Southwest Florida Assesses Salt Marsh Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Commission partnered to assess historic and current range of salt marshes in the region, as well as dentify their vulnerability to changing climate conditions. This helps local governments identify priority conservation areas to preserve salt marshes. The study also included recommended actions for stakeholders or local governments such as shoreline protection efforts, conservation of future marsh migration lands, restoring native marsh vegetation and tidal flows, and back-filling man-made ditches. This assessment was made possible by an EPA assistance grant.