California Coastal Cliffs Face Rapid Erosion Rates
A new Scripps study reveals that 65% of the state’s cliffs shifted between 2016 and 2023, informing future coastal safety efforts.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Geography
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A Scripps Institution of Oceanography study has identified Northern California as the site of the state's fastest-eroding coastal cliffs. Using lidar data comparisons, researchers found that 65% of the coastline experienced measurable change over a seven-year period.
Why it matters
Understanding the rapid retreat of coastal cliffs is essential for managing infrastructure and safety across California. The findings provide a data-backed baseline for coastal vulnerability as environmental factors like intense rain and swells continue to reshape the state's edge.
The study measured cliff retreat by comparing airborne lidar data from 2016 against a 2023 dataset. The analysis highlights high-rate hotspots, including those in the King Range and Palos Verdes, where cliff top retreat exceeds 10 feet per year.
The players
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
A research center at UC San Diego focused on ocean, earth, and atmospheric sciences, including coastal erosion and climate monitoring.
NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which provides climate forecasts including El Niño projections that impact coastal stability.
The details
Researchers utilized lidar—a remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure distances—to create high-resolution topographic maps. By overlapping 2016 and 2023 scans, the team quantified the displacement of earth, such as the 1.4 million cubic yards moved in a single Humboldt County landslide. The program now maps the coast twice annually to capture seasonal shifts in the structurally unstable cliff formations.
Timeline
2016: Baseline lidar dataset for the statewide study was collected.
2023: Comparative airborne lidar data for the statewide study was collected.
October 23, 2026: The Scripps Institution of Oceanography study was released.
2027: Funding for the ongoing lidar data collection program concludes.
The Tech Race
This study advances the capabilities of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography coastal monitoring program. The effort moves from static surveys to a twice-yearly lidar cadence, providing a high-fidelity record of coastal degradation.
Residents and stakeholders in areas identified as hotspots, such as Big Sur and Point Reyes, can use this data to understand local erosion rates. The information is available through the California Coastal Cliff Erosion Viewer to assist in land-use planning and safety assessments.
The takeaway
The study underscores a rapid, ongoing transformation of the California coastline that requires consistent, high-resolution monitoring. Observers should track the 2027 funding expiration for the lidar program to see if this essential monitoring capability continues.
What happens next
Funding for the lidar data collection program is scheduled to conclude in 2027, which will be the next major milestone for the future of the statewide mapping effort.
Further reading
Explore more findings in the Geography section.
More information
View the interactive data at the California Coastal Cliff Erosion Viewer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Active NorCal.
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