The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum will host conservation biologist Gene Kelly during the next event in their Coffee and Conversation Speakers Series, “Sea Level Rise in Citrus County.” The event will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 7:00pm at 1 Courthouse Square, Inverness, FL 34450. Participants can also watch the event live on YouTube.

Old Courthouse Museum’s Coffee and Conversation Speakers Series Hosts Gene Kelly

With 8,440 miles of coastline, Florida is under immense threat from sea level rise and is now poised to begin working with local governments to plan for “resilience.” What might that mean for a coastal community like Citrus County? What are the likely consequences of sea level rise, and how should we respond? We will look at some of the impacts that are already evident, predictions of what the future might hold, and consider some possible strategies for minimizing the long-term environmental and economic impacts on our community.

Gene is a Conservation Biologist with a long history of working to conserve natural Florida. His work has included conducting a comprehensive assessment of projected climate change impacts in Florida, including an emphasis on sea level rise. Kelly spent several years working as a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He is currently semi-retired, but remains actively involved with the Florida Native Plant Society, where her currently serves on the Board of Directors as Chair of the Policy and Legislation Committee, with the Adventure Coast Group of the Sierra Club where he serves as Outings Chair, and with the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. Investigating the impacts of sea level rise is a continuing interest.

To reserve your space for the in-person or virtual event, visit https://cccourthouse.org/product/sealevel. All registrants will receive a reminder email with the link to the livestream the day of the event. For more information, call (352) 341-6428.