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Conservancy presents nature‑based shoreline concepts and offers pilot options for Naples Airport
Summary
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida presented a high‑level ‘working with nature’ flood‑resilience blueprint for Naples, offering typology maps, visual renderings and potential pilot projects, with a foundational report due in June and a public workshop scheduled for April 21.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida told the Naples Airport Authority on Thursday that nature‑based shoreline strategies could bolster coastal protection citywide and at the airport. Dr. Carrie Schuman, introduced by Deputy Executive Director Justin Lobb, described a ‘working with nature’ resilience blueprint that maps shoreline typologies — mangrove, beach/dune, riprap, seawall and parks — and lays out high‑level concepts for each type.
Schuman said the project will produce visual renderings and transferable concepts that public agencies and private property owners can adapt. She told the board the Conservancy expects to complete the foundational report by June and plans a public workshop on April 21 to solicit feedback. "We’re going to come out with a really nice report, lots of great communication materials that show what’s possible in all these different kinds of areas," she said (Dr. Carrie Schuman, Conservancy of Southwest Florida).
Commissioners asked about local case studies and site‑specific recommendations for pilot projects at the airport. Schuman said earlier Conservancy case studies include work at Naples Botanical Garden and that the study will be kept intentionally high level; any selected pilot would require follow‑up site‑specific engineering and permitting. She explained examples of potential measures — rock cribs, reef balls, reef arches, oyster‑shell substrates and wave‑attenuation devices — and cautioned that nature‑based elements require maintenance like hard infrastructure.
Deputy Executive Director Justin Lobb said the Authority has included resilience as a strategic priority and is finalizing scoping for an RFP for a resilience consultant; he suggested the Conservancy could support grant applications or provide technical input. Staff also noted that some state funding programs (for example, Resilient Florida) may match planning and implementation funds.
The board gave staff consensus to continue dialogue with the Conservancy and to consider whether elements from the blueprint could inform Airport capital planning or a pilot project. The Conservancy’s April workshop and the June report were identified as the next public milestones.
