Miami Dade Back Bay StudyMIAMI-DADE BACK BAY COASTAL
STORM RISK MANAGEMENT DRAFT
INTEGRATED FEASIBILITY REPORT
AND PROGRAMMATIC
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
Norfolk District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
16 June 2020
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
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Opening Remarks
Overview: Background and Timeline
Tentatively Selected Plan
How to Provide Comments
Question and Answer
OUTLINE
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115 -123
authorizes the government to conduct the Study at full
Federal expense,
3 years and $3 Million to complete study,
The Miami-Dade Back Bay CSRM will investigate solutions
that will reduce damages and risks from impacts of coastal
storms while considering sea level rise. The study will not
address federally owned land (e.g. Everglades National
Park), but will focus primarily on the urban and coastal areas
of the county,
A draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared.
The study will conclude in the Fall of 2021 with Final
versions of the documents.
STUDY BACKGROUND
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SMART Feasibility Study Process:
Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management Study
Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP)
Milestone: Jan 2020
Alternative Evaluation and
Comparison:
•Environmental Considerations
•Parametric Costs and
Determine Preliminary Benefits
(Future With Project Conditions)
•Final Array of Alternatives
•Detailed Benefit-to-Cost Ratio
•Stakeholder Input
•Determine the TSP
•Develop Draft Report
Agency Decision Milestone
(ADM): Oct 2020
•Release Draft Report
(Integrated
Environmental Impact
Statement) and Respond
to Comments
•Initiate Multiple Levels
of Quality Review
•Finalize Environmental
Mitigation Plans
•Develop Final Report
Sept 2021
•Release Final
Report
•Complete
National
Environmental
Policy Act
(NEPA)
Conclusions
Alternatives Milestone:
9 Jan 2019
•Receive Stakeholder
Input on Potential
Measures
•Develop Screening
Criteria
•Formulate Initial Array
of Alternatives
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1 3 5
SCOPING &
PLANNING STRATEGY
ALTERNATIVE FORMULATION & ANALYSIS
FEASIBILITY-
LEVEL
ANALYSIS TO
ADM
CHIEF’S REPORT
4
District Engineer transmits
final report package
April 2021
Concurrent review
Execute Feasibility
Agreement with non-
Federal Sponsor:
9 Oct 2018
•Initiate Scoping
•Invite Agencies to
Participate
•Examine Existing
and Future Without
Project Conditions
•Identify Problems,
Opportunities,
Objectives and
Constraints
FEASIBLITY-LEVEL ANALYSIS TO TSP
Draft Report
Release:
5 June 2020
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SELECTION OF FOCUS AREAS
Focus areas were selected based on
(1) the Social Vulnerability Index and
(2) expected flooding damage
Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses U.S. census
data to determine social vulnerability by census tract. Each
tract was ranked on 15 factors grouped into four themes
which include:
Socioeconomic status
Household composition / disability
Race / ethnicity / language / minority status
Housing/transportation
Flooding damage was estimated using the HAZUS model
using FEMA’s 1% (100-year) annual chance flood with 4’ of
SLR.
4000’ x 4000’ grids made to narrow down damage areas
Flooding damage was multiplied by SVI to obtain a
composite risk map which showed seven socially
vulnerable economic damage centers
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TENTATIVELY
SELECTED PLAN
(ALTERNATIVE 8)
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Surge barriers at Biscayne Canal, Little
River, and Miami River all of which
include associated pump stations and
floodwalls
Nonstructural mitigation at seven socially
vulnerable economic damage centers
Outside structural measures at Arch
Creek, Little River, and Miami
River/Edgewater.
Aventura, Cutler Bay (not shown on
map), North Beach, and South
Beach
Natural and Nature-Based Features are
being considered at the Cutler Bay site
Critical infrastructure mitigation on
priority asset categories throughout all of
Miami-Dade County (not shown on map)
Total Project First Cost :
$4,586,000,000
Benefit-to-Cost Ratio
(BCR): 9.4
Annual Net benefits:
$1,640,000,000
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•Deadline: 20 July 2020
•Email: MDBB-CSRMStudy@usace.army.mil
•Public Web-Page Web Mapper Tool:http://arcg.is/fm0Xe
•Written Comments:
Environmental Analysis Section, Norfolk District
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
•For any accessibility issues that prevent written comments, please call
(757) 201-7728.
•Project Documents are Located:
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/MiamiDadeBackBayCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS
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QUESTIONS
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OVERVIEW
The National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal
agencies to evaluate how their actions affect the human and
natural environment.
In accordance with NEPA, compliance with other federal laws and
statutes is also documented and addressed (i.e., Endangered
Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act,
Coastal Zone Management Act).
This document has been prepared as a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) based on a 10%
(conceptual) design level; future NEPA documentation will be
prepared for site specific project as designs advance.
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Authorized
Measures that reduce risks from
coastal storms considering property
and life safety/ critical infrastructure.
Inclusion of increases in storm surge
over time due to sea level rise.
Pump stations associated with
structural barriers such as floodwalls
or surge barriers.
Natural features where there is a
benefit to reducing storm surge
impacts.
10% (conceptual) design
development.
Direct inclusion of Federal property
Sea level rise impacts not occurring
during a coastal storm event.
Improvements to reduce rainfall/
stormwater flooding.
Natural features with no direct
reduction in coastal storm risks.
Recreational or aesthetic features.
Construction or Operation and
Maintenance.
USACE COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT (CSRM)
STUDY AUTHORITY
Not Authorized
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Structural Measures –screened based on seven focus
areas identified, preliminary real estate and engineering
concerns, and non-Federal sponsor input.
Nonstructural Areas –areas narrowed down to seven
focus areas based on preliminary flood damage analysis
and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).
Critical Infrastructure –Asset Categories were
determined through scoping meetings and in-line with
Miami-Dade County’s Rapid Action Plan which consists
of vulnerable critical infrastructure.
Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) –Identified
through coordination with local stakeholders. Designed
to work in conjunction with non-structural and structural
measures.
MANAGEMENT MEASURES
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STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP AND PLANNING CHARETTE
Held on 8-9 November 2018 with over 70 attendees
Representation from federal and state agencies, universities,
Attendees included: USEPA, City of Miami, SFWMD, South
Florida Regional Planning Council, U of M, FIU, Miami-Dade
County (MDC) DER, MDC Office of EM, Florida DEP
PUBLIC MEETINGS
NEPA Scoping meeting held on December 2018
Public meeting held September 2019
WORKSHOP
Held on March 21-22, 2019 in Miami, Florida with the non-Federal sponsor to refine focus areas
Interagency meetings held roughly bimonthly
Weekly update calls with the non-Federal Sponsor
Bi-Weekly update calls with the Jacksonville District to discuss Miami-Dade Back Bay CSRM,
Miami-Dade CSRM, and Miami Harbor study
COORDINATION
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PROBLEMS
•The geographic location, low elevation, and high population of Miami-Dade County make it vulnerable to storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms.
•Increasing high tides and king tides resulting from sea level rise result in recurrent flooding to roads and properties.
•Increasing groundwater elevations from sea level rise result in flood risks to inland areas.
•Increasing flooding from rain events due to the higher groundwater elevations and higher tailwater elevations from sea level rise threaten properties and infrastructure.
OPPORTUNITIES
•Reduce risk of loss of life due to high flooding events or infrastructure failure.
•Reduce coastal storm-related economic damages and improve economic resiliency of the local economy and communities, particularly low-income communities.
•Increase resiliency and structural integrity of critical infrastructure
•Reduce transportation and evacuation route impacts during high flooding events.
•Utilize available natural areas and open spaces for improving wave attenuation, water retention, and/or water storage.
OBJECTIVES
•Increase the resiliency of Miami-Dade County to function effectively before, during, and after coastal storm events by decreasing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to flooding damages from SLR and storm surge.
•Reduce economic damages to structures in communities vulnerable to severe flooding damages from SLR and storm surge.
•Incorporate natural and nature based features to reduce flood damages and complement the recommended nonstructural and structural measures.
CONSTRAINTS
•Avoid creating or exacerbating flooding within the project area, to other local municipalities, and to local military installations.
•Avoid flooding solutions for the study area that would induce increased flooding issues in locations outside of the study area.
•Avoid impacts to environmental and cultural/historic resources in the study area and nearby (e.g. Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay National Park).
•Cannot exacerbate saltwater intrusion which will negatively impact fresh water for drinking and agriculture.
PROBLEMS, OPPORTUNITES, OBJECTIVES AND CONSTRAINTS
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ALTERNATIVE
NUMBER ALTERNATIVE NAME DESCRIPTION
1 No Action No Action
2 Critical Infrastructure Only
Analyzing critical infrastructure throughout all of Miami-Dade County on
priority asset categories. This includes wet and dry floodproofing
structures.
3 Miami River Basin + Alternative 2
Surge barrier at Miami River (with associated floodwalls and pump
stations) + Floodwall at Edgewater + Nonstructural outside of surge
barrier.
4 Nonstructural + Alternative 2
Acquiring, elevating, and wet and dry floodproofing of structures in seven
socially vulnerable, economic damage centers defined by Hazus and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability
Index which include Miami River, Little River, Arch Creek River, Aventura,
North Beach, South Beach, and Cutler Bay areas.
5 Inland Storm Surge Reduction
(Structural) + Alternative 2
Surge barriers (with associated floodwalls and pump stations) at the most
socially vulnerable, economic damage centers which include Miami River,
Little River, and Biscayne Canal.
6 Alternative 2 + 3 + 4 Miami River Basin + Nonstructural + Critical Infrastructure
7 Alternative 2 + 4 + 5 Nonstructural + Structural + Critical Infrastructure
8 Alternative 2 + 4 + 5 + EW NS
-EW FW
Nonstructural + Structural + Critical Infrastructure + Nonstructural at
Edgewater -(without) Floodwall at Edgewater
ARRAY OF ALTERNATIVES
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Critical infrastructure
analyzed throughout the
entire county.
Critical asset categories to
include in study:
Fire Stations
Medical Facilities
Significant hospital /
emergency facilities
Police Stations / 311 centers
Shelters / evacuation centers
Wastewater and potable water
facilities
Treatment plants, pump
stations
EOC Facilities
Vulnerable airport facilities from
the Rapid Action Plan (RAP)
Railway electrical substations
Erosion at Rickenbacker
Causeway and Venetian Way
Critical
Infrastructure Count
Emergency
Operations Center
Command Centers
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Evacuation Centers 81
Fire Stations
(County)71
Fire Stations
(Municipal)30
Hospitals 40
Police Stations
(County)8
Police Stations
(Municipal)58
Pump Stations 458
Treatment Plants 9
MEASURES CONSIDERED:
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
16MEASURES CONSIDERED:
NONSTRUCTURAL
Seven socially vulnerable economic
damage centers
Arch Creek, Aventura, Cutler Bay,
Little River, Miami River, North
Beach, and South Beach
Nonstructural measures includes:
Elevating structures, wet and/or
dry floodproofing of structures,
acquiring structures and relocating
structures and utilities
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elevation
floodproofing
EXAMPLE NONSTRUCTURAL MEASURES
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Surge barriers at Biscayne Canal,
Little River, and Miami River
including associated pump stations
and floodwalls
Floodwall at Edgewater, examined,
but not included in the Tentatively
Selected Plan.
The proposed top of wall elevation
varies from 1 to 13 feet above
ground depending on location and
is greater in height where the wall
is in the water. Optimization will
occur for different storm
frequencies prior to the final report.
MEASURES
CONSIDERED:
STRUCTURAL
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floodwall
floodwall
EXAMPLE FLOODWALLS AND DESIGN
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sector gate miter gate
EXAMPLE SURGE BARRIER DESIGN
21EXAMPLE SURGE BARRIERS
sector gate miter gate
22MEASURES CONSIDERED:
NATURAL AND NATURE-BASED
FEATURES
Old
Cutler
Road
Natural and Nature-Based features (NNBFs)
considered for this study included mangrove and
other native vegetation plantings, coral reefs, living
shorelines, submerged aquatic vegetation, and
marsh island creation/enhancements.
The NNBF selected for this
study is the planting of native
vegetation including mangroves
at the Cutler Bay Site
Vegetation such as mangroves
serve to dissipate storm surge
and provide a natural form of
coastal protection.
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Real Estate actions for structural measures
Permanent and temporary easements, fee acquisition and relocations will
be needed to support construction of structural measures.
Real Estate actions for non-structural measure
Elevations: approximately 2,300 properties
Floodproofing commercial and critical infrastructure: approximately 3,800
properties
Expectation is that the real estate impacts will continue to be refined as the
project is optimized.
REAL ESTATE CONSIDERATIONS
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RESOURCE AREA
Air quality Geology, Physiography, and Topography
Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Materials
and Wastes Wildlife and Terrestrial Habitat
Cultural Resources Plankton Community
Noise and Vibration Utilities
Water Quality Floodplain
Wetlands and Mangroves Bathymetry, Hydrology, and Tidal Processes
RESOURCES AREAS EVALUATED WITH NO SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS
Potential impacts to resource areas listed above range from adverse to beneficial,
temporary to permanent, and negligible or minor to moderate. For impacts to specific
resources, please refer to Chapter 8 of the draft report.
25RESOURCES AREAS EVALUATED WITH POTENTIAL
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
RESOURCE AREA
Fish and Fishery Resources Recreational Resources
Benthic Resources Aesthetic and Visual Resources
Special Status Species Navigation
Socioeconomics Safety
Transportation Land Use
Potential significant impacts to resource areas listed above range
from adverse to beneficial and are considered major. For impacts
to specific resources, please refer to Chapter 8 of the draft report.
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INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND CONSULTATIONS
Proposed structural measures have the potential to result in adverse effects to federally
protected threatened and endangered species. Formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service is anticipated. Interagency
coordination is ongoing.
Federally protected species evaluated: Nassau grouper, smalltooth sawfish, boulder star coral, Elkhorn coral, lobed
star coral, mountainous star coral, pillar coral, rough cactus coral, staghorn coral, West Indian manatee including
critical habitat, Florida bonneted bat, American crocodile, green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp’s ridley sea
turtle, leatherback sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, and Johnson’s seagrass including critical habitat, piping plover,
and red knot
The final design and siting of project features would not occur until later project phases.
Resource surveys, including benthic surveys and a wetlands jurisdictional determination,
would be conducted during later project phases.
Future NEPA documentation would be prepared for site-specific projects as designs
advance and more detailed resource data becomes available.
27FEASIBILITY STUDY MILESTONE SCHEDULE
Signing of Feasibility Cost Share Agreement 09 Oct 2018 (A)
Alternatives Milestone 09 Jan 2019 (A)
In Progress Review 07 May 2019 (A)
Tentatively Selected Plan Milestone 17 Jan 2020 (A)
Release of Draft Study for Concurrent Reviews 5 June 2020 (A)
Agency Decision Milestone 15 Oct 2020 (S)
Submit Final Report Package/Policy and Legal
Compliance Review Team 23 April 2021 (S)
Signed Chief’s Report 24 Sep 2021 (S)
28RELATED USACE STUDIES
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Shore-Protection/Dade-County/
Monroe County CSRM Study
Miami-Dade County CSRM Study
https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/FloridaKeysCSRMFeasibilityStudy/
South Atlantic Coastal Study
https://www.sad.usace.army.mil/SACS