Beach Erosion

CULTURE The Beach Erosion

Coastal Erosion's impact on beach towns

By Alison Stecker, Online Editor Graphic by Mac Gale, Arts Curator

Beaches bring about images of salty air, sun-kissed skin and a wave of calmness that numbs your body the second you dive into the water. There is a weightless feeling that overcomes your mind when your feet sink into the wet sand for the fi rst time each summer. The beach is peaceful. The beach is home.

But how would it feel if that home was slowly eroding away until nothing is left? Coastal erosion is happening to our beaches now, and in order to slow it down, it’s important to be educated on the issue and the impact it has on our beloved coast. staircase is gone,” recalled Orry Baffi , a beach citizen, about a drop-off in the ocean. As a result, many beaches have to close areas for swimming, impacting a core reason why people travel to the beach in the fi rst place. promised by 2050.7 It is not worth investing in a beach house if the ocean will gradually eat away at the home’s foundation.

Today, it is increasingly diffi cult to justify putting down roots in a beach town because the homes will eventually erode away. The housing market will depreciate if coastal erosion continues, and there will be no residents or visitors to keep small businesses afl oat.

Erosion threatens the housing market Owning a beachfront property or renting a hut overlooking the seaside is a desirable lifestyle for many people. There is something peaceful and relaxing about coastal living, yet the housing market is one of the primary targets of coastal erosion in seaside communities.

According to a study in the Nature Science Journal, 2,452 miles of sandy U.S. coastline will be reduced in the next 30 years.4 The coastline is slowly disappearing, and all the sand and rock that small beach towns depend upon will be washed away and covered by the ocean. In the southeast, coastlines are eroding at a rate of 25 feet per year, and in the Great Lakes region the erosion rate is double that.5

Nshan Atakhanian, a resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey, observed the beaches in Brick Township. “When you’re walking over here, you can’t even see the beach anymore. Soon enough the beach is going to be gone,” he said.6

Individuals interested in buying a house in coastal areas should proceed with caution, as the homes are at a high risk of weathering. In Ocean City, New Jersey, approximately 38% of homes were considered vulnerable to erosion, and it’s estimated that over fi ve billion dollars of home values would be comHow we can slow down erosion

What is coastal erosion? Coastal erosion is when environmental factors—such as an increase in sea level, strong waves and fl ooding—wash away the sand, soil and rocks along a coastline.1 It naturally occurs due to storms and waves, but global warming is causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt, exacerbating the problem.2 Since humans are a large part of the climate change crisis, we are indirectly worsening the eff ects of coastal erosion.

Dangerous swimming conditions In addition to its environmental impact, coastal erosion is worsening swimming conditions for beach residents, visitors and tourists. This summer, for example, strong winds in Brick Township, New Jersey formed holes in popular swimming spots. Individuals were walking along a sandbar that appeared normal at fi rst, then dropped 10 to 20 feet, creating a dangerous situation for all.3 “I never saw a curve like that. I was curious about it and then I noticed the

1 Pia De Los Reyes, “The Impact of Coastal Erosion on Seaside Communities,” One Green Planet, October 2021. 2 Ibid. 3 Kevin Rincon, “Growing Concern over Jersey Shore beach erosion,” CBS New York, July 28, 2022. 4 Pia De Los Reyes, “The Impact of Coastal Erosion on Seaside Communities,” One Green Planet, October 2021. 5 Ibid. 6 Kevin Rincon, “Growing Concern over Jersey Shore beach erosion,” CBS New York, July 28, 2022. Although it is impossible to prevent erosion from happening, there are ways to slow down the process and protect your property from damage. A great place to start is reducing your carbon footprint, or the amount of greenhouse gases you release into the atmosphere.8 Transportation is one of the leading sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in 2020, 91.5% of U.S. households had at least one vehicle available for use.9 Public transportation, walking, biking or carpooling are great alternatives that can help you reduce the number of vehicles on the road. By minimizing the number of activities that have high carbon emission rates, you can slow down global warming and thus, coastal erosion. Beach nourishment, anchoring your home and habitat restoration are other ways you can help slow down the eff ects of erosion, but we won’t be able to save our beaches and lovely beach towns if we don’t care for this planet fi rst.10 ■

7 Pia De Los Reyes, “The Impact of Coastal Erosion on Seaside Communities,” One Green Planet, October 2021. 8 Leah Asmelash, “What you need to know about carbon footprints,” CNN, September 8, 2019. 9 Lyle Daly, “How Many Cars in the U.S.? Car ownership Statistics 2022,” The Ascent, May 18, 2022. 10 “Protect your Property from Coastal Erosion,” FEMA, September 7, 2022.