Opening ceremony highlights new living shoreline along boulevard of the arts in Sarasota

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein joined local officials for an opening ceremony at the Boulevard of the Arts living shoreline restoration project in Sarasota.

“This is an exciting time for the state of Florida in addressing coastal resiliency,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “I am happy to be here to celebrate this important project that will protect water quality and increase shoreline resiliency along Sarasota Bay."

The city of Sarasota has 328 feet of bayfront shoreline that has severe erosion, resulting in significant loss of public property and threatening to affect a nearby private property.

DEP’s Florida Resilient Coastlines Program (FRCP) is specifically designed to assist local governments with resilience planning and funding assistance to implement those plans. Resilience Planning Grants provide financial assistance to aid Florida communities in preparing for current and future effects of rising sea levels, including coastal flooding, erosion and ecosystem changes.