New regulations focus on seawalls as a 'first line of defense' in flood protection

This spring, government officials in Ft. Lauderdale proposed new regulations that would require property owners to raise their seawalls at least eight inches over the next twenty years as protection from rising sea levels.  Although the city ended up backing down from this proposal amid concerns from waterfront property owners, officials are now focusing on regulations that would require the repair of damaged or poorly maintained seawalls. As Florida official Nancy Gassman stated,  "We have to look at sea walls as one of our first lines of defense against rising seas.” Read the full story.