Beach Resiliency

Beaches and inlets are dynamic systems by nature, continuously manipulated by wind, tides, currents and waves, and many species have adapted to take advantage of these unique conditions. Piping plovers, for example, rely on open sandy beaches with little vegetation in order to nest, feed, and raise their young. For these threatened birds and other rare beach-dependent species such as American oystercatcher, least tern, seabeach amaranth and northeastern beach tiger beetle, beach stabilization practices like berms, sand fencing and beach grass planting can actually reduce habitat suitability, particularly when compounded by sea-level rise and increased storm severity from climate change.

The Beach Resiliency project builds upon North Atlantic LCC and Northeast Climate Science Center-supported sea-level rise research to provide the best possible data and decision-support tools for understanding the impact of sea level rise, storms and beach management on beach ecosystems and species.  By integrating monitoring, modeling, and tools, this project will help resource managers prioritize beach restoration, conservation and management efforts in the Northeast in order to support naturally functioning ecosystems and sustain beach species in the face of increased storms activity and sea-level rise.