The Collier County Coastal Storm Risk Management Advisory Committee elected leadership and discussed suggested solutions from the Army Corps of Engineers to combat the county’s low-lying topography Wednesday at its first meeting. 

The committee, established by a resolution passed by the Board of Commissioners in April, aims to evaluate solutions provided by the Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study. The county’s low-lying topography puts the area at risk for flooding and deterioration of the coast due to sea-level rise and large storms. 

Scott Schultz, who became involved with the study when it was first conducted in 2018 before it was discontinued in 2021, was voted chair of the board. During his three-year tenure, he informed the community about what was happening with the study while reaching out to local organizations and commissioners.  

“I have more [paperwork from the study] than anyone should have to have and [the study] has caused a lot of anxiety with different people in the community,” Schultz said. “So, I’m glad to be a part of [the committee] and work with you all in a good way.” 

Collier County Planning Commissioner Joe Schmitt, a former district commander in the Army Corps Savannah (Georgia) District, was elected vice chair. He explained to the board how the Army Corps navigates its study processes and gave more context as to why the 2018 study fell through. There wasn’t a large enough cost-to-benefit ratio, Schmitt said. 

“You can get a project authorized, it can go all the way through and get congressional authorization and then it sits in the budgetary process, and then you have to get the dollars appropriated to pay for the construction,” Schmitt said. “In the given year, there’s probably over 1,000 authorized projects in the budget that have yet to be funded.”  

Collier Community Planning and Resiliency Division Director Chris Mason is a staff liaison for the board and provided an update to the committee on the Army Corps’ new draft of strongly suggested solutions. The main change since public meetings held in June is mangrove restoration and oyster reefs are no longer on the list of suggested solutions. Now, the main focuses are on critical infrastructure, elevation of homes and beach berm nourishment.  

During public comment, Marco Island City Councilor Richard Blonna voiced the need to reevaluate hard infrastructure solutions for the island. He said a lot of flooding from Hurricane Ian could have been prevented if there were sea gates blocking the entrance to Caxambas Park near the southern tip of the island.  

“We are doing our best construction-wise to make our houses as seaworthy as possible, but there are certain things that we just need the help of the federal government, and I think the Army Corps is letting us down tremendously,” Blonna said. “I’m going to make all of my elected officials know that.”  

April Olson, senior environmental planning specialist with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, spoke in favor of mangrove restoration and other rejuvenation projects, such as oyster reefs, be reconsidered as solutions because those also improve water quality.   

The advisory committee and county staff plan to meet with the Army Corps consistently and will schedule its next meeting when appropriate.