Florida international university earmark project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $963,000 in federal funding to florida international university…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a $963,000 Cooperative Agreement to Florida International University (FIU) under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469). The project, titled "NOAA Living Shoreline Project: Community-wide Biscayne Bay Restoration, Conservation, and Education Program," focuses on developing eco-friendly coastal infrastructure to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and support marine biodiversity. Key project elements include designing and implementing modular seawall panels that promote the colonization of marine organisms, developing standardized monitoring systems to assess the success of different seawall approaches, and delivering educational initiatives to engage K-12 students, teachers, and community members in coastal restoration efforts. This 2-year project aims to produce scalable and cost-effective seawall solutions for coastal resilience and biodiversity enhancement, along with the necessary tools to measure ecosystem health.

Florida international university earmark project description the national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $963,000 in federal funding to florida international university in miami, florida for a project titled NOAA living shoreline project: community-wide biscayne BAY restoration, conservation, and education program. The project focuses on developing ECO-friendly coastal infrastructure to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and support marine biodiversity. By utilizing advanced technologies such as 3D printing and sustainable materials, the project will design and implement modular seawall panels that promote the colonization of marine organisms, enhancing both shoreline protection and ecosystem health. A key aspect of the project is the development of standardized monitoring systems to assess the success of different seawalls in different contexts. This will include quantifiable rubrics for measuring fish and benthic biodiversity, context (e.g. coastal versus intracoastal), and ecological performance. The monitoring tools will utilize photographic checklists, autonomous sensors, and other technological solutions that allow both scientists and citizen scientists to remotely track ecosystem health. The projects key outcomes include scalable and cost-effective seawall panels for coastal resilience and biodiversity enhancement, along with the standardized monitoring tools to assess ecosystem health. Additionally, the project will deliver educational initiatives aimed at engaging K-12 students, teachers, and community members through hands-on workshops, interactive curricula, and citizen science programs. These efforts will foster environmental stewardship and provide valuable learning experiences in coastal restoration.