With scientific evidence of significant wave heigth increasing in the North Pacific over the past 40 years and projections of future sea level rise, coastal erosion will continue to be an issue for decades to come in Oregon. As human activities and development in coastal areas increase, the need for coastal preservation becomes ever more apparent. “Hazards” occur when naturally dynamic coastal processes encounter static human development, and when humans interfere with marine and littoral systems. In areas where erosion threatens existing coastal development, the Surfrider Foundation advocates appropriate long-term solutions that maximize public benefit and seek solutions for property owners at risk.
This topic was the subject of a very interesting panel discussion at this years UO Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, you can listen to the audio here. One of the panelists was presenting on a program called Green Shores, which promotes sustainable use of coastal ecosystems through planning and design that recognizes the ecological features and functions of coastal systems, a great alternative to the unfriendly rip-rap and other shoreline hardening. You can learn more about Coastal Preservation on our Beachapedia Page