A team of scientists at the University of Florida has secured a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create a decision-support system aimed at helping South Florida communities manage the growing threats of sea level rise, groundwater flooding, and saltwater intrusion.
Led by Dr. Young Gu Her, a hydrology and water resources engineering professor at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Research and Education Center, the project is designed to equip local governments with tools to make informed decisions about climate adaptation, infrastructure investment, and land use planning.
“This is about getting ahead of the problem,” Her said. “We aim to empower local governments with clear options that reflect both environmental and community realities before today’s risks become tomorrow’s emergencies.”
The interdisciplinary team includes experts in stormwater engineering, biochemistry, agroecology, and economics: Eban Bean, Ashley Smith, Zachary Brym, and Edward Evans. Together, they will examine how natural solutions—such as mangrove restoration, rain gardens, porous pavement, and other “green infrastructure”—can complement traditional flood defenses like canals and seawalls.
South Florida’s low elevation, porous limestone geology, and decades of development have left the region particularly susceptible to rising seas and saltwater contamination of freshwater supplies. Saltwater intrusion is already affecting farmland and drinking water in some areas.
“Saltwater intrusion isn’t just a future concern—it’s already happening,” Her noted. “Because of our geology, elevation and development patterns, our region is on the frontlines. It’s not just a science problem—it’s a people, food and land problem.”
What distinguishes the UF project is its commitment to practical application. The team’s decision-support system will be developed in close collaboration with local governments and will incorporate real-time data, simulations, and economic analyses. It will allow users to explore “what-if” scenarios and compare the effectiveness of different strategies under future climate and sea level conditions.
The system will also tackle a critical challenge in coastal water management: balancing groundwater flooding mitigation with the risk of increasing saltwater intrusion. The tool is designed to help stakeholders identify strategies that minimize trade-offs and avoid unintentionally creating new vulnerabilities.
“Mangroves act like coastal shields,” Her said. “They reduce storm surge and help prevent saltwater from pushing into freshwater. Meanwhile, wetlands and green spaces absorb excess water and recharge the aquifer. These solutions can be more affordable than hard infrastructure, and they build long-term resilience.”
Economic modeling will be central to the effort, enabling local officials to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different flood mitigation and climate adaptation strategies.
“Economics helps communities make smart, cost-effective choices,” Her said. “We calculate how much each option reduces risk, what it costs and how it performs over time.”
The project is set to run from September 2025 through August 2028 and will include opportunities for community engagement and integration into local planning efforts. While initially focused on Southeast Florida, the UF team expects the framework to be adaptable for use in other vulnerable coastal regions in the U.S. and abroad.
