Half of America's Beaches Could Vanish by 2100 -- Here's What's Working to Save Them

Surfrider Foundation's 2025 State of the Beach Report reveals climate crisis impacts and proven nature-based strategies protecting coastlines from California to Puerto Rico

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of America's sandy beaches will be lost by 2100 due to climate-driven sea level rise, but a groundbreaking new report shows communities are successfully fighting back with nature-based solutions — even as federal climate support dwindles.

The Surfrider Foundation's 2025 State of the Beach Report documents accelerating coastal destruction across the United States while highlighting proven grassroots strategies that are protecting beaches from Hawaiʻi and California to New York and Puerto Rico. The report arrives as climate impacts intensify nationwide, with homes collapsing into the ocean, infrastructure failures mounting, and beach access threatened in coastal communities that generate billions in tourism revenue.

SURFRIDER'S 2025 STATE OF THE BEACH REPORT

"The predictions are grim. By 2100, more than 50% of our sandy beaches may be completely lost, with states like California facing 70% beach loss," said Emma Haydocy, Surfrider's Coasts & Climate Initiative Senior Manager. "But this report also reveals reasons for optimism. Through Surfrider's Climate Action Program and regional policy campaigns, coastal communities are leading successful resilience efforts using nature-based solutions that traditional approaches like seawalls and sand renourishment cannot match."

Climate Change Is Accelerating Erosion

Erosion of sandy beaches is a normal coastal process, but climate change is intensifying and compounding its impacts along our coasts. Sea levels are rising more quickly, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and beaches are disappearing faster than ever before. At the same time, rampant private development in idyllic coastal areas continues, encroaching on eroding beaches and contributing to what is known as "coastal squeeze." Where beaches would naturally migrate inland in response to rising seas, development like buildings, roads, and seawalls block their path. Normally, these natural areas would shift to survive, but when trapped, they gradually narrow, erode, or disappear altogether.

Nearly every day, new stories emerge detailing devastating losses to our beaches and coastal communities due to the impacts of climate change and erosion. Just last week, nine homes collapsed into the ocean in Buxton, North Carolina — making it 21 total on Hatteras Island in the last five years — while many more remain in danger of a similar fate. On the West Coast, climate-fueled wildfires rendered Los Angeles area beaches unsafe for months, and in 2024, one of Southern California's marquee surf destinations, San Onofre State Beach, was inaccessible due to the impacts of erosion.

Federal Retreat, Local Leadership

There has been a sharp divergence in federal climate policy following historic investments through the Inflation Reduction Act (2022) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021). Previously allocated climate resilience funding is being withdrawn, and proposed budget cuts threaten bedrock coastal management programs at NOAA.

"Lacking strong federal leadership, Surfrider is leaning into our grassroots network to lead at state and local levels," said Zach Plopper, Surfrider's Senior Environmental Director. "Our 200+ volunteer chapters and student clubs are working along nearly every stretch of U.S. coast to defend our beaches against climate change impacts, working with nature and fostering a greater sense of community every step of the way."

The report features nine case studies from beaches across the country, including successful coastal restoration in Queens, New York, community-driven planning to identify solutions on beaches experiencing some of the worst erosion rates along the North Shore of Oʻahu, comprehensive policy changes to protect Oregon's iconic beaches, and Surfrider's gold standard managed retreat and coastal restoration project at Surfers' Point in Ventura, California.

Many of these case studies focus on the work of the Climate Action Program, which builds on the coastal restoration efforts Surfrider's chapter network has led in local communities for decades. In the first year since launching the program in April 2024, over 2,000 volunteers have removed more than 10,000 pounds of invasive species and planted over 55,000 native plants to restore over 20 acres of coastal habitat. 

While the prospect of losing our favorite beaches and coastal areas forever could be catastrophic for coastal communities, there are real solutions accessible to all of us at the local level. While these solutions look different along every coast, the Surfrider Foundation has identified several key strategies for success and reasons for optimism through the stories of progress and accomplishment in this year's State of the Beach Report. Coastal communities can prepare and adapt to current and future challenges posed by climate change by collaborating with each other, and with nature, to foster community-led, nature-based solutions and strong, science-driven resilience policy.

The complete 2025 State of the Beach Report is available here .

About the Surfrider Foundation:

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's ocean, waves, and beaches for all people through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over one million supporters, activists, and members, with more than 200 volunteer-led chapters and student clubs in the U.S., and more than 900 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at surfrider.org.

SOURCE Surfrider Foundation