Overview
- The peer-reviewed analysis published 3 August 2026 used nearly 450 long-term monitoring stations and tide-gauge data to track wetland elevation relative to sea level.
- Researchers report 84% of monitored coastal wetlands in the contiguous United States are gradually inundating and many are on a path to become open water.
- Although 89% of sites gain some elevation from sediment, only 16% are rising fast enough to outpace contemporary sea-level rise.
- The Gulf Coast shows the fastest submergence linked to reduced river sediment supply and human-driven land subsidence, while parts of the Atlantic Coast show greater resilience from marine sediment inputs.
- Authors say 73% of sites still have room to migrate inland if barriers are removed and recommend actions such as protecting migration corridors, restoring sediment flow, and adding sediment where feasible to preserve wetland services and reduce flood risk.