A major reason to plan for resiliency at a local level is that all locations have different needs, challenges and opportunities. The state of Florida looks different than much of the rest of the country, both physically and demographically, and Hollywood is unique in Florida. The City of Hollywood’s plan for ensuring sustainability now, and in the future, will have different requirements than other places throughout the state and country.
South Florida faces a major challenge with tidal flooding and Hollywood is no exception. Globally, the average sea level has risen 3 inches since 1992. Sea level rise in South Florida has kept pace with global averages however it is projected to outpace the global average in the future. The rise has been a result of melting sea ice and thermal expansion caused by increased average global temperatures, which are in turn a result of an increase in the heat trapping greenhouse gases contained in the atmosphere. These gases are primarily a result of human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and land use change. The higher average sea levels result in higher tides which impact infrastructure through flooding during exceptionally high tide events and storm surges.
Sea level rise also pushes salt water into our aquifer, an underground area of water storage. South Florida gets its water from aquifers, primarily the Biscayne. As sea levels rise salt water pushes into the aquifer causing salt water intrusion and requiring well fields to move farther and farther west and increasing the cost of water treatment by requiring desalination.
The demographics of Florida are not the same as other parts of the country. South Florida has a dense, diverse urban population. In addition to its year-long residents there is a large population of seasonal residents and tourists. Each of these groups has different needs and interests in the City and its infrastructure.
Sustainable Hollywood Action Plan
The Sustainable Hollywood Action Plan is an acknowledgement of our commitment to a common goal of creating a sustainable future. The plan was developed over the course of a year by a task force made up of staff from multiple departments across the City. The end result is a document outlining 99 actions to be taken by the City for the purpose of meeting 32 set goals. Progress towards these goals will be measured using 23 identified quantitative metrics listed within the plan. Achievement of these goals and progress within those metrics will rely on coordinated efforts across departments and throughout the community.