On November 5th, Wetlands staff, including several interns, attended a Living Shoreline Training at Tampa Electric’s Clean Energy Center. Thomas Ries of the Ecosphere Restoration Institute nonprofit delivered a detailed presentation on the evolution of several restoration projects in the county. The group then toured an EPC-permitted living shoreline site, offering a close look at the innovative restoration work. The training aimed to equip permitting and compliance staff with a clearer understanding of the design, engineering, and earthwork involved in shoreline stabilization projects to help streamline the permitting process.

Did you know that EPC's Basis of Review Pursuant to Chapter 1-11 encourages the use of native vegetation and other environmentally beneficial methods to prevent shoreline erosion? These practices are incentivized through a 50% application fee reduction for Living Shoreline projects, also known as Native-Based Solutions.