Abstract
Sea level rise poses an escalating threat to the environmental, economic, and social fabric of coastal cities worldwide, with Miami serving as a critical case study due to its low elevation, dense urban development, and dependence on vulnerable ecosystems. This thesis provides a multidisciplinary analysis of how sea level rise is reshaping Miami’s coastal resilience by examining three key dimensions: socioeconomic systems, ecological integrity, and freshwater sustainability. Drawing on a wide range of sources—including peer-reviewed research, government reports, spatial imagery, and case studies—this study investigates the specific mechanisms through which sea level rise impacts real estate markets, displaces communities, degrades ecosystems, and compromises the region’s freshwater supply.
Chapter one reveals that lower-elevation properties in Miami-Dade County are already experiencing devaluation, while higher-elevation inland neighborhoods, such as Little Haiti, face intensified investment pressure, accelerating climate gentrification and the displacement of long-time residents. Chapter two demonstrates that Miami’s mangrove forests and coral reefs are undergoing significant stress: mangroves are losing ground due to limited accretion capacity and barriers to inland migration, while coral reef systems are collapsing due to enhanced sedimentation, ongoing pollution, and rising thermal stress, leading to a measurable loss of biodiversity and coastal protection. Chapter three focuses on saltwater intrusion into the Biscayne Aquifer, Miami’s primary freshwater source. Saltwater intrusion is already advancing inland due to sea level rise and urban groundwater extraction, threatening drinking water supplies, agricultural viability, and public health. If left unaddressed, key municipal wellfields
may face contamination within decades, requiring costly infrastructural shifts or relocation of freshwater extraction.
Overall, the thesis concludes that Miami’s current adaptation strategies—while commendable in scope—lack coordination and equity, often failing to account for the disproportionate burden on low-income communities and the interconnectedness of environmental systems. Long-term resilience will depend not only on innovative engineering and ecological restoration but also on inclusive policy frameworks that prioritize environmental justice and cross-sector collaboration. This work underscores the urgent need for integrated solutions that treat sea level rise as both a physical and social challenge for the Miami region that also offer insights that are transferable to other coastal cities facing similar threats.
