Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2023

Abstract

This Dialogue, published in the Environmental Law Reporter, examines the escalating threats to U.S. beaches from intensified storms and accelerating sea-level rise driven by climate change. Drawing on a January 2023 panel convened by the Environmental Law Institute, the discussion integrates scientific, legal, policy, and community-based perspectives on sustaining beach and dune ecosystems. Panelists outline projected shoreline retreat, sediment dynamics, and modeling tools used to forecast erosion and coastal flooding. They assess the ecological and socioeconomic tradeoffs associated with shoreline armoring, beach nourishment, and coastal development, highlighting how regulatory frameworks—particularly under the Coastal Zone Management Act and Clean Water Act permitting—shape adaptation outcomes. The Dialogue explores acquisition strategies, rolling easements, managed retreat, and public trust doctrines as mechanisms to facilitate landward migration of beaches. Case studies from California, Hawaii, and the southeastern United States illustrate divergent regulatory approaches and political constraints. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the need for integrated coastal planning, adaptive governance, equitable financing mechanisms, and stronger alignment between federal funding and long-term beach sustainability goals in order to mitigate “coastal squeeze” and preserve public access to shoreline resources.

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