City to use $360,000 DEP grant and Black & Veatch scope for climate vulnerability and adaptation plan
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Winter Haven will use a $360,000 Florida DEP resilience grant to fund a Black & Veatch vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan that will update flood modeling, analyze 100- and 500-year flood scenarios and sea-level impacts on lakes and watershed systems; staff anticipates public presentation and completion by March 2027.
Winter Haven staff presented a scope of services from Black & Veatch to develop a comprehensive vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan funded by a $360,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection.
The consultant will update hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to identify localized flood risks, evaluate vulnerabilities under 100- and 500-year flood scenarios, assess potential sea-level-rise effects on the city’s lakes and watershed systems, and produce a prioritized action plan with recommended adaptation strategies. Staff said the project positions the city to be more competitive for future mitigation grants and will include a public meeting to present findings; anticipated completion is March 2027. The city reported no required local match for the grant.
Why it matters: the initiative is intended to reduce climate-related exposure for critical infrastructure and to guide future capital priorities and grant applications.
What’s next: staff recommended the commission accept the Black & Veatch scope and authorize execution of the grant-funded project.