Texas Gulf Coast — Erosion, Sea-Level Rise & Flood Risk

How fast is the Texas Gulf coast eroding?

The Texas Bureau of Economic Geology finds the Gulf shoreline retreating along about 80% of its length at a statewide average near -1.27 m/yr (about 4 ft/yr), and the USGS puts Texas at -1.8 m/yr with 64% eroding long-term.

Where is the fastest erosion on the Texas coast?

Sargent Beach is among the fastest-eroding shorelines on Earth, with recent-decade retreat on the order of 15 m/yr and a USGS long-term rate of about -4.4 m/yr.

Why is sea level rising so fast at Galveston?

Galveston's Pier 21 gauge (NOAA station 8771450) records about 6.65 mm/yr of relative sea-level rise — among the highest of any long U.S. record — because up to ~10 ft of land subsidence from groundwater withdrawal adds to global rise.

Are Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula eroding?

Yes — West Beach on Galveston Island retreats roughly 5–6 ft a year and parts of Bolivar Peninsula near Rollover Pass lose several feet a year, per Texas BEG shoreline-change data.

How do I get an erosion and flood read for a specific Texas address?

Use the Psammite coastal finder, or order a $99 property certificate for a cited, parcel-level erosion-rate, setback, and flood-zone screening.