Key West is an island city in the Florida Keys (Monroe County), situated at the southernmost point of Florida. Home to 27,000 people, the island entertains over 3 million visitors a year, enjoying international acclaim as a tourist destination featuring coral reefs and historic architecture. Key West also holds the dubious distinction of hosting the oldest tidal gauge in the western hemisphere (installed 1846).
Key West is accessible from the mainland only via the Overseas Highway, stretching 120 miles over other low-lying islands and 45 bridges. Most of these islands are 3-5 feet above sea level and because of the many hundreds of miles of shoreline, this region is considered by many to be ground zero for experiencing the impacts of sea level rise. Monroe County recently updated elevation maps that show the effects of local sea level rise, using sea level rise predictions provided from the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.
Because the island averages 4.7’ above sea level, the City has been actively mitigating against rising waters for over 30 years. The City was the first in Florida to install duckbill tide valves and pump assist injection wells. The City hosted the annual Climate Compact Leadership Summit in 2015.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the City has strongly publicized awareness of annual King Tides since 2009, and holds flood and hurricane mitigation workshops for residents. The City’s Sustainability Advisory Board has been taking a proactive approach to identify and implement policies and procedures aimed at mitigating the impact that sea level rise has on the community, including mandating additional freeboard for new residential buildings.
