75% of northern Puerto Rico beaches show erosion, study finds

A study by the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has found that 75% of beaches along Puerto Rico's northern coast are experiencing erosion. The research, published as part of the project 'Cambios Costeros en once municipios de la costa norte de Puerto Rico' (2022–2023), analyzed beach width changes and coastline shifts in 11 municipalities between 2018 and 2023. Source: hoydo

Key findings

• Beach width reductions ranged from 0.01 to 92 meters, while only 25% of transects showed accretion (increases up to 154 meters). Source: eldiado
• Researchers observed widespread fragmentation of beaches due to vegetation, rocky outcrops, and built infrastructure, reducing their ability to absorb wave energy and increasing vulnerability of coastal communities. Source: infobae
• The dominant change was landward coastline displacement, generally under 15 meters, with the most significant shifts linked to winter swells and severe erosion events. Source: hoydo

The call for action

Geologist Maritza Barreto Orta, who led the study alongside Kevián Pérez Valentín and oceanographer Legna Torres García, described the findings as a wake-up call. "Los hallazgos confirman la continuidad de los procesos de erosión costera en Puerto Rico y evidencian la urgencia de integrar esta información científica en la planificación del territorio," she said. Source: eldiado The study was funded by a $499,000 competitive grant and aims to inform adaptation strategies against climate change and extreme coastal events.