Home About Our Estuaries Our Programs Get Involved Library Visit our Facebook page Visit our YouTube channel Visit our Instagram page HomeOur EstuariesClimate Change Climate Change Sarasota Bay: A Climate-Ready Estuary SBEP receives funding from the Climate Ready Estuaries (CRE) program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support local planning for climate change. The CRE program supports National Estuary Programs and coastal communities by providing special tools and assistance to assess climate change vulnerabilities, engage and educate community stakeholders, develop and implement adaptation strategies, and share lessons learned with other coastal resource managers. SBEP projects supported with CRE funding are listed below. Video: "Restoring Our Bays: Preparing Sarasota Bay for Sea Level Rise" What challenges does sea level rise pose for managing and restoring Sarasota Bay? In this short video, SBEP staff and partners discuss needs for research, adaptation, and citizen action. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment In 2016, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program received funding to conduct a risk-based assessment of its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The goal of the assessment was to identify goals within the CCMP that may be vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, ocean acidification, changing air and water temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns. In November 2016, the SBEP held a joint meeting with the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida to gain stakeholder input on the potential sensitivities of CCMP goals to climate change impacts. The 55 meeting attendees identified over 120 potential vulnerabilities in six CCMP goals spanning the SBEP mission to restore and protect Sarasota Bay. Input from this meeting was incorporated into the SBEP Climate Vulnerability Assessment. 2017 Climate Vulnerability Assessment Sea Level Rise: Tips for Adaptation Planning In collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory, SBEP produced a brochure containing information and resources for local adaptation planning. The information in the brochure draws from local, regional, and national examples to lay the groundwork for conversations about sea level rise scenarios and adaptation strategies. The brochure was updated in 2017 to reflect current projections for regional sea level rise scenarios. Climate Change Tech Kit for Classrooms Teachers may borrow a "tech kit" from SBEP with lesson plans and hands-on activities for teaching students about climate change in the classroom. Click here for more information about the climate change tech kit. King Tides Photo Contests Sarasota Bay has extreme high and low tides, or "king" tides, twice per year. King tides occur when the earth, moon, and sun all line up and when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbital rotation. While these tides are natural occurrences, they provide local communities with a sneak peek of what the landscape may look like with sea level rise. 2020 photo contest winners & more on king tides Photos from around the Florida Gulf Coast Learn about Climate Change in Florida U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: What Climate Change Means for Florida (2016) UF/IFAS Extension: Climate Change and Florida FAQs (2020) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Key Messages for Florida (2017) National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts in the Southeast and Carribbean (2014) Sarasota Bay Estuary Program 111 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 200W Sarasota, Florida 34236 941-955-8085 941-955-8081 Join Our Mailing List Report Pollution Email SBEP Staff Public Meetings Sitemap Visit our Facebook page Visit our YouTube Channel Visit our Instagram page Search for: The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is dedicated to restoring the area's greatest natural asset - Sarasota Bay. We offer special thanks to our partners: Sarasota County, Manatee County, City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Southwest Florida Water Management District. Copyright ©2021 Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. All Rights Reserved. Website Maintenance by WPTechGuru | Report a Problem