Cedar Key, Florida is one of the many places on Earth that is experiencing the effects of climate change in real time. From increases in sea level, to the reintroduction of red mangroves, and new migration patterns of Snook fish, climate change has had a profound effect on the island.
In August of this past year, Cedar Key experienced the highest storm surge since the 1800s due to Hurricane Idalia. The hurricane flooded low-lying areas of the island, affecting many homes, and has led to long-lasting constraints on the community. The only grocery store on the island temporarily closed as a result of damage, leading to residents needing to travel over 30 miles to buy groceries. Key industries in Cedar Key, like shellfish aquaculture, will take years to return to normal operation because of the destruction. According to Dr. Micheal Allen, director of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IFAS) Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS), over 70% of farming clams were lost due to the storm, crippling an almost $30 million industry. On nearby Seahorse Key, Hurricane Idalia destroyed up to 60 feet of the beach in some areas.
Cedar Key is no stranger to climate change induced challenges. Over the past decade, NCBS has worked toward mitigating one of the more evident effects of climate change on the community: coastal erosion. Coastal erosion in many gulf shorelines has increased due to both rises in sea level and increases in storms. To combat coastal erosion, NCBS has constructed living shorelines in Cedar Key. According to Dr. Savanna Barry, a Regional Specialized Extension Agent at NCBS, living shorelines are designed to address coastal erosion using nature.
Although there are other methods of preventing coastal erosion, such as shoreline armoring, living shorelines are more environmentally sustainable. Armoring can interrupt natural processes in the intertidal zone, which can be detrimental to the productivity of the habitat. Another advantage of living shorelines are that they are low maintenance, since they are able to self-repair. Some of the living shoreline projects NCBS currently manages are located on Airport Road, Joe Rains Beach, and G Street, with each living shoreline being constructed differently.
The Airport Road living shoreline uses Oyster reef balls, which are concrete domes that enable oyster and barnacle settlement, to reduce wave action and filter water. Additional sand was imported to the Airport Road shoreline to restore what had already been lost to erosion and dune and marsh vegetation were planted to help stabilize the sand.
The living shoreline constructed at Joe Rains Beach uses bags of clam shell that enable oyster settlement, along with marsh plants and a dredged canal to reduce erosion.
The G Street living shoreline uses oyster reef prisms, which are mats made of concrete and fiber, that enable oyster and barnacle settlement. Additional sand and vegetation was also imported to G Street to restore and stabilize the shoreline.
The living shorelines in Cedar Key were instrumental in reducing the amount of erosion from storm surge during Hurricane Idalia. According to Dr. Barry, the living shoreline at Airport Road was likely even responsible for preventing any road damage during the hurricane. Each of the living shorelines are open to the public and are available to tour virtually. The public can get involved in shoreline enhancement in Cedar Key through education and volunteer opportunities. For more information visit the NCBS website.