Understanding Matters

The Islamorada Matters Plan provides a distilled, easy-to-read synopsis of the vulnerability and adaptation information produced by our technical experts.  The Plan, and all of the technical results discussed within, is specific to Islamorada. It allows you, the residents, to appreciate the challenges we face without needing to completely understand all the science used to highlight them.

The Plan also highlights several key recommendations that the Village can implement to increase resilience and overall sustainability in the coming years. These recommendations include policy recommendations (e.g. revisions to Code, Comprehensive Plan, land development regulations), specific project recommendations (e.g. habitat analyses and data collection and mapping initiatives), capital improvement investment recommendations (e.g. site-level audits and analyses for at-risk facilities), and continuing education and outreach recommendations (e.g. community and stakeholder engagement).

It is most important that you understand where we are vulnerable and how the anticipated changes in the environment will affect you, your business and your overall quality of your life. To further your understanding, you can use the links below:

Islamorada Matters Plan:

• Islamorada Matters Plan: A Plan to Enhance, Preserve and Protect Our Quality of Life (Full Document)
• Executive Summary, Islamorada Matters Plan
• Appendix A. Sustainability Plan and Annual Updates
• Appendix B. Village of Islamorada: GIS Vulnerability Assessment for Sea Level Rise Planning Project
• Appendix C. Peer Review Process
• Appendix D. Islamorada Matters: Analysis of Damage from Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise in Islamorada using the Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool
• Appendix E. STAR Supporting Documentation
• Appendix F. Implementation Matrix
• Appendix G. Islamorada Survey and Responses
• Appendix H. Budget and 5-Year Capital Improvements Plan
• Appendix I. Sample Report Card
• Appendix J. Model Ordinance

Community Meetings (2014):

• Initial Project Findings Presented to Village Council: September 11, 2014
• Community Workshop #1: October 7, 2014
• Community Workshop #2: November 10, 2014
• Community Workshop #3: December 11, 2014

News Coverage:

• Study: Village Mostly Safe from Rising Seas: Free Press, September 17, 2014
• Addressing Rising Sea Levels in South Florida and the California Coast: Urban Land Magazine, September 26, 2014
• County Looks to Prepare for Higher Seas, Flooding: Keys Free Press, October 15, 2014
• Florida – Price Tags Put on Sea Level Responses: Keys News, December 17, 2014