Because the land beneath Oregon has been rising faster than the ocean, there hasn’t been any major sea level rise off the state’s coast in recent history.1 However, sea levels are projected to rise 6 inches in the next 16 years2 due to faster rates of ice melt3 and increased thermal expansion.4 Solutions in Oregon are urgent because the state has many coastal estuaries that protect inland communities and help support the state’s economy.5 While the state is beginning to plan for sea level rise and mitigate flooding, Oregon will need solutions at the local, state, and federal levels to protect its coastal communities.
Sea level rise is speeding up
Oregon’s speed of sea level rise is expected to rise significantly in the future.1 Scientists know this because the sea level is measured every 6 minutes using equipment like satellites, floating buoys off the coast, and tidal gauges to accurately measure the local sea level as it accelerates and changes.7
Sea level measurement from Astoria area tide gauge since 1950