Sea Level Rise Reshapes California Beach Town, Threatening Key Rail Line
The Southern California beach town of San Clemente is experiencing significant coastal erosion due to sea level rise, which is reshaping its shoreline and threatening a crucial passenger rail line. Residents have noted the loss of walkable beaches, with the rising sea and crashing waves pushing the shoreline landward and splitting the city's North Beach. Crumbling seaside bluffs have damaged oceanfront homes and led to repeated closures of the rail line, which is the second busiest in the country. This situation is part of a broader trend affecting many California coastal communities, with scientists forecasting that over half of Southern California’s beaches could significantly erode by 2100. Urban development has also contributed by slowing the flow of sediment that once nourished the beaches.
