King tides return and locals use them to defend against destructive floods (includes video story)

As South Florida’s king tides overwhelmed the streets this past weekend, locals gathered flood samples throughout affected neighborhoods across the county. The idea was to track sea level patterns for future protection against flooding.

Making the most out of king tide

The king tide, or the highest high tide of the year, forms when there is an alignment of the sun, moon and earth’s gravitational pull. For Miami, king tides can cause more than a slight inconvenience if there are heavy rains and gusts, which is not rare. 

Dr. Tiffany Troxler, researcher and associate professor of biological sciences at Florida International University, hosted the ninth annual Sea Level Solutions Day on Saturday. Locals collected king tide data samples on salinity, nutrients and E. coli to help develop fixes for future flood outbreaks. 

Groups dispersed throughout Miami, including Coconut Grove, Cutler Bay and Miami Shores, where inland neighborhoods can also feel the effects of king tide.

Troxler explained how canals were built in freshwater wetlands, meaning they were built at or near sea level, which makes inland areas susceptible to flooding.

“When they’re flooded, it means the drain fields aren’t working,” she said.

Flood water may look clear, but it can be full of nasty bacteria from overwhelmed septic tanks and sewers.

“The sewage can just be diluted into the surface water and that can contribute to some of the highest levels of enterococci (fecal indicator bacteria),” Troxler said.

Why participate?

Locals are encouraged to join the event because it provides a hands-on experience that shows the horrid nature of overflowing drainage systems that could potentially be a regular occurrence in the future. With community help, it’s easier to gather multiple data samples across Miami, as king tides are not frequent.

Mariam Medina used a pipette to gather the water sample. (Angelo Ortega/Caplin News)

Mariam Medina, an environmental engineering student at FIU, inspired her friends Lucero Omana and Felix Lugo to spend Saturday morning as citizen scientists, collecting data samples in Miami Shores along a canal with nearby sewers and septic tanks. 

Medina joined the event purely out of interest since it aided her journey to explore a specialty in environmental science.

“It’s interesting because, in just a few minutes, we saw a change in the water. The sewer water pipe has got to be one of the dirtiest” she said.

(Left to Right) Felix Lugo, Mariam Medina, and Lucero Omana drove to Miami Shores as citizen scientists of Sea Level Solutions Day. They are collecting water samples to test for salinity, nutrients, and E.coli matter. (Angelo Ortega/Caplin News)

In just a few minutes, the saltwater spewing from the sewers quickly mixed with contaminants, ultimately dispensing waste-infested water into the streets and grass. 

With the group’s measurements, they can relay the information back to Troxler, so she and her peers can find ways to mitigate future damages through better infrastructure and flood management systems.

“As sea levels rise, king tides can indicate a future reality of Miami overtaken by regular high tides” Troxler said. 

With Sea Level Solutions Day, she said, locals are motivated to see the drastic floods for themselves and make a change that can place Miami’s future in better living conditions.

Julian Davis is a student at Florida International University, pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism. Julian is Jamaican-American and is passionate about photography and the environment, always looking for a way to inspire others about the same. He currently works as a photographer for the school newspaper, PantherNOW. After graduation, Julian aspires to do investigative journalism focusing on environmental corruption.

Angelo Ortega is a student at Florida International University, majoring in digital and interactive media with a minor in International Relations. After graduation, he plans on pursuing a career as a travel content creator, hoping to provide insight into different cultures and conflicts throughout the world.