As a nation, the United States features approximately 12,383 miles of coastline, including the islands of Hawaii and Alaska’s 6,640 miles of coast, which is more than all the other states’ coastlines combined. The US also features nearly 89,000 miles of shoreline, which takes into account smaller tidal shorelines, inlets, and other marine features. Despite representing such a major facet of the nation’s geography, America’s coastlines and shorelines are facing many man-made problems. Individuals and local groups can take steps to protect their coastlines, but they first must understand the threats they face.
The largest problem facing American coasts and shores is the most challenging to overcome, especially as an individual: climate change. Climate Central is an organization that manages a coastal risk screening tool designed to assess a coast’s risk for flooding and ending up below sea level in the near future. As the planet’s rising temperatures melt ice caps and warm the Earth’s oceans, more and more coastlines are vanishing.
The Climate Central tool has shown that many coastal communities could be underwater as soon as 2050, including the city of Beaumont, Texas. Other critically endangered coastlines include the Oregon coast, California’s Central Coast, and the Great Lakes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 128 million Americans are living in coastal communities that will be severely impacted by rising tides and increased storm intensity and frequency. In addition to extensive loss of life and radically different coastlines, coastal flooding could cost the nation upwards of $14 trillion in damages.
Individuals should research their vulnerability to coastal flooding and learn about the steps they can take, such as joining climate-focused organizations and lobbying for better regulations at the federal level. Groups should prioritize protecting wetlands and using other kinds of natural barriers, including sand dunes and living shorelines. A living shoreline is a green infrastructure that utilizes plants, sand, and reefs to minimize coastal erosion. At-risk municipalities should consider the installation of flood walls and raising awareness for flood zones and flood protocols.
The US must also focus on protecting existing coastal lands as opposed to creating new beaches. An estimated 4.2 million acres of coastal development were added between 1996 and 2016. During the same period, coasts lost 640,000 acres of wetland and close to 10 million acres of forest.
Beyond global climate change, America’s coastlines are vulnerable to pollution. An Environment America Research & Policy Center study published in 2022 found that 55 percent of the nearly 3,200 beaches surveyed had unsafe levels of fecal contamination at least 25 percent of the year. There are many dangers associated with exposure to contaminated water, including gastrointestinal illness and respiratory disease, along with infections and rashes impacting the eyes, ears, and skin.
While the results may be concerning, they cannot be described as a total surprise: US officials issued more than 8,700 health warnings or closures at coastal and Great Lakes beaches throughout 2022, which impacted one out of 12 swimming days. Managing beach pollution is difficult because contaminants can originate from various sources. Common sources of beach pollution include failing sewage systems, spills and accidents, and factory farming.
Americans who want to see these issues addressed must continue pushing for better legislation for coastal health and wellness. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Job Act afforded $11.7 billion for sewage and stormwater projects. Another $14.7 billion was reserved for addressing other sources of pollution, though these represent the first of many efforts needed to effectively clean America’s beaches and protect the nation’s wetlands.
