Central and Southern Florida FEMA BRIC Implementation Projects
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered through the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), which serves as the pass-through entity as defined by 2 C.F.R. §200.1, supports communities in building resilience to natural hazards. The program encourages innovation and aids states, local governments, tribes and territories as they work to increase capability and capacity to reduce impacts from hazard risks.
In June 2024, the FEMA awarded $150 million in reimbursement grants to FDEM and SFWMD, as a sub-recipient, for three resiliency projects through the BRIC Program:
- SFWMD Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-7 Basin of Miami-Dade County
- SFWMD Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-8 Basin in Miami-Dade County
- SFWMD Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-9 Basin, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties
These projects align with the Central & Southern Florida (C&SF) flood risk management projects included in SFWMD’s Sea Level Rise and Flood Resiliency Plan. They involve basin-wide flood mitigation and enhancement strategies to address flood risks from sea-level rise and extreme rainfall. By improving critical stormwater infrastructure and enhancing the C&SF water control system’s operational flexibility, these projects improve the overall system resiliency to flooding.
Each project received about $50 million, with approximately 70% covered by federal funds and approximately 30% by non-federal interests, including SFWMD and local partners – Miami-Dade County and South Broward Drainage District, in the form of matching funds.
The BRIC award is divided into two phases, which the District is responsible for executing as the sub-recipient. Phase 1 involves the approved scope of work, including surveying, engineering, design, plans preparation, permitting, and bidding for the proposed projects Phase 2, the future scope of work, will include construction, pending FDEM reviews and final approval based on the deliverables from Phase 1.
The purpose of the “Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-7 Basin of Miami-Dade County” Project is to improve drainage of the C-7 Basin in the Northwest portion of Miami-Dade County and increase resilience in the entire C-7 Basin. The District is responsible for enhancements of S-27 Coastal Structure including a tie-back flood barrier, construction of a new forward pump station adjacent to the S-27 structure, and nature-based features including living shoreline and stormwater detention area on the W.H. Turner High School Property, in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
The purpose of the “Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-8 Basin of Miami-Dade County” Project is to improve drainage of the C-8 Basin in the Northwest portion of Miami-Dade County and increase resilience in the entire C-8 Basin. The District is responsible for replacement of S-28 Coastal Structure including a tie-back flood barrier, construction of a new forward pump station immediately downstream of the proposed replacement of S-28 structure, nature-based features including living shoreline and temporary detention for extreme rainfall events within Miami Shores Country Club in collaboration with Miami Shores Village. Miami-Dade County is responsible for enhancements of six secondary canal bank segments within its jurisdiction.
The purpose of the “Building Resiliency with Gray and Green Infrastructure, C-9 Basin, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties” Project is to improve drainage of the C-9 Basin in the Northwest portion of Miami-Dade County and increase resilience in the entire C-9 Basin. The District is responsible for enhancements of S-29 Coastal Structure including a tie-back flood barrier, construction of a new forward pump station adjacent to the S-29 structure, and nature-based features including living shoreline along C-9 Canal and enhancement of a stormwater detention area at Pickwick Lake in collaboration with the City of North Miami Beach. Miami-Dade County is responsible for enhancements of twelve secondary canal bank segments within its jurisdiction. In addition, South Broward Drainage District is responsible for four new sluice gates with green retaining walls to stabilize the structures using green infrastructure.
These basin-wide strategies will address flood vulnerabilities in the three critical basins by restoring discharge levels while accounting for sea level rise. They will integrate storm surge protection with basin-wide distributed storage strategies and maximize nature-based solutions. Once fully implemented, these strategies will effectively tackle critical C&SF Project flood stressors and vulnerabilities while contributing to water quality improvement goals in the basins. This will enable SFWMD, in partnership with Miami-Dade County, South Broward Drainage District, and other local collaborators, to advance its mission of safeguard and restoring South Florida’s water resources and ecosystems, protecting communities from flooding, and meeting the region’s water needs, while working closely with public and local community stakeholders.
Latest Project Updates
SFWMD is initiating design for all the projects above.
Upcoming Meetings
No meetings are scheduled at this time. Please check back frequently for updates.
For more information, email resiliency@sfwmd.gov.