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In 2008, the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (formerly the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program; CHNEP) conducted a regionwide vulnerability assessment and developed an adaptation plan for the City of Punta Gorda, Florida. In 2009, CHNEP began to develop climate change indicators and a monitoring plan to support adaptation planning. CHNEP continues to be an active player in climate change planning and action in Southwest Florida through water quality monitoring, hydrological restoration, community resilience, and environmental protection programs.
The Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership (formerly the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program; CHNEP) received two technical assistance grants in 2008 and 2009 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Ready Estuaries Program. In 2008, CHNEP conducted a climate change vulnerability assessment for Southwest Florida in partnership with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC). As part of their efforts, CHNEP developed an adaptation plan, which was approved by the City of Punta Gorda in November 2009. The 2009 award was granted to assist CHNEP in developing climate change indicators and a monitoring plan to support CHNEP’s existing planning efforts for adaptation; in addition, the EPA provided assistance in creating model ordinances and other policy tools. CHNEP received additional EPA funding in 2010 and 2016 to develop conceptual ecological models for Charlotte Harbor, conduct a habitat resiliency study for the CHNEP area, and conduct a broad, risk-based climate change vulnerability assessment.
Concerned about a suite of climate change impacts, CHNEP conducted a vulnerability assessment for Southwest Florida in 2008. CHNEP and SWFRPC used Sea Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) modeling to assess storm surge impacts and to improve land use and conservation decisions in the region. Based on these efforts, CHNEP began working on an adaptation plan for the City of Punta Gorda in 2008. Climate change impacts of concern to the city include drought, sea level rise, higher temperatures, storm surges, increased storm frequency, and increased and extreme precipitation events. The adaptation priorities for the city included seagrass protection and restoration, native plant landscaping, limiting high-risk development along shorelines, promoting green building, and drought preparedness planning. The adaptation plan for the City of Punta Gorda was approved in November 2009 by the City Council and was updated with the help of CHNEP in 2019. The update includes a vulnerability assessment of critical infrastructure, modeling for flood analysis and sea level rise, and a guidance document on living shorelines. Recommended next steps include updates to the city’s Comprehensive Plan to increase resilience to sea level rise and climate change.
CHNEP worked with the EPA to develop climate change indicators and a monitoring plan using CHNEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and the completed vulnerability assessment, and created model ordinances to guide local decision making. In 2019, CHNEP updated the Comprehensive Plan as well as four strategy documents for monitoring, finance, communications, and habitat restoration needs. Also in 2019, the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Habitat Resiliency to Climate Change report was revised. The study used Habitat Evolution Modeling (HEM) to forecast habitat changes under different sea level rise scenarios and identify areas to prioritize for restoration in order to increase resilience to the impacts of sea level rise.
CHNEP continues to conduct water quality monitoring, hydrological restoration, community resilience-building, and environmental protection through its projects and programs. A few current and ongoing projects include:
Products from CHNEP efforts are intended to assist federal, state, regional, and local agencies to prepare for future climate change impacts on coastal resources and communities. Additionally, the model ordinances for counties and municipalities are meant to serve as templates for local planners to use when making land use and infrastructure decisions.
In 2020, CHNEP aims to obtain reauthorization of the EPA’s National Estuary Program and secure National Estuary Program funding. Select legislative priorities for CHNEP moving forward include establishing a state-wide, long-term funding program through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for estuary restoration projects and supporting the continued ability of local governments to enact more stringent environmental protection ordinances.
Resources:
The Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) Habitat Resiliency to Climate Change: Habitat Evolution Modeling Report
CHNEP Water Atlas Maintenance and Enhancements
Coastal Charlotte Harbor Monitoring Network (CCHMN): Water Quality Improvement
CHNEP Alligator Creek Stream Restoration Project
CHNEP Habitat Restoration Needs Expansion
Gregg, R. M. and Braddock, K.N. (2021). Incorporating Climate Change Impacts into Activities in Charlotte Harbor, Florida [Case study on a project of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program]. Version 2.0. Product of EcoAdapt's State of Adaptation Program. (Last updated May 2021)
