209
relative sea-level rise are factored in with climate variability, landward shifts in the
coastline are likely to occur relatively rapidly along natural coastlines. When we
consider the urban environment, the large coastal population, and water management practices in south Florida, the situation becomes more complicated. As we
Fig. 12.15 Mangrove seedlings were found (oval shaped leaves) on the eastern berm at Jim Foot
Key, Florida Bay in April 2019 – a sign of some recovery following Hurricane Irma. Salicornia or
glasswort (the fleshy stemmed plants) are also growing in the storm damaged area. The white
plastic grid is 25 cm (9.8 inches) square. Florida Bay is in the background. (Image by B. Stackhouse)
Fig. 12.16 Author wading in water on bay-side of eastern shoreline of Jim Foot Key, Florida Bay
in April 2019, 20 months after Hurricane Irma. Most of the mature mangroves show no signs of
recovery, and the berm is flattened almost to sea level. Bay water has flooded the interior mudflats
of Jim Foot behind the berm. (Image by B. Stackhouse)
12 Climate, Sea Level, and People – Changing South Florida’s Mangrove Coast