Turning the Tide on Coastal Riprap

last updated April 7, 2025

Grasshopper Overlook photo by Helena Virga

Victory! We successfully challenged 4 new riprap applications that would have worsened Oregon’s shrinking beaches, threatening public access, recreation, and sensitive marine ecology. Photo by Steve Dundas, Oregon State University. License bit.ly/3AqNVyD.

A new wave of wins helps protect public beach access

With our clients Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and Oregon Surfrider, we have successfully challenged 4 new riprap applications that would have worsened Oregon’s shrinking beaches, and threatened public access, recreation, and sensitive marine ecology.

A juvenile Pacific lamprey stranded in the mud in Winchester Reservoir. (Bob Hoehne, courtesy of Native Fish Society)

Crag has worked with Oregon Shores on coastal law issues for over 20 years! Here is a photo of Crag interns from 2017 celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill!

We’ve been fighting riprap structures on the coast for a long time. After years of fighting uphill battles, it’s exciting to see 4 wins in a row. Thanks to the hard work of our clients and the community members, beach lovers, and next door neighbors who organized and shared their concerns that these riprap structures would increase erosion on their properties, and urged for alternatives that would nourish the beach and create a more resilient coastline.

We are excited to see the swelling support to protect Oregon’s treasured public beaches.

Background

We all deserve to continue to enjoy Oregon’s cherished public beaches for years to come. But rising sea levels and coastal development are contributing to coastal squeeze and shrinking these beaches. Historically, local and state governments in charge of managing the coasts have allowed short term fixes to override long term environmental and public access concerns. Riprap is one of these short term tactics. 

Riprap structures are made up of sharp, angular rocks installed on the beach to create a barrier between waves and the shore. They are commonly installed to slow coastal erosion in front of private property, but in reality, they are a short-term tactic that speeds up coastal erosion, shrinks our public beaches, and disrupts the habitat and vegetation many birds and marine animals rely on.

A juvenile Pacific lamprey stranded in the mud in Winchester Reservoir. (Bob Hoehne, courtesy of Native Fish Society)

Riprap structures are made up of sharp, angular rocks installed on the beach to create a barrier between waves and the shore. Photo by Loa Bacon via Flickr. License bit.ly_3AqNVyD

A juvenile Pacific lamprey stranded in the mud in Winchester Reservoir. (Bob Hoehne, courtesy of Native Fish Society)

Aerial photo of riprap in Neskowin by Rena Olson, courtesy of Oregon Surfrider. See how the riprap shrinks the shore, taking up so much space, it becomes less safe to walk across the shore.

Riprap has been shown to:

    • Increase coastal erosion: when waves hit riprap structures, they bounce off and are pushed to neighboring areas, and the increased water velocity and flow erodes adjacent properties and shorelines.
    • Shrink beaches and shorelines: instead of preserving the existing shorelines, rip rap barriers take up space that limit public accessibility on the beach
    • Reduce vegetation: Riprap prevents the growth of vegetation, both on land and in the water, which is crucial for providing food, shelter, and breeding grounds for various organisms.
    • Disrupt coastal habitat: Riprap structures replace natural shorelines, which are vital habitats for many species, including fish, invertebrates, and birds.

To prevent these impacts, we utilized local and statewide land use laws to challenge 4 new riprap applications in Cannon Beach and Lincoln County. You can read more about those at the links below!

Before and After shot of riprap at Pine Beach. On the left photo, notice the green vegetation and large swatch of dry, sandy, walkable shore. On the right photo, you can see that the plants were removed, replaced with rocks (the riprap), and as a result, now the waves nearly reach the rock barrier (seen by the dark wet sand). Photo courtesy of Oregon Surfrider.

Building the momentum: the Oregon Beaches Forever campaign

To continue to build the swelling support for Oregon’s beaches, Surfrider Foundation and Oregon Shores recently launched a broad, multi-year campaign aimed to safeguard Oregon’s public beaches for future generations and ensure the preservation of our coastlines and communities as we adapt to climate change.

The Oregon Beaches Forever Campaign will:

    • Advocate for climate adaptation and improved shoreline management in local coastal planning
    • Implement “Nature Based Solution” model projects and policies that promote beach preservation and climate adaptation
    • Prevent bad coastal development (like riprap structures) that furthers loss of our beaches
    • Improve rules for shoreline management and permitting for beachfront structures and shoreline armoring
    • Improve policy framework for access to the beach and along the shore

You can learn more about the campaign at https://oregon.surfrider.org/obf

Crag attorneys Eric Wriston (left) and Alexandria Dolezal (right) at Rockaway Beach before a hearing with Oregon Shores.

Our Clients

Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition has for over 50 years served as the state’s leading voice when it comes to protecting the beaches, headlands, landscapes, and ecosystems that make Oregon’s coast so spectacular and loved.

Oregon Surfrider is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

 

Resources