Last week, U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and other members of the South Florida delegation secured $500,000 in funding for flooding studies in Miami-Dade County and the village of Key Biscayne.
This is part of the larger Miami-Dade Coastal Storm Risk Management Plan, designed to increase resilience to storms and protect Miami and Key Biscayne residents from flooding.
“I am thrilled to see Key Biscayne receive the funds it needs to improve our environmental resilience,” said Salazar. “This funding is a critical step in the right direction to make sure District 27 is prepared for the environmental challenges we face in the 21st century.”
Last October, Salazar officially requested for the US Army Corps of Engineers, who this year received $7.5 million to conduct studies around the country. The village of Key Biscayne was able to secure a portion of this funding after its original request for fiscal year (FY) 2023.
“We’re excited! Our many years of hard work have paid off. First, I want to thank Congresswoman Salazar for her support throughout this effort,” said Key Biscayne Mayor Joe Rasco. “We will now begin to work closely with our Army Corps and County partners to develop solutions that protect our beach and bayside shorelines. The study will find ways to protect our residents, their property, and our thriving economy.”
The funding would expedite a critical storm resilience project vital to stopping coastal erosion, combatting sea-level rise, and protecting Key Biscayne from future storms. The secured funding would expand the current Dade County Coastal Storm Risk Management study to include other bayside concerns aside from its initial goal of studying the oceanside shoreline of Key Biscayne. This amplification will help protect over $9.5 billion of shoreline and property in the municipality.
Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional district, which includes Key Biscayne and its surrounding shoreline and beaches. Salazar is a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Small Business Committees.
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