Rising sea levels threaten Florida cities, but state has few plans – Saltwater intrusion forcing cities to abandon water wells
By Jason Dearen
11 May 2015 ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (Associated Press) – America’s oldest city is slowly drowning. St. Augustine’s centuries-old Spanish fortress is feet from the encroaching Atlantic, whose waters already flood the city’s narrow streets about 10 times a year — a problem worsening as sea levels rise. The city relies on tourism, but visitors might someday have to wear waders at high tide. “If you want to benefit from the fact we’ve been here for 450 years, you have the responsibility to look forward to the next 450,” said Bill Hamilton, whose family has lived in the city since the 1950s. “Is St. Augustine even going to be here? We owe it to the people coming after us to leave the city in good shape.” St. Augustine is one of many chronically flooded communities along Florida’s coast, and officials in these diverse places share a concern: They’re afraid their buildings and economies will be further inundated by rising seas. The effects are a daily reality in much of Florida. Drinking water wells are fouled by sea water. Higher tides and storm surges make for more frequent road flooding from Jacksonville to Key West, and they’re overburdening flood-control systems. But the state has yet to offer a clear plan or coordination to address what local officials across Florida’s coast consider a slow-moving emergency. Republican Governor Rick Scott is skeptical of man-made climate change and has put aside the task of preparing for sea level rise, an Associated Press review of thousands of e-mails and documents pertaining to the state’s preparations for rising seas found. Despite warnings from water experts and climate scientists, skepticism about sea level projections and climate change science has hampered planning efforts at all levels of government, the records showed. Florida’s environmental agencies under Scott have been downsized, making them less effective at coordinating planning, documents showed. “If I were governor, I’d be out there talking about [sea level rise] every day,” said Eric Buermann, former general counsel to the Republican Party of Florida and a former water district governing board member. “Unless you’re going to build a sea wall around South Florida, what’s the plan?” The issue presents a public works challenge that could cost billions here and nationwide. Insurance giant Swiss Re has estimated that the economy in southeast Florida could sustain $33 billion in damage from climate-related damage in 2030. Communities such as St. Augustine can do only so much alone. Cities lack the technology, money, and manpower to keep back the seas by themselves. In a brief interview in March, Scott wouldn’t address whether the state had a long-range plan. He cited his support for Everglades restoration and some flood-control projects as progress but said cities and counties should contact environmental and water agencies to find answers — though Scott and a GOP-led Legislature have slashed billions of dollars from those agencies. […] Water quality is one of the biggest concerns. It’s especially bad in South Florida — Hallandale Beach has abandoned six of eight drinking water wells because of saltwater intrusion. [more]
Rising sea levels threaten Florida cities, but state has few plans
Ha! Just another commie UN plot to scare people! Not happening! Global warming is Not Real! Fake Pictures! Fake water wars! Fake drought!
Or so say's the idiotic denial crowd.
I heard from one such fool the other day. He actually claimed that global warming / drought is "created", which of course he could not offer a single shred of "proof" for.
Right-wing broadcasters are deliberately spreading lies and deceptions about global warming. And many millions of people are falling for these lies. Anything to avoid the truth – we did this to ourselves by ruining the atmospheric rivers.