The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) officially released the Data Release for the Coastal Changes project covering eleven municipalities along Puerto Rico's north coast (2022–2023). The research was conducted by the Puerto Rico Coastal Research and Planning Institute (CoRePI-PR), part of the Graduate School of Planning at the University of Puerto Rico's Río Piedras Campus. Key findings show that 75% of analyzed beach transects showed erosion processes, with subaerial beach width reductions ranging from 0.01 to 92 meters.
The project was led by Dr. Maritza Barreto Orta and Dr. Kevián Pérez Valentín, in collaboration with Dr. Legna Torres García of the USGS, funded by a competitive $499,000 grant over two years.
Using geospatial tools, researchers assessed changes in beach width and shoreline displacement between 2018 and 2022/2023 in Rincón, Aguadilla, Isabela, Hatillo, Arecibo, Vega Baja, Dorado, Carolina, Loíza, Río Grande, and Luquillo. The goal was to identify areas of erosion and accretion and beach loss. The data's publication is described as recognition of the research team's scientific quality, providing essential information for government agencies, municipalities, planners, scientists, and communities to make decisions on coastal management and resilience in Puerto Rico.