By Hannah O. Brown and Brian K. Scheick

On our first day of NRLI's Class XVIII, 24 strangers sat down together for lunch with a feeling that something hugely impactful was about to happen. Representing corporate and private resource industries, federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations, each of us was selected to ensure a breadth of viewpoints from across the state as we learned conflict resolution methods. Improving communication among the diverse stakeholders of contentious natural resource issues facing Florida has always been important but given today's political and environmental climate, the level of importance seems to be increasing every day.

  

Starting with a communal meal was an effective yet informal way to let classmates meet before the program began. We then engaged in activities designed to teach us personal details about one another, including establishing a set of group norms. A surprising debate opened over phone etiquette. While some felt glancing at phones was distracting, others wanted to check the time or important messages from work. We thoroughly debated this first issue and learned more about each other in the process. The truth was that there really wasn't time or extra energy to engage with outside activities. Session 1 demanded our complete attention.

  

This session was about coastal erosion and community resilience; Cedar Key was a great example of both issues. The mayor shared an interesting history lesson of the area and explained how their tight-knit community is inspired to embrace new people and prepare for the future. We learned about 200 years of boom-bust economies culminating in the establishment of a clam and oyster industry after gill-nets were banned by a constitutional amendment. We also learned that portions of Daughtry Bayou had been suffering coastal erosion over several decades that had pushed sand along G Street, washing away public beaches and blocking a canal used by clammers. The change in canal flow altered the water quality and disrupted a clam spawning business that was important to this locally economy. To make matters worse, wave damage from Hurricane Irma caused damage to the only road to their airport.

  

We could see the fruits of 18 years of NRLI collaborations between diverse people over natural resource issues. One such fruit was a glossy magazine called "Cedar Key Everlasting" that describes the history of Cedar Key and the amazing transformation of this coastal community into a major clam producer. The magazine was organized by NRLI alumni Leslie Sturmer and Sue Colson, with input from other local figures, to increase appreciation for working waterfronts by tourists who visit the area. Because the clam industry relies on clean coastal water, it meshes very well when the main tourist attraction is enjoying nature in a small coastal town.

  

Another example was the stakeholder engagement process recently spearheaded by NRLI alumna Savanna Barry (begun as her practicum) to plan a shoreline stabilization project in Cedar Key. The process involved multiple meetings where experts explained potential options to local residents and stakeholders, who could then share their views and desires. Eventually, they decided to manage the erosion using a "living shoreline," which has many benefits over more traditional, hard shoreline defenses such as rocks (riprap). A previous proposal for this area had been provided by the DEP with no local input but was rejected. We learned that vocal, active residents can push a project forward, but they can also fight "solutions" provided by outside experts who don't share their values.