Director's Note

Building on a strong foundation

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

It has been just a couple of weeks since I had the great honor of stepping into the role of director of the UF Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) and I have already been deeply impressed by the commitment and drive of the CCS community to make key contributions to solving today's big coastal challenges. CCS is known for its cutting‑edge research, effective outreach and close collaboration with academic, industry, government, nonprofit and community partners. I look forward to building on this strong foundation as we guide CCS into its next chapter.    

Read more

Nature-based solutions at scale can strengthen Gulf Coast communities, scientist says

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

Coastal resilience depends on solutions that work in the real world and can scale to meet growing challenges, Chris Shepard, Ph.D., director of science for The Nature Conservancy’s Oceans and Coasts program, told attendees at the UF CCS Annual Summit on December 12, 2025. Shepard highlighted the Scaling Up Nature-Based Solutions program, which spans Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties in the Florida Panhandle, as a model for moving nature-based solutions from planning to implementation.

Full story

In the Field

Could wetlands modified to control mosquitos also help clean Florida's estuaries?

(Photo credit: Alex Gorichky)

That's the question driving Taryn Chaya, a Ph.D. student in the UF School of Natural Resources and Environment. She is investigating whether mosquito impoundments — wetlands modified to control mosquito populations — can also be managed to capture nutrients and improve water quality in coastal systems, like the Indian River Lagoon, a once thriving estuary on Florida's east coast.

Full story

Tech Dive

New decision-support tools bring foresight to Lake Okeechobee management

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

Water managers can now explore how lake conditions and water release strategies could affect Lake Okeechobee’s water quantity and quality, using two new web-based tools designed to support more proactive decision-making. 

Full story

Events

Urgency, optimism and action: UF CCS in 2025

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

For the CCS, 2025 was a year of steady progress and measurable impact. At the Optimizing Solutions for Resilient Coasts summit in December, Interim Director Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., captured the spirit of the year: urgency paired with optimism. Hosted at the Austin Cary Forest Campus, the gathering served as what Altieri called a “marathon aid station” — a moment to pause, refuel and reconnect before heading back into the demanding work of coastal resilience.  

Full story

More Research News

Are trends of Gulf Stream transport uniform along the Florida Shelf?

Observational and modeling evidence for a multi-decadal shift in longshore sediment transport patterns from a changing wave climate along the Atlantic Coast of the Southeastern US

Sand source and fertilizer addition effects on the growth of two foundational dune grasses: Implications for restoration

Sediment addition at the saltmarsh-mangrove ecotone shifts species dominance with implications for restoration

Stakeholder-informed environmental-economic tradeoffs at the farm and forest scale

Thank you, CCS community, for your support this past Giving Day! Your generosity fuels every stage of the student journey, from classroom discovery and hands-on lab work to immersive field research and professional conferences. Your support empowers students to grow from curious learners into confident leaders, gaining the skills, experience and networks that launch meaningful careers for Florida's coasts and beyond.

If you’ve been meaning to give but haven’t had the chance, there’s still time to make an impact. You can support the Center for Coastal Solutions Excellence Fund here. We are deeply grateful to be part of a community that champions our students, advances science and strengthens the resilience of our coasts. Together, we’re building solutions that matter. Go Gators!

Editor: Sharon Ryan

Writer / Designer: Megan Sam