Mother nature is an unforgiving mistress, and when it comes to coastal erosion in the United States, coupled with sea level rise, the effects are potentially catastrophic.
According to the Surfrider Foundations recently-released State of the Beach report, things aren’t looking great for coastal U.S. communities, especially in California. “By 2100, it is estimated that more than 50% of our sandy beaches will be completely lost due to sea level rise driven by climate change alone,” the report says. “In states like California, the figure is as high as 70%.”
That means that surf spots, as we know them now, are poised to disappear entirely. But the good news is, there are preventative measures communities can take.
“Erosion of sandy beaches is a normal coastal process driven by local sea level rise, wave action, tidal or lake level fluctuations, wind, and coastal flooding,” the report states. “Climate change is ramping up the severity, intensity, and compounding impacts of many of these drivers along our coasts. Sea levels are rising more quickly, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and our beaches are disappearing faster than ever before.”
The report goes on to highlight actions taken by certain coastal communities to combat the erosion of sandy beaches. For instance, at Surfers’ Point in Ventura, CA, shoreline infrastructure includes “a relocated bike path and parking lot, and a restored shoreline, adding decades of resilience to erosion and climate change impacts.”
Related: Waves Devour Outer Banks Home, ‘We Watched in Awe’ (Video)
In Hawaii, the North Shore of Oahu in particular, erosion is especially bad. “Today, 73% of North Shore beaches are chronically eroding, with more than 90% of beaches projected to be in a chronic state of erosion by 2050,” the report states. There, homeowners have resorted to short-term fixes, like “geotextile burritos,” to protect their property.
But it’s all only going to get worse…unless we take action.
Learn more about the current state of coastal erosion in the United States, what’s projected for the future, and what can be done to prevent the destruction of our beaches and surf spots at the Surfrider Foundation’s annual State of the Beach report.
Related: Surfrider: “Nature-Based Solutions Prevailed” During Hurricane Erin