Keywords
estuarine restoration, living shorelines, habitat suitability, living shoreline model
Abstract
The Statewide Coastal Restoration Guide (SCRG) is a comprehensive planning resource developed through a collaboration between Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), University of Central Florida (UCF), and Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) to strengthen and unify shoreline restoration efforts across Florida. With over 4,500 miles of estuarine shoreline, Florida’s coasts are vital to the state’s ecological health, economic prosperity, and community resilience. However, they face increasing threats from sea level rise, stronger storms, erosion, habitat degradation, and development. The SCRG responds to these challenges by providing science-based, non-regulatory guidance for implementing resilient, nature-based restoration strategies that protect both ecosystems and communities.
The guide supports coastal managers, restoration practitioners, researchers, and property owners in evaluating shoreline conditions, identifying suitable restoration methods, and planning adaptive projects tailored to local environments. It emphasizes living shorelines—techniques that use natural materials like vegetation, oyster reefs, and sediment to stabilize shorelines while supporting habitat and ecosystem function. Although the guide is statewide in scope, it was developed with deep input from five regional Estuarine Restoration Teams and a steering committee of academic and agency experts, ensuring that it reflects both the best available science and local restoration knowledge.
Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Paper
Copyright Status
Author retained
College
College of Sciences
Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Donnelly, Melinda J.; Martin, Matthew; Fleming, Christen; Kibler, Kelly; Walters, Linda; Shearer, Patrick; Jennison, Lauren; Lin, Erika; and Zaragoza, George, "Florida Statewide Coastal Restoration Guide" (2025). Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 1342.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ucfscholar/1342
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