Project Challenge
The project challenge is to address chronic flooding and water quality impacts from legacy development practices, outmoded drainage infrastructure, sea-level rise, and climate change through a pilot green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) intervention in the City of Cape Canaveral. Although GSI techniques are increasingly promoted as a best practice for increased coastal resilience by environmental agencies and outreach entities, widespread adoption of GSI is hindered by a relative lack of performance data and governance-based design standards. A community-driven process was used to select a high-profile site for the pilot project and to develop a performance monitoring protocol that includes a strong citizen science component.
Assessing the Performance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Climate Adaptation and Coastal Resilience in the City of Cape Canaveral, FL
Veteran’s Memorial Park, Cape Canaveral, Florida
NSF Award ID: 2228479
PI: Jason Evans, Stetson University
2022 Civic Innovation Challenge
Pilot Vision
- Implement a rain garden/bioswale demonstration site for GSI-based research in the City of Cape Canaveral’s Veteran’s Memorial Park
- Incorporate performance metric research into the project design and construction
- Initiate long-term research focusing on runoff attenuation, nutrient treatment, plant and pollinator diversity, and life-cycle maintenance costs
- Include a sustained citizen science component through partnerships with local civic groups, non-profit organizations, and existing volunteer networks
- Scale ”lessons learned” into a municipal-wide vision for GSI implementation in City of Cape Canaveral and the greater Indian River Lagoon watershed
- Transfer knowledge into technical policy frameworks, including municipal, regional, statewide, and national standards for GSI design, implementation, and maintenance
Civic Partners:
- City of Cape Canaveral
- Brevard County
- Brevard Zoo
- Marine Resources Council
- Riverside Conservancy
- VFW Post 10131
- American Legion Post 348
Research Partners:
- Stetson University
- Florida Sea Grant
- East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- St. Johns River Water Management District
- Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
- Kimley-Horn
- Ferguson Waterworks
Research Questions
- Where are Cape Canaveral residents currently experiencing rainfall-driven flooding?
- What City-owned sites are available for near-term utilization as a GSI research pilot site that would meet flood mitigation needs outlined by the local community?