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When it comes to climate change, one thing is certain: our oceans are rising. And South Florida is expected to be among the first regions on Earth to experience the impact. In fact, some initial preparations are already underway. WLRN-Miami Herald News presents a series of stories about the effects of sea-level rise. The project is called “Elevation Zero: Rising Seas In South Florida." Click through the pages below to see our entire archive of Elevation Zero stories.

The Dune Abides: Work Begins To Fix Boca Beach Eroded by Sandy

The City of Boca Raton

Imagine enough sand to cover about four football fields, four feet high, and you'll get an idea of how much work is being done to build up the dunes in Boca Raton's Red Reef Park.

The beach between Palmetto Park and Glades Roads is a popular swimming and snorkeling spot owned by the city.  Unlike other South Florida beaches where you can practically walk straight from State Road A1A to the sand, Red Reef is accessible by way of boardwalks and crossovers atop a huge system of sand dunes.

Boca Raton Assistant City Manager Mike Woika says the dunes were left in bad shape by Sandy.

"During the storm, some of that volume just at the toe of the dunes was washed out.  And it made kind of an escarpment.  So we're currently going through and replacing that toe of the dune," says Woika.

In other words:  Watch out for that last step -- it's a doozy.

Woika expects the $200,000  dune renourishment project along Red Reef Park to be done in about two weeks.   The construction equipment needs to be removed to make way for the huge numbers of sea turtles expected to build their nests in the beach sand.

Christine DiMattei is WLRN's Morning Edition anchor and also reports on Arts & Culture.
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