L a n d s c a p e
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Adaptation Planning in the Gulf Coast South
The 2019-2021 project focuses on the City of Port St. Joe, its surrounding region’s recovery from Hurricane Michael and long-term resilience to sea level rise. The research process led to community-prioritization of three projects for further development and potential implementation. These three projects include Urban Connection, Parks and Open Space, and Affordable and Resilient Housing. These three projects continue to involve community stakeholders, with the goal of developing resilient design and policy that will be implemented through future grants to the City.
Superfund Site Remediation
Toxic waste site remediation policies and programs only consider land use, present surface water bodies, and present depths to groundwater. They do not consider remediation standards in the face of flood risks and future inundation from rising seas. Remediation processes and techniques as well as their specific risks to climate change were analyzed. Existing nature-based design solutions were explored for their compatibility with toxic waste excavation, inundation, and wave attenuation. This knowledge was applied a Superfund site that is responsive to sea level rise, large flood events, and the need for parks and community gathering space.
Grizzly Peak Residential Fire Design
This design creates a fire resistant, defensible residential landscape that complies with EMBER regulations by using only non-combustible hardscape—such as gravel, stone, and concrete—within the first 5 feet of the home. Vegetation and wood materials are removed near structures, and metal edging keeps debris from gathering. In the surrounding zone, fire-resistant plants are widely spaced, irrigated, and maintained to eliminate dead material, while small trees are positioned away from buildings with raised canopies to prevent ladder fuels. Overall, this design balances safety and aesthetics while reducing structural ignition risk and supporting emergency access.
Intertidal Ecosystem Restoration
In the Face of rising seas, inter-tidal ecosystems are beginning to migrate inland and northwards. This project responds to this climate crises by understanding the variation of plant and animal life in inter-tidal zones and their movements in response to rising tides to design for both estuary and coastal tidal zones.
