The "Resilient St. Lucie Webinar 1" focused on community resilience planning efforts in St. Lucie County aimed at addressing climate change impacts.

The webinar featured four presentations:

• Irene Arpayoglou, the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Manager from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, discussed the impacts of sea level rise on local ecosystems and infrastructure.
• Erin Deady, Esq., AICP & Resilience Consultant and Alex Zelenski, GISP & Resilience Consultant, presented the county's vulnerability assessment project, and spoke about the value of resilience planning, local resilience planning process, St. Lucie community vulnerability assessment, and adaptations and building capacity.
• Mike Middlebrook, the Assistant Director for St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department, highlighted the value of natural lands and conservation efforts that have preserved over 10,000 acres.
• Jennifer Tomes, the Utility Marketing Coordinator for Port St. Lucie's Utilities Department, shared Port St. Lucie's initiatives, including a water quality project to prevent excess freshwater from entering waterways, a septic-to-sewer conversion program, and a tree-planting challenge.

The presenters emphasized the importance of collaborative planning between municipalities, effective data collection, and citizen involvement in building resilience against flooding, sea level rise, and intensified storms.

The "Resilient St. Lucie Webinar 2" focused on water management and the impacts of climate change in St. Lucie County, Florida.

The webinar featured four speakers:

• Natalie Frendberg from the Oxbow Eco-Center (part of St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department) provided an overview of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem and the threats it faces from pollution, development, and climate change.
• Holly Abeels from the Florida Sea Grant discussed the basics of climate change and rising temperatures.
• Kathy LaMartina from the South Florida Water Management District explained the region's water management systems and infrastructure, highlighting the district's resiliency strategies.
• Amanda Thompson, the Senior Land Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator at the Oxbow Eco-Center (part of St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department), demonstrated a groundwater model illustrating how pollutants, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and septic tank leakage, can contaminate water systems.

Throughout the presentations, speakers emphasized the interconnectedness of water systems, the impacts of human activities on water quality, and the importance of community action in addressing climate change challenges.

The "Resilient St. Lucie Webinar 3" features four expert presentations on the impacts of climate change in Florida.

• Mike Middlebrook, the Assistant Director for St. Lucie County's Environmental Resources Department, discussed how habitats are migrating due to climate change, highlighting how mangroves are expanding northward and freshwater species, such as cypress trees, are dying from saltwater intrusion.
• Dr. Vincent Encomio from the Florida Sea Grant presented the impacts of coastal habitats, focusing on king tides, flooding, and living shoreline solutions.
• Jan Fore from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) detailed how invasive reptile species, such as pythons and tegus, are expanding their ranges, potentially exacerbated by warming temperatures.
• Dr. Tim Moore from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute explained how warming waters and increased rainfall are fueling harmful algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee and coastal waterways, with cyanobacteria being particularly problematic as they produce dangerous toxins and thrive in warmer, more turbid conditions.