USGS research led by Sean Vitusek points to widespread beach loss across Southern California in the future – with up to two thirds of beaches eroded by 2100 without human intervention.Beaches add to the quality of life of tens of millions of people across southern California, and many millions more in metropolitan areas around the world. Beaches also contribute significantly to the southern California economy through coastal business activities (restaurants, leisure, recreation), effect on asset values, and many other ways. (Photo by Michael Heiman).
Beaches are at the heart of the Southern California’s cultural identity, are central to the region’s economy, and provide a foundation for lifestyle businesses that promote the region globally. Beaches protect the coastline from erosion and damage by dissipating wave energy before it strikes human and natural resources susceptible to damage (e.g. buildings, roads, pipelines, wetlands). This image shows a large swell event at the Wedge in Newport Beach, California. (Image courtesy Orange County Register).
Question for this Presentation:
Crystal Cove in Orange County, California (Photo by UCI Flood Lab)
How have beaches across Orange County changed over the past century, what is driving these changes, and what regions of the Orange County coast are facing severe beach loss and coastal damage at this time?
Sea level rise projections by Sweet et al. (2017) point to increased future stress on coastlines.Projections of future ocean waves by Lobeto et. al. (2021) point to increased energy across the southern hemisphere, especially in the Southern Ocean. This suggested increased occurrence of damaging southern swell across Orange County.Our research in partnership with coastal stakeholders across Southern California, and made possible by a grant from the NOAA ESLR Program, points to beneficial reuse of sediment as a major opportunity for increased resilience to flooding and erosion – and the need for a more flexible and streamlined regulatory framework that can foster creativity, innovation and cost effectiveness.
