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River Ridge CDD weighs decade-long plan for storm-surge resilience after flood modeling
Summary
Pelican Sound managers urged the River Ridge CDD to help lead a multi-agency storm-surge resilience effort after a staff presentation that a 10–12 foot surge could flood roughly 45%–55% of the community; the Board agreed to designate representatives to coordinate planning.
Eric Long, general manager for PSGRC, told the River Ridge Community Development District on Oct. 22 that he is developing an action plan to build storm and climate resilience and asked the CDD to designate a Board representative and staff or engineering contacts to coordinate with county, state and federal partners.
Long said his preliminary modeling shows a 10‑ to 12‑foot storm surge could have caused roughly 45% to 55% of the Pelican Sound community to be flooded in a hypothetical scenario. He recommended creating an advisory or review panel, acknowledged that resilience work could take a decade, and asked the district to help identify short‑ and long‑term options.
District Counsel Tony Pires noted that the Army Corps of Engineers has presented concepts in nearby Collier County that could be considered if funding becomes available. Charlie Krebs, the district engineer, and staff will assist as needed. The Board reached a consensus that Long and newly appointed Supervisor Keith Merrill will help lead the initiative and that Krebs is authorized to assist in coordination efforts.
Why it matters: River Ridge and neighboring communities face both immediate storm‑response needs and long‑range infrastructure choices that typically require coordination with county and state agencies and external funding. Long framed the effort as preventive and cross‑jurisdictional — not a single CDD project — and recommended a mix of planning, partnerships and community engagement.
Next steps: The Board did not adopt a formal resolution at the meeting; it agreed to designate internal representatives to work with Long and to bring further proposals back to the CDD for consideration and potential referral to external agencies.
