Sea cliff collapse in California kills 3 beachgoers

A popular surfing beach was closed Saturday after a cliff collapsed, sending tons of sandstone onto beachgoers and killing three people. A 30-foot-long slab of the cliff plunged onto the sand near Grandview Beach north of San Diego.

In an era of extreme weather, concerns grow over dam safety

elwha-dam

Many of the United States’ 91,000 dams are aging and sorely in need of repairs that could collectively cost tens of billions of dollars. Experts are increasingly worried that as extreme precipitation events increase, dams are at greater risk of failure, threatening lives and posing environmental risks.

Seagrass’ strong potential for curbing erosion

A new study shows how seagrass can help to protect shorelines against erosion and help to mitigate damage from rising sea level, potentially providing useful guidance for seagrass restoration efforts.

El Niño and our beaches; By Gary Griggs

Our beaches come and go seasonally in response to changing wave conditions. The larger and more energetic winter waves stir up the beach sand and carry it offshore, eroding the shoreline back. Six months or so later, the smaller and less energetic spring and summer waves gradually move that sand back onshore, building the beach just in time for all the summer visitors.

Shore fix in Cane unlikely to last, experts say, BVI

About a month ago, excavations began along the beach in the north end of Cane Garden Bay as part of a government project designed to protect a shoreline that slips further into the sea with each heavy swell. But two United States experts said that the method being used — stone-filled wire cages known as gabion baskets — probably won’t last long.