(1) “”Adaptation plan”” means a plan that develops goals, priorities, strategies, and actions to best minimize impacts of flooding, sea level rise, or other threats and vulnerabilities, as applicable, and establishes a process to implement those actions.
    (2) “”Compound flooding”” is flooding caused by complex interactions between two or more oceanographic, hydrological, or meteorological processes such as the combination of pluvial (rainfall-induced flooding, such as flash, surface water, drain, and sewer floods), fluvial (riverine floods), coastal (sea level rise, tides, waves, storm surge, and nuisance floods), or groundwater flooding.
    (3) “”Comprehensive statewide flood vulnerability and sea level rise assessment”” is an assessment the Department is required to develop under Section 380.093(4)(b), F.S., and which must be completed by the same on or before July 1, 2024, and updated every five years, that identifies inland and coastal infrastructure, geographic areas, and communities in Florida that are vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise and the associated risks.
    (4) “”Comprehensive vulnerability assessment”” is an evaluation that identifies risks to a community, including flooding and sea level rise, as applicable; meets all the required statutory elements for vulnerability assessments listed in Sections 380.093(3)(c) through (d), F.S.; and includes, but is not limited to, any supplemental plans, assessments, documents, reports, strategies, maps, or electronic databases that identify or address risks of flooding and sea level rise to critical or regionally significant assets.
    (5) “”Critical asset class”” means the distinct groupings of critical assets as defined in Sections 380.093(2)(a)1. through 4., F.S.
    (6) “”Department”” means the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
    (7) “”Eligible entity”” means those entities specifically identified in Section 380.093(5)(d), F.S., as eligible to submit proposed projects for inclusion in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan.
    (8) “”Financially disadvantaged small community”” is as defined in Section 380.093(5)(e), F.S.
    (9) “”Flooding”” means a condition of partial or complete inundation caused by a naturally occurring event.
    (10) “”Natural system restoration”” is a process that creates, improves, or restores ecological functions in the environment.
    (11) “”Nature-based solutions”” are actions that rely upon natural processes to protect, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems, as well as solutions that address socio-environmental challenges using natural resources and processes.
    (12) “”Partial design”” means a preliminary design that is more than 30 percent complete but not yet final and prepared by a qualified professional in the relevant field, which provides enough information and design criteria for the qualified professional to make informed decisions, such as identifying impacts, benefits, costs, and other challenges with project implementation.
    (13) “”Project impact area”” means the discrete area the project encompasses as well as the delineated area that will be directly benefitted by a mitigation project (such as a watershed or hydrologic basin for flooding mitigation projects, a service or sub-service area for a utility, a neighborhood, a natural area, or a shoreline).
Rulemaking Authority 380.093 FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 380.093. History—New 8-22-22.