The Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan is a community-driven roadmap to reduce flood impacts from sea level rise, tidal flooding, rainfall, and storm surge. The plan will identify flood solutions and resilient adaptations to strengthen both human and natural systems, becoming the region’s foundation for unified action. 

Developed through collaboration among government agencies, technical experts, and community stakeholders, the Coastal Master Plan provides a shared strategy for coordinated action. 

This is not a regulatory document; it is a decision-support tool that communities can use to guide projects, funding requests, and policy development over time. 

Flooding doesn't stop at jurisdictional boundaries. Planning in isolation can lead to duplicated efforts, unintended downstream impacts, and missed opportunities for shared solutions.

A regional approach allows communities to:

• Understand shared risks

• Prioritize projects based on regional benefits

• Coordinate infrastructure investments

• Protect interconnected natural systems

• Compete more effectively for state and federal funding

By working together, Tampa Bay communities can achieve greater resilience than any one jurisdiction could alone.

Natural systems are some of our strongest defenses against flooding. The Coastal Master Plan evaluates and prioritizes nature-based solutions such as:

• Wetland and mangrove restoration

• Living shorelines

• Floodplain reconnection

• Urban tree canopy expansion

The plan also encourages innovative approaches, including adaptive infrastructure design, phased implementation strategies, and multi-benefit projects that provide flood protection while enhancing habitat, recreation, and water quality.