Pictured Above: (From left) USF President Steve Currall poses with Sprowls and Tom Frazer, dean of the College of Marine Science, after Friday’s news conference.
Sophie Ojdanic | The Crow’s Nest
By Sophie Ojdanic
The speaker of the Florida House of Representatives unveiled legislation Friday that would put the USF College of Marine Science at the forefront of an ambitious plan to address rising sea levels and flooding in the state.
Using the campus’ scenic Bayboro Harbor as a backdrop, Rep. Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, said bills that he and others will champion when the Legislature convenes Tuesday will help ensure that Florida “will become the leader in America” in “protecting us from (flooding) and sea-level rise.”
If enacted into law, the proposals would mandate creation of a state sea-level rise resilience plan, commit $100 million a year to address the issues, and offer tax breaks to property owners who voluntarily elevate their buildings.
Sophie Ojdanic | The Crow’s Nest
The College of Marine Science on the St. Petersburg campus would become a hub for flood research and innovation under the legislation.
For years, politicians in Florida’s Republican-dominated state capital have downplayed climate change and its consequences as a significant threat in the state. So the bills touted by Sprowls mark something of a turnabout for Tallahassee.
Alec Bogdanoff, an oceanographer, is the Florida lead for the American Flood Coalition, an organization that works with local governments and private business to address flooding issues.
He joined Sprowls at the news conference to praise the proposals, which he said mark “a new era in Florida, an era of action, innovation and collaboration.”
“We have to stop the existing flooding, and then we need to make sure that flooding does not continue to worsen,” Bogdanoff said. “This legislation focuses on both.
“It really pulls together the best research being done by our universities and research institutions across the state and empowers regional efforts with this information to respond more effectively to flooding and sea-level rise.”
Bogdanoff also said the legislation ensures equity.
“It acknowledges the need for technical assistance to respond to this issue from our smaller communities,” Bogdanoff said. “And it is ensuring that they have equitable access to these state dollars. It’s smart, and it’s systematic on both the state and local level.”
Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera, R-Coral Gables, will sponsor the bill that calls for the state to create a sea-level rise and flood resilience plan.
Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Pete Beach, and Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, are sponsoring the bill that would give tax breaks to property owners who voluntarily raise their houses.
USF President Steve Currall, who also spoke at the news conference, said lawmakers “could not have chosen a more appropriate location to announce legislation focused on protecting our citizens from flooding.”
“Our USF College of Marine Science here at the St. Petersburg campus is an internationally recognized hub of academic and research excellence in marine oceanographic and environmental sciences,” Currall said.
