New models of St. Augustine shorelines will aid in their protection

September 29, 2023

In June, a team of scientists and researchers from the University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS), the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Villanova University and the University of North Carolina Wilmington traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, to survey eroding shorelines and develop new models to aid in their protection.  “We […]

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Joe Marchionno: Restoring marine habitats of threatened birds

September 29, 2023

Joe Marchionno vividly recalls the sense of wonder he felt as he got an up-close look at a bird for the first time while a colleague at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) attached a small band to the bird’s leg to track its movements. “One of the rewards of doing conservation work […]

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Coastal Edges director’s note August 2023

August 29, 2023

Dear friends and colleagues,  Nearly 900 million people live in low-lying coastal zones around the world, in communities that are disproportionately affected by rising sea levels, ocean warming, increasingly extreme weather and other coastal hazards, according to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. This global population is a staggering 15-times more likely to die from flooding and […]

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Scientists join forces to support coastal resilience

August 29, 2023

Earlier this summer, researchers from governmental, academic and nonprofit organizations gathered in the Florida Panhandle to compare notes on their latest research findings for the region. Their purpose? Building a collaborative network and identifying priority projects and funding opportunities to rehabilitate the region’s shorelines and reverse water quality declines.   Researchers at the University of Florida’s […]

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Nature helps defend military bases from extreme weather events

August 29, 2023

Five years ago, Hurricane Michael caused massive damage to Tyndall Air Force Base when it carved through the Florida Panhandle. Today, the base is wielding nature’s power to increase the military installation’s resilience against future climate and extreme weather events.   As part of the base’s $5-billion rebuild program, researchers from the UF Center for […]

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Tool Helps Measure Climate Change’s Impact on Septic Systems

August 29, 2023

Failing septic systems are among the key culprits in harming water quality. To help reduce that risk, scientists at the UF Center for Coastal Solutions have developed a tool to identify systems that might release untreated wastewater to the ground and nearby waterways.   The Regional Septic Vulnerability Assessment identifies locations where septic systems are […]

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Nina Stark: Digging for Coastal Resilience

August 29, 2023

Researcher and educator Nina Stark has crisscrossed the world to help coastal communities build more resilient infrastructure in the face of rising coastal hazards and climate change-related threats. Her expertise in marine geotechnics, the mechanics of seabed sediments, has taken her from the frigid and windy conditions of the Arctic to the sunny Florida coasts. […]

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Saving time and money to convert from septic to sewer systems

August 29, 2023

Florida has over 2.7 million septic systems and it’s estimated that cleaning them up will cost billions.  A new tool developed by CCS scientists is saving counties in Florida time and money to convert septic systems to sewer networks, while reducing environmental impacts that result when septic systems fail. The Septic to Sewer Optimization Tool […]

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Honoring the life of Dr. Paul Gader

June 27, 2023

“I will always cherish the moments of playing saxophone together, researching coral reefs in Hawaii, talking in our thick northern accents, chatting for hours on end in the lab and enjoying meals together. Paul truly radiates light and brings immense value to everyone he encounters.” -Nicholas Kroeger, Ph.D. candidate, Dr. Gader’s former student “Paul was […]

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Coastal connection inspires gift

June 27, 2023

Their lifelong love of the ocean inspired Lindy and Scott Hearne to take action in partnership with CCS to help conserve it for future generations of Floridians. For Lindy and Scott Hearne, the perfect day in Florida starts with a walk on the beach in the morning and ends with a sunset cruise around Siesta […]

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