Florida CMP Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions for Developers and Consultants

Florida CMP Key Terms & Definitions

Adaptation: The process of adjusting to actual or expected climate change and its effects, such as sea-level rise and increased storm intensity, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.

Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL): A line established by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) that defines the landward limit of the state's regulatory authority over coastal construction activities. Any construction activity seaward of the CCCL requires a permit from the FDEP. [Fla. Stat. § 161.053]

Coastal Resilience: The ability of coastal communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure to withstand, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of coastal hazards, such as sea-level rise, storm surges, and erosion.

Coastal Zone: The land and water area bordering the coast that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP). The coastal zone includes the area from the territorial sea to the landward extent of marine influences.

Dredging: The removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of water bodies, such as harbors, rivers, and canals, to maintain or improve navigation, flood control, or ecosystem restoration.

Ecosystem: A dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.

Estuary: A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a unique and highly productive ecosystem.

Filling: The placement of materials, such as sand, gravel, or rock, into water bodies or wetlands to create new land, stabilize shorelines, or support structures.

Florida Coastal Management Act of 1978: The state law that established the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) and set forth its goals, policies, and requirements. [Fla. Stat. § 380.20-380.285]

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP): The state agency responsible for administering the FCMP and enforcing its regulations, as well as other environmental laws and programs in Florida.

Florida Resilient Coastlines Program (FRCP): A program established in 2021 that provides funding and technical assistance to local governments for projects that address the effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise and increased storm intensity. [Fla. Stat. § 380.093]

Habitat: The natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives and grows, including the physical and biological features that support its survival and reproduction.

Interagency Coordination: The process of collaboration and communication among different government agencies and stakeholders to ensure consistent and effective implementation of the FCMP's goals and policies.

Land Use Planning: The process of determining the appropriate use and development of land resources in a given area, taking into account factors such as environmental protection, economic development, and public health and safety.

Mangrove: A tropical or subtropical tree or shrub that grows in coastal saline or brackish water, forming dense thickets that provide important habitat for fish and wildlife and protect shorelines from erosion and storm damage.

Marine Habitat: The natural environment in which marine organisms live, including the physical, chemical, and biological features that support their survival and reproduction, such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy bottoms.

Mitigation: The process of reducing or offsetting the negative impacts of development activities on the environment, such as by restoring degraded habitats, creating new habitats, or implementing best management practices.

Nonpoint Source Pollution: Pollution that originates from diffuse sources, such as runoff from agricultural lands, urban areas, or construction sites, and is carried by rainfall or snowmelt into water bodies.

Permitting: The process of obtaining authorization from the relevant government agencies to conduct activities that may impact coastal resources, such as construction, dredging, or filling, in accordance with the FCMP's regulations and standards.

Point Source Pollution: Pollution that originates from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe, ditch, or vessel, and is discharged directly into a water body.

Seagrass: A type of submerged aquatic vegetation that grows in shallow, clear waters and provides important habitat for fish and other marine life, as well as stabilizing sediments and improving water quality.

Stormwater: Water that originates from precipitation events, such as rain or snow, and flows over land or impervious surfaces, such as streets and rooftops, before entering water bodies or drainage systems.

Water Quality: The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water that determine its suitability for a particular use, such as drinking, swimming, or supporting aquatic life.

Wetland: An area that is inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. [Fla. Stat. § 373.019(27)]

Wetland Mitigation: The process of offsetting the unavoidable impacts of development activities on wetlands by restoring, enhancing, or creating wetlands in another location, in accordance with the FCMP's regulations and standards. [Fla. Stat. § 373.4135]