Community Solutions Workshop #3: Addressing Flooding in West Cocoa

• Envision Opportunity Areas for Local Green Infrastructure

Discuss and display visuals of potential long-term local projects and identify specific, actionable next steps.

• Education and Resources on Buyouts

What are buyouts? How do buyouts work? What questions do we have about buyouts and what do we want to learn together? Get answers to these and other common questions. Collectively, Buy-In, the Climigration Network, and NRDC have been working with partners to develop recommendations for better buyout programs, informed by residents who have gone through these programs and government staff who have administered these programs. We can share these recommendations with West Cocoa to help them know what to advocate for in a buyout program.

• Native Plant GIVEAWAY from Pelican Island Audubon Society

Take home native plants that beautify your yard, benefit wildlife, and reduce flooding in your yard.

About this Project

Green infrastructure can be used to reduce stormwater runoff by filtering and absorbing rainwater. Through listening to and prioritizing community voices, this project aims to address flooding and water quality issues experiences by the Cocoa West Community. In partnership with Florida Sea Grant, Stetson University, Little Growers Inc., East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Brevard County.

What is the Goal?

Through listening to and prioritizing resident voices and experiences, a group of local organizations are working together to help solve issues related to flooding and water quality experienced by the community of Cocoa West.

Who are the Partners?

Florida Sea Grant, Stetson University, Little Growers, Inc., The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and Brevard County. Buy-In, the Climigration Network, and NRDC

How Can This Project Benefit the Community?

This project's goal is to plan for green space, or green infrastructure, which has the capacity to absorb and filter rainwater impacting the Cocoa West area by using strategies, such as drones, geospatial modeling and community input. STEM opportunities for youth may also be available.

Additional Background:

This project will address issues related to water quality and sea-level rise in Brevard County through the implementation of green infrastructure. Outreach in this project to community members, especially those that have been historically under-represented, will help enhance the project. Moreover, community engagement paired with the other objectives will provide for a resilient local community, economy, and ecological system.

Brevard County, Florida is the 10th most populated County in the state, and is home to the Indian River Lagoon, the most biodiverse estuary in North America. With persistent water quality issues paired with imminent effects of climate change, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC)—in partnership with Florida Sea Grant, Volusia and Brevard County, other municipalities, academia and non-profits—developed the East Central Florida Regional Resiliency Action Plan (RRAP) to address these issues.

Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Design are two strategies that can help improve water quality and mitigate flood impacts. Stetson University was awarded funding from Florida Sea Grant to work with Brevard County and various partners/stakeholders to identify opportunities and strategies to implement green infrastructure in Brevard County. Beginning in Spring of 2022 the grant will span 2 years. As a stakeholder driving process, multiple opportunities will be held to give the public an opportunity to learn about the project, give input about issues and opportunities, and stay up to date with the project.

The primary objective of the Florida Sea Grant Project is to define areas suitable for Green Infrastructure; features of nature or those that mimic nature, which can be utilized in 'improving water quality and reducing flood hazards'.

• Defining suitable areas will be done by assessing the association between land-cover change and predicted sea-level rise models.
• Once defined, drones will be used to effectively provide high-resolution data for implementation of green infrastructure in these areas.
• Specific policy will be developed for potential implementation.
• Community engagement will be of utmost importance, especially with historically under-represented communities.
• Moreover, this project will provide opportunities for students and researchers in development of their professional careers.

Host or Publisher Little Growers, Inc