St. Pete city commissioners are set to receive an update on Wednesday about a pilot project to replace aging seawalls near the Don CeSar Hotel with a nature-based alternative to reduce flooding in a low-lying residential neighborhood.
The project would swap out deteriorating seawalls behind several homes with what are called “living seawalls” — a hybrid approach that incorporates natural elements such as marsh grasses, mangroves, oyster reefs, and sediment in front of a concrete structure to help absorb wave energy and reduce storm damage.
Thomas Ries of the Ecosphere Restoration Institute is leading the initiative. He says the design also allows seawalls to be built higher and last longer than conventional structures. Many existing seawalls in the area are at about 3.8 feet, and raising them uniformly to 5 feet would, according to Ries, account for king tides and sea-level rise through 2060.
The project is funded by a $39,999 Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund grant, which the city of St. Pete Beach matched and used to cover survey and geotechnical work. The seawall’s proximity to public land helped the project qualify for city funding.
Officials hope the effort extends well beyond the homes directly involved. Homeowners in St. Pete Beach will have access to the design plans and permitting guides developed through the project, with Ries saying pre-approved designs could remove a significant barrier for residents considering the upgrade on their own properties.
Roughly 67 percent of Pinellas County’s shorelines are lined with seawalls, and city officials say the project could serve as a replicable model for coastal resilience efforts across the region.
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