10 HEADLINE MISSION: WATER SURFACE WATER COMMUNICATION REMAINS KEY The district's modeling program starts with an evaluation of climate science, dives deep into planning, and resurfaces in a wide range of conversations with other local governments and districts. SFWMD works closely with counties and municipalities throughout South Florida, providing technical assistance and data. The district also seeks inspiration and insight from colleagues around the world, Owosina notes. "We work very closely with the Dutch," he says. "They have hundreds of years of experience working below sea level. And we work closely with local governments on grant funding and other projects." SFWMD relies heavily on its modeling team and sound science to conduct analyses that inform and support decision-making. "Modeling allows you to test something that you can't test in the real world," Owosina says. "You can evaluate what will happen in 50 or 60 years without waiting 50 or 60 years. You can experiment in dry-lab conditions, evaluating 'flooding' in an area without flooding anybody out. It allows you to make important decisions without incurring the actual costs of the issue." That, he adds, delivers three key insights: "We need background information, we need to know the current state of the assets, and we need to plan for a resilient future." SOUTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL COMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE At a 2009 conference on the impact of climate change on south Florida, leaders from four of the state’s southern counties—Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach—created the foundation for regional cooperation in adapting to changing conditions. The following year, the four counties signed the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a collaboration on several key climate efforts: • Developing annual legislative programs on climate change, webinars, resource materials and an annual Regional Climate Summit • Teaming up to advocate for state and federal policies and funding • Drafting a Southeast Florida Regional Climate Action Plan outlining mitigation and adaptation strategies. Over the next several years, the founding counties were joined by the governments of 35 municipalities in the region, whose leaders signed onto the Mayors’ Climate Action Pledge. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is not a signatory to the compact, notes Akintunde Owosina, chief of the district's Hydraulics and Hydrology Bureau, but it is deeply involved in helping the members achieve their goals. The group is planning its 10th annual Summit to bring leaders from government, academia, business and the non-profit worlds together in Miami Beach in October 2018. South Florida Water Management District: sfwmd.gov On Facebook: facebook.com/SFWMD For analytical, policy and preparedness materials from a wide range of sources: southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org Lake Okeechobee and Port Mayaca Locks & Dam LEARN MORE: