Surfrider Foundation Releases 2008 “State of the Beach” Report

30 June 2008--The Surfrider Foundation released its 2008 “State of the Beach” report today spotlighting erosion response, a critical measurement system that is becoming more important along the coastlines due to rising sea levels and more frequent storms.

Entering its ninth year, the annual Internet-based “State of the Beach” report is the most comprehensive resource chronicling the health of our nation’s beaches and coastlines. In addition to providing a wealth of links to various studies, reports and Web sites pertaining to coastal health, the report contains a list of “beach health indicators” including beach access, water quality, erosion, beach fill, shoreline structures, beach ecology and surfing areas for our nation’s coastal states and territories.

“With nearly a decade of information collection behind us, we feel that we have established a baseline in assessing the status of beach health indicators for nearly all coastal states across the country,” says Environmental Director Chad Nelsen. “This report is a resource which can help coastal managers, activists and members of the public in their efforts to further beach and shoreline conservation.”

This year, the 2008 “State of the Beach” report spotlights erosion response, a measure of how well coastal managers work to limit the extent of shoreline armoring (building fixed structures such as seawalls) and unsustainable coastal development, and encourage alternatives to armoring.

Erosion response is evaluated by many different factors including the establishment and enforcement of adequate coastal setbacks, reconstruction guidelines for storm-damaged properties and incentive programs for relocation, and development of statewide policies to implement “managed retreat.” For the 2008 “State of the Beach” report, Surfrider Foundation evaluated these and other factors to determine erosion response in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

The 2008 “State of the Beach” report also features the “Top 5” states that are taking proactive steps to minimize beach destruction and protect beach health for future generations, and a “Bottom 5” list showing states that still need to create policies to preserve and protect our coasts.

“Our Top 5 and Bottom 5 ratings illustrate the range of responses to coastal erosion and provide clear examples of what is working and what isn’t to protect our coastlines for the future ” says report author Rick Wilson.

Surfrider Foundation’s 2008 State of the Beach report can be found online at www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach

Source: Surfrider Foundation

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Surfrider Foundation