Rising sea, stronger storms hammering West Coast shorelines [View All]

With summer in full swing, area beaches see a lot of action. But the shores of the western coast of the United States may be hit with large-scale erosion in coming years, wiping out coastlines that provide protection from the surf, as well as pleasure.

That’s according to a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. Scientists from San Diego to Seattle shared data from the 2009 – 2010 winter during which powerful waves and higher-than-usual water levels tore away and reshaped shorelines.

In western Washington, near Willapa Bay, more than 300 feet of erosion destroyed a road that winter.

Patrick Barnard with the USGS says in many cases, these erosion levels were unprecedented and what’s more the problem is not going away.



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