A long-term study tracking nearly 450 coastal wetlands across the United States has found that the vast majority are not keeping pace with rising sea levels. According to Earth.com, researchers monitored these areas for up to 20 years and determined that 84% are gradually sinking toward becoming open water, while only 16% are building up enough sediment and plant material to stay above the waterline.
The findings, reported by Earth.com and echoed by Phys.org and other outlets, cover wetlands along America’s three coasts. The research indicates that these ecosystems are being inundated faster than they can naturally grow upward. As a result, many are on track to transition from productive marshland into open water, a shift that would fundamentally change the character of these coastal zones.
This matters beyond the loss of habitat. Wetlands act as a natural buffer against storm surge, absorbing wave energy before it reaches inland communities. With 84% of these areas failing to keep up with sea level rise, Earth.com notes that the nation’s defense against coastal flooding is becoming increasingly compromised. The degradation of these wetlands could leave shorelines more exposed to the impacts of major storms.
The study’s scope — tracking hundreds of sites for two decades — provides a broad picture of a slow-motion crisis. While the exact timeline for individual wetlands varies, the overall trend is clear: without intervention, many of these areas will not survive the century. The research highlights a pressing question for coastal managers: which wetlands can be saved, and what actions might give them a fighting chance? The answer will likely shape coastal policy and restoration efforts in the years ahead.
