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Tidal Monitoring Station Network Expansion

Solution Overview

Broward County is pursuing an expansion of tidal monitoring stations to provide operationally-sound observations and monitoring capabilities throughout the region.[3] This initiative aims to enhance data collection infrastructure for tracking critical parameters including water quality, hydrologic conditions, groundwater levels, and precipitation patterns.[3] The approach addresses the need for improved flood monitoring and emergency response capabilities in a region where high tide flooding in low-lying areas may occur when tidal levels exceed 1.4 ft NAVD88, below the official NOAA threshold of 1.87 ft NAVD88 at South Port Everglades station.[1]

Technical Components

The monitoring infrastructure builds upon existing NOAA stations at South Port Everglades, which began operations in 2018, and Lake Worth Pier, which started monitoring in 2010.[1] The expanded network will support long-term continuous data collection of critical parameters including evapotranspiration in urban areas, water quality with emphasis on temperature, hydrologic and geologic conditions, groundwater quality and levels, precipitation, and groundwater withdrawals.[3] Complementary subsurface monitoring systems led by Florida International University are being established in Southeast Florida's near-shore and barrier island environments to collect high spatial and temporal resolution data of near-shore saltwater interfaces, water table positions, unsaturated zone moisture conditions and dynamics, and corrosion potential.[6] The data collection supports modeling efforts aligned with the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact's Unified Sea Level Rise Projection, which uses 2015 as the starting point for projecting future sea level rise and recommends using NOAA High and USACE High curves for critical infrastructure.[5]

Implementation Details

Broward County is identifying funding and partnerships to support the tidal monitoring expansion, with plans to encourage dedicated county, state, and federal funding for modeling efforts that improve knowledge of climate change impacts.[3] A comparable implementation in Lee County, Florida, demonstrates a viable pathway through public-private partnerships. Fort Myers, which routinely makes headlines for extreme flooding, possessed only one tide gauge until 2024.[4] Lee County's expansion was conducted through a public-private partnership with Hawaii-based tide technology company Hohonu and funded by Lee County's All Hazards Emergency Fund.[4] Fort Myers Director of Public Safety Ben Abes attributed the partnership's creation to the 60-year wait for federal tide gauge resources.[4] As of June 4, 2025, at least 14 tide gauges are in operation throughout Lee County.[4] In June 2025, local news reported that Lee County had scaled up the availability of tide gauge sensors to help state agencies gather more specific data about local flooding.[4]

Benefits and Impacts

The expanded monitoring network enables expedited emergency alerts for extreme flooding throughout affected counties—a capability likely to save lives as the 2025 hurricane season progresses.[4] Enhanced data collection supports improved modeling efforts and climate indicator tracking across multiple environmental parameters.[3] The monitoring infrastructure provides critical information for regions where Fort Lauderdale's seven miles of shoreline and 300+ miles of waterway coastline create extensive vulnerability to coastal flooding.[2] Most residents of Fort Lauderdale live less than five feet above sea level, making them increasingly vulnerable to tidal flooding as sea levels continue to rise.[2]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

This monitoring expansion directly addresses sea level rise impacts and tidal flooding risks in a region where average global sea level has risen by about eight inches over the last 150 years, with current projections expecting an additional 9 to 24 inches of sea level rise within 50 years.[2] The enhanced observational capabilities support Fort Lauderdale's updated seawall ordinance (ULDR Section 47-19.3), adopted on March 23, 2023, which established regionally-consistent construction standards setting minimum top elevations for seawalls and tidal barriers to ensure both public and privately owned structures contribute to coastal resilience and mitigate the effects of tidal flooding and sea level rise.[2]

Business Analysis

The Lee County model demonstrates that public-private partnerships with specialized tide technology companies can overcome decades-long delays in federal resource allocation, with funding secured through dedicated emergency preparedness funds.[4] The All Hazards Emergency Fund financing mechanism provides a replicable model for Broward County's expansion efforts.[4] Market dynamics favor partnerships with established tide monitoring technology providers like Hohonu, which has demonstrated capability to rapidly scale sensor networks from single stations to comprehensive county-wide coverage.[4] Policy support exists through the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact's unified planning framework and through municipal ordinances like Fort Lauderdale's updated seawall standards that create regulatory drivers for enhanced monitoring data.[2][5] The business model leverages multi-level government funding sources, with Broward County actively pursuing county, state, and federal funding streams to support both monitoring infrastructure and the modeling efforts that depend on improved observational data.[3]

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