This is SeaTalk: Ocean News from the University of Delaware.

Sand dunes are mounds or ridges of windblown sand that are vital to shoreline stability. Dunes protect the Delaware coast during storms, provide a reservoir of sand for the beach and sustain a unique ecosystem. The few hardy grasses that live in the dune environment have adapted to multiple stresses imposed by wind, blowing sand, salt spray, sandy soils and heat. Planting beach grass in the spring encourages the development of a healthy root system that will help protect the dunes from the fierce winds and strong waves of the next year's winter storms. For more information about these resilient and extreme ecosystems, call (302) 645-4346. This is SeaTalk, a public service announcement from the University of Delaware, the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, and this station.