FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
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Community Greening and OOR Host 2nd Tree Giveaway in Pahokee
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On January 25, 2025, Community Greening and the Office of Resilience (OOR) hosted the second free tree giveaway of the Resilient Glades Tree Campaign in Pahokee. Community Greening distributed avocado, mango, starfruit, soursop, dahoon holly, Simpson stopper, and lancewood trees to Glades Community members, handing out 289 trees at the event. This $1 million grant-funded project from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will plant trees at six county parks, give away 2,000 trees, pilot a small urban food orchard, and support youth workforce development. By expanding tree canopy, this project aims to improve air quality, increase shade and cooling, absorb stormwater, mitigate climate change, and boost access to fresh produce in the Glades region. Keep an eye on the Resilient Glades Tree Campaign webpage to stay informed on upcoming events and project updates. | |
SAVE THE DATE: PBC to Host the 17th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit December 16–17, 2025
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In December 2025, Palm Beach County (PBC) will host the 17th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in West Palm Beach, FL. This year’s theme is “Roots to Resilience: Cultivating a Sustainable Future.” PBC is hosting this summit through the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, which is a partnership between Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties to work towards climate resilience across the Southeast Florida region. This annual summit serves as a regional networking event to collaborate on cutting-edge ideas leading to resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation strategies amongst communities. Representatives from non-profit, governmental, and academic organizations will attend, as well as community and business leaders, to discuss climate issues within South Florida. Stay up to date on event registration, the schedule, and more with the newly launched website here. | |
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On February 4, 2025, the PBC Board of County Commissioners declared the first week of March as Flood Awareness Week in PBC. The week of March 3 through March 7 stresses the importance of preparing for severe weather and rainfall, which impacts our coastal areas in many ways. From hurricanes to king tides, homes and businesses are at risk of sea-level rise and rainfall-induced flooding.
There are several resources available to help you assess your flood risk.
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The PBC Public Safety and Emergency Management Flood webpage contains many great resources, including evacuation and flood zone look-up tools.
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OOR is currently working on the PBC Climate Risk Assessment and Action Plan to identify, assess, and address sea level rise and other climate-related flooding impacts.
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OOR’s King Tides webpage contains information about king tide flooding. Before each king tide season, OOR updates the site with the season’s predicted king tide dates in coastal PBC.
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On December 20, 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) released updated flood zone maps.
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The NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer helps visualize future flooding impacts from sea level rise under various scenarios and timeframes.
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Elevate Florida is a statewide mitigation program designed to reduce flood and hurricane damage to homes and communities.
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FEMA 1206 is a reimbursement program that assists state and local governments with floodplain management and permitting through disaster recovery.
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FEMA 406 is a mitigation program that provides funding to state and local governments to increase resilience.
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The Flood Hub assembles and analyzes the best available data on sea level rise, extreme rainfall, and other climate change impacts.
Explore these resources during Flood Awareness Week to increase your awareness of potential flood risks to your property and help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane and king tide seasons.
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The South Florida Water Management District Continues to Achieve Even More for Florida’s Water Resources and Everglades Restoration
On January 7, 2025, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) provided a progress update on their Everglades restoration projects. Since 2019, 75 projects have either been completed, broken ground, or reached significant milestones. Some of these accomplishments include the completion of the 6,500-acre Everglades Agricultural Area Stormwater Treatment Area, the plugging of the Faka Union Canal, and a 3,000-acre water storage project in Osceola County. To learn more about SFWMD's projects, click here.
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Governor Ron DeSantis Highlights Everglades Restoration, Calls for More Authority for Florida to Execute the CERP
Restoration and enhancement of the Everglades is one of the Governor’s top budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025–2026. On January 9, 2025, the State of Florida announced that since 2019, Florida has tripled its water storage capacity to over 176 billion gallons of water through projects such as the C-43 Reservoir. The goal is to double that figure soon. DeSantis aims to continue these efforts by dedicating another $850 million to its cause, which will contribute to the total $6.5 billion since his administration began. To learn more about these efforts, click here.
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REfashion Weekend | Exclusive VIP Shopping Experience
Location: Resource Depot, 2508 Florida Ave, West Palm Beach, FL
Date: February 28, 2025, 5:30–8:30 PM
Details: Looking to enhance your wardrobe more sustainably? Join Resource Depot as they host a VIP second-hand shopping experience. Tickets cost $75 to have first access to their curated collection of pre-loved fashion. To register for the event, click here.
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SAVE THE DATE: 2025 Sea Level Rise and Flood Resiliency Plan Workshops
Location: Orange County Public Works Complex, 4200 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL 32839
Date: March 7, 2025, 10:30 AM
Details: SFWMD is hosting four in-person workshops to discuss the 2025 Update for the Sea Level Rise and Flood Resiliency Plan with stakeholders. This event will focus on the Kissimmee River Basin specifically, Highlands, Okeechobee, Polk, Osceola, and Orange counties. For more information or to confirm your attendance, click here.
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Runoff to Resilience
Location: The Nature Conservancy, 574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, FL
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 9:30 AM–10:30 AM, Doors at 9:15 AM
Details: Join the Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Florida and its Executive Director, Greg Knecht, for a lecture on protecting the Indian River Lagoon from harmful runoff. TNC is piloting Runoff to Resilience, which is their stormwater management system to help protect 156 miles of one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America. This event is free, but pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot or learn more, click here.
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Climate Correction 2025: Leaders in Action
Location: The Celeste Hotel, 4105 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL
Date: March 12–13, 2025, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Details: The VoLo Foundation's 2025 Climate Correction Conference theme is "Leaders in Action." This conference will recognize individuals, organizations, and communities leading the change for resilience and innovation. The two-day event will host several workshops, interactive exhibitions, art, and other experiences. To learn more and to register, click here.
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