Southeast Water Level Network

Our Purpose:

With coastal communities facing the compound threat of storm surge, extreme rainfall, and rising sea level – SECOORA is supporting the installation and long-term operation of ~200 new water level stations in the Southeast. This new regional water level network will enable localized flooding alerts, improve community resilience, and monitor flooding hazards.

SECOORA, through funding from the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System, is partnering with Coastal Carolina University, Georgia Tech, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association/Hohonu, Florida International University, and Florida Atlantic University to establish a Southeast Water Level Network.

Our Goals:

The network will provide real-time local water level data to town managers, emergency managers, design engineers, and the public. This data is vital for monitoring coastal flooding, keeping citizens informed of hazardous conditions.

Communities can use the data when designing resilience and adaptation strategies to sea level rise and other climate impacts.

Our goals include:

Substantially expand real-time water level coverage
Partner with coastal communities’ stakeholders to provide data to underserved communities
Contribute to state and local decision-support applications and alert systems

The proposed number of water level stations to be installed in each state in the Southeast.

Network of Water Level Sensors

This map displays the installation locations of the water level sensors in 2022 and will be updated as more stations are added to the network.

Data and Technology

The partners of the Southeast Water Level Network are installing multiple types of low-cost sensors. Each sensor type is unique and utilizes different technology to measure water levels.

Water level station data will soon be made available on SECOORA’s Data Portal.

A SECOORA mini-grant was awarded to Drs. Michael Muglia, East Carolina University – Coastal Studies Institute, and Nicole Elko, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. This team installed five water level sensors, which will ultimately become a part of the greater Southeast Water Level Network.

The Hohonu sensor installed in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Dr. Nicole Elko (ASBPA) installing a water level sensor in Fernandina Beach, FL.
Dr. Russell Clark (Georgia Tech) installing a Smart Sea Level Sensor.
Dr. Russell Clark (Georgia Tech) installing a Smart Sea Level Sensor.
Water level sensor installed in North Carolina.
Water level sensor installed in North Carolina.
Dr. Nicole Elko (ASBPA) installing a water level sensor in North Carolina.
Dr. Mike Muglia (ECU-CSI) installing a water level sensor in North Carolina.

Community Engagement

Are you a member of a coastal community that experiences flooding? Does flooding impede your ability to travel around your town? If yes, please reach out to SECOORA to learn more about installing a water level sensor in your community. For additional details about installing a sensor in your local community, view our flyer here.

The Southeast Water Level Network is currently working with the following communities:

North Carolina

Currituck County
Town of Duck
Town of Nags Head
Dare County
Hyde County
Town of Beaufort
Indian Beach
Carteret County
Town of Holden Beach
Town of St. James
Town of Sunset Beach
Ocean Isle Beach
Village of Bald Head
Surf City
Topsail Beach

South Carolina

Town of Pawleys Island; Georgetown County
Town of Hilton Head
City of Beaufort
City of Folly Beach
Town of Sullivan’s Island
City of Charleston
Dorchester County
Florence County
Georgetown County
Horry County
Marion County
Richland County

Georgia

Camden County
King’s Bay Naval Base
City of Savannah
Chatham Emergency Management Agency
City of Tybee Island
City of Garden City
City of St Marys
City of Brunswick
Harambee House – Citizens for Environmental Justice
Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
The Landings Association
Bull River Marina
Ossabaw Island Foundation

Florida

City of Fernandina Beach
Town of Palm Beach
Captiva Island
Palm Beach County
City of Jupiter
Palm Beach County Business Development Board
City of West Palm Beach
City of Boca Raton
City of Fort Pierce
Miami-Dade County
City of Coral Gables
City of Fort Lauderdale
Monroe County
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program

Water Level Research and News

Hyper-local tidal sensors now in use along South Carolina coast

A story on Live 5 News WCSC in South Carolina highlights the water level monitoring stations in South Carolina that keep an eye on the tide. Learn more.

Northeast North Carolina Coastal Communities Water Level Observation and Prediction System

Water-level sensors were installed in 5 locations in the North Carolina Outer Bank. The sensors wirelessly telemeter real-time water level data to make tidal predictions. Learn more.

A new network of water level sensors to be deployed in the Southeast

A news story on the Southeast Regional Water Level Network that will provide real-time high-resolution and high-frequency flood data on the projected increase in flooding. Learn more.

The Advisory Committee:

The Advisory Committee Charge:

Evaluate the cost, accuracy, and reporting frequencies for the systems being installed;
Participate in annual system evaluation of capital and operational costs;
Evaluate the quality assurance and quality control standards for the water level network;
Assist with identification of priority locations for new stations, including:
- Ensure a portion of the water level stations are being deployed in underserved communities, which includes environmental justice communities;
- Ensure water level stations are sufficiently filling gaps in the coverage area;
- Guide the development of the online and mobile water level data viewer.

Advisory Committee Members:

Holly Edmond Florida Department of Environmental Protection	Victor Engel, Ph.D. USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center	Laurie Hogan Hydrologic Services Division of the National Weather Service	Jennifer Kline Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division
Douglas Marcy NOAA Office for Coastal Management	Dwayne Porter, Ph.D. University of South Carolina	Raimundo Rodulfo City of Coral Gables	Sarah Spiegler North Carolina Sea Grant
David Sumner, Ph.D. USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center	Gary Thompson North Carolina Emergency Management’s Risk Management	Charles White Emergency Management Agency for Camden County Georgia	David Wolcott NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services