Saltwater intrusion is rapidly altering environmental and human systems in the Gulf Coast, reshaping wetlands, degrading drinking water supplies, and threatening critical infrastructure. Despite increasing scientific attention to the biophysical dimensions of saltwater intrusion, less is understood about how these changes are perceived and experienced by individuals. To bridge this gap, a series of regional dialogues are being launched across the five Gulf states to directly connect Gulf ecosystem science with the informed public; including community leaders, municipal officers, and local planners.

Each session will provide participants with a science-based overview of saltwater intrusion drivers, such as sea level rise, subsidence, and reduced freshwater inflow, and facilitate discussions linking these processes to local impacts on infrastructure, ecosystems, and livelihoods. Through facilitated discussions and documentation of firsthand accounts, the dialogues aim to improve understanding of the social and ecological dimensions of saltwater intrusion across the Gulf region; to identify how saltwater intrusion materializes within their communities and what adaptive responses are already emerging.

These dialogues are expected to generate a clearer understanding of how ecosystem changes cascade into ecological and economic impacts, while simultaneously strengthening the capacity of local leaders to recognize and respond to intrusion-related challenges. Insights will be synthesized to inform resilience planning and guide research priorities that align with community-identified needs. By integrating Gulf ecosystem science with local experience, this initiative promotes advanced regional understanding and a more inclusive foundation for resilience across both natural and human systems.