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Mangrove Forests Protect Miami From Rising Tides

Deborah Block

   MIAMI - It's a sunny day in Miami, Florida with no chance of rain. But
   according to environmental scientist Margarita Kruyff, even on days
   like this, low-lying coastal communities like Miami and nearby Miami
   Beach may experience periodic flooding because of the porous bedrock
   underground that leaks water.

   "On the roads it means water could be coming up our drainage systems,"
   said the City of Miami Beach environmental scientist, who explained
   that the annual seasonal King Tides, or very high tides, also take
   their toll.

   "Water may be coming up over seawalls for our residents, causing
   flooding in their homes and back yards," she said.

   Rising seas linked to climate change are triggering chronic inland
   flooding in many parts of the world. In southern Florida, high tides
   are also threatening drinking water and causing soil erosion.

   Scientific studies differ on how much farther the tides will rise
   there, but the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, or NOAA,
   projects the sea level could increase as much as two meters by 2100.
   The elevated sea levels eventually could put vast stretches of Florida
   under water.

   "We're trying to project how fast we're expecting them to rise so we
   can plan how we're going to protect our communities for the future,"
   said Kruyff.

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