing Board agreed to

accept $215,000 in a federal grant to fund the District’s participation in the

development and use of sea level rise tools over the next five years.

“The District will help coastal resource managers apply the tools

developed as part of the research conducted by UCF. These tools are intended

to identify potential consequences of sea level rise and adjust plans to protect,

preserve and restore critical resources under their care,” said Graham Lewis,

Senior Environmental Scientist, in the District’s Resource Management Division.

“Models to be adapted include those the District has developed for its

ongoing coastal flood hazard mapping study as well as three-dimensional

salinity transport models for analysis of freshwater needs,” said Ron Bartel,

GEORGE ROBERTS PHILIP K. McMILLAN STEVE GHAZVINI PETER ANTONACCI STEPHANIE BLOYD
Chair Vice Chair Secretary/Treasurer Tallahassee Panama City
Beach
Panama City Blountstown Tallahassee

JOYCE ESTES TIM NORRIS JERRY PATE RALPH RISH

Eastpoint Santa Rosa Beach Pensacola Port
St.Joe
Director of the Division of Resource Management. “The study will also make

use of recently collected LiDAR (detailed elevation data) as well as other water

resources data the District has to offer through its Geographical Information

System.”

(MORE)

Add 1-- District to Partner in Rising Sea Level Studies

The District is expected to coordinate and share technical information

obtained during the study with the management agencies and staff of UCF and

NOAA. “This gives the District a unique opportunity to interact with sea level

rise researchers and ensure that the research is practical and transferrable to

our local coastal communities” said Douglas Barr, District Executive Director.

The District will provide a liaison, outreach, and oversight between the

project researchers and resource managers, according to the Scope of Work. A

total of $46,100 will be received during the first year. The District will provide

$10,000 as in-kind match over the five-year period. The match funds are

primarily for arranging outreach meetings along the Panhandle through its

Surface Water Improvement and Management program.

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