"The Power of Nature: Optimal Hurricane Shoreline Protection"
Hurricane Idalia caused significant damage to Cedar Key, Florida, but nature-based "living shoreline" projects, created by researchers from the University of Florida, proved to be relatively undamaged. These projects, which mimic nature by using sand, marsh plants, and artificial reefs to encourage the growth of oyster beds offshore, significantly reduced the height and power of the waves reaching the shore during the hurricane. Unlike human-made structures, the living shorelines absorbed and reduced the energy of incoming waves, providing significant protection to roads, buildings, and other structures onshore. The success of these projects highlights the potential of nature-based protection measures in coastal areas.