The Coast is Disappearing: Erosion in P.E.I. Threatens Land, Homes, and History

Judith Mendiolea Lelo de Larrea
Dec 5, 2024
5 min read

Shawn Curley, waterfront property homeowner lost 10 feet of land after Fiona Hurricaine due to coastal erosion in Kings County, P.E.I. Judith Mendiolea photo.

Shawn Curley always dreamed of owning waterfront property.

Growing up on P.E.I., his childhood home had been far from the shore, so when the opportunity came in 2016, he purchased a beautiful lake house where his family could spend their summers.

“It’s valuable. It’s a beautiful property. My wife and I were very happy,” Curley said.

But in September 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck, and Curley’s dream started to wash away.

“The day after the storm, I noticed we’d lost around 10 feet of land,” he said. “The sea had just taken it with it.”

The dream of idyllic waterfront living had collided with P.E.I.'s harsh reality: the coast is disappearing.

Curley’s property was hit especially hard because of his neighbours’ efforts to protect their own land. They had installed coastal armouring, lining their beachfront with large stones to prevent erosion. However, the measure had unintended consequences.

“It’s a short-term solution that comes at a long-term cost,” said Peter Nishimura, manager of climate adaptation at Forests, Fish, and Wildlife in P.E.I. “While it protects one section of the coast, the energy of the waves is pushed elsewhere, often accelerating erosion on adjacent properties.”

Waterfront property in Kings County, P.E.I. The coastline was protected by coastal armouring. Chandler Martin photo.

Adding to the challenge is a lack of transparency in real estate transactions. Realtors in P.E.I. aren’t required to disclose flood or erosion risks, leaving many buyers unaware of the challenges they may face.

For Curley, the realization came too late.

“I don’t know,” he said. “We might not have purchased the property had we known we’d be up for this.”

Curley’s story is one of many on P.E.I.

The Coastline Under Siege

P.E.I., is known for its red sandstone cliffs and sandy beaches, but these iconic features are disappearing faster than ever. The island’s soft geology, composed of clay and sandstone, is especially vulnerable to the forces of wind, waves, and storms.

“PEI is essentially a sandbar in the ocean,” said Ross Dwyer, Manager of Research Partnerships for the School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI. “Its composition is fragile, and that fragility is what makes it so beautiful but also so vulnerable.”

Ross Dwyer, Manager of Research Partnerships at University of Prince Edward Island. Judith Mendiolea photo.

Erosion is a natural process that has always shaped the island’s coastline, redistributing sediment and carving new landscapes. But in recent decades, climate change has drastically accelerated this process.

“Forty years ago, we’d see storms like Hurricane Fiona maybe once in a century,” Dwyer said. “Now, they’re happening far more frequently, and the damage they cause is devastating.”

Hurricane Fiona, which struck P.E.I. in 2022, brought winds of over 140 km/h and massive storm surges. Entire sections of the coastline eroded in a single night, reshaping the land and leaving residents reeling.

“For some homeowners, decades of land loss happened overnight,” said Kate McQuarrie director of Forests, Fish, and Wildlife in P.E.I. “It was a wake-up call for many people.”

Kate MacQuarrie, director of Forests, Fish, and Wildlife in P.E.I. Judith Mendiolea photo.

Balancing Protection with Preservation

Efforts to combat erosion have ranged from traditional to innovative.

Hard armoring, such as seawalls and gabion baskets, is commonly used to protect critical infrastructure, but experts warn it’s not a sustainable solution for most properties.

Instead, many experts advocate for nature-based solutions like living shorelines. These projects use vegetation, logs, and other natural materials to stabilize the coast while preserving habitats.

“If I were a homeowner living near the coastline, there’s a couple of steps I would take,” said Emma Doucette, Ellen’s creek watershed co-ordinator. “Leave any vegetation, shrub or tree. They might be obstriucting my view but they are making such a service that is so worthy to leave it where they are.”

Emma Doucette, Ellen's Creek Watershed co-ordinator speaks about natural ways of preserving the coast in P.E.I. and prevent coastal erosion. Judith Mendiolea photo.

“Salt marshes almost act like big sponges, so when you think of whether it's sea level rise, storm surge or just big storm. They take that water on and they protect the land that's behind them,” said McQuarrie.

“So when salt marshes are filled in putting a bunch of cottages on it instead. That land can no longer act like a sponge, and those homes or cottages are more at risk.”

However, implementing these solutions requires collaboration and long-term planning.

Integrated Land Management: A Crucial Framework

Montague, P.E.I., aereal view on Feb. 2023. Chandler Martin photo.

Ross Dwyer has spent over a decade studying the shifting coastlines of P.E.I.

As Manager of Research Partnerships for the School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI, he personally assisted during the creation of CHRIS (Coastal Hazard Assesment Information System) to inform homeowners about higher erosion zones in the island.

But for Dwyer, tackling erosion isn’t just about managing the coastline.

“You can’t have effective coastal policies without addressing land use,” Dwyer said. “They’re inseparable. What happens inland directly affects the health of our coasts.”

Dwyer stresses that addressing coastal erosion requires looking beyond the shoreline to adopt a broader land management strategy.

The last land management plan available for P.E.I. was issued in January 2014.

Living shoreline project aside Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Charlottetown, P.E.I. The buffer zone replaced a failed seawall put on 2020. Judith Mendiolea photo.

“You can’t have effective coastal policies without addressing land use,” Dwyer said. “What happens inland, like clearing vegetation or overdeveloping, has a direct impact on how erosion plays out on the coast.”

To address the growing threat of erosion, UPEI’s Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation released a series of recommendations in December 2023, emphasizing localized and data-driven solutions.

The key proposal involves creating shoreline management plans for P.E.I.’s 17 coastal regions. These plans would account for unique factors such as sediment movement, erosion rates, and habitat preservation.

“Shoreline management plans allow us to take a tailored approach,” Dwyer said. “What works for one area might not work for another. We need solutions that fit each region’s specific conditions.”

The report also recommends expanding buffer zones to reflect the increased risk of erosion and storm surges.

“The current 15-meter buffer zone isn’t enough in many areas,” Dwyer explained. “We need to give the coastline room to move, especially as erosion accelerates.”

“It’s about working with nature, not against it. It’s a long process, but it’s worth it,” he said.

“We’re not just protecting land; we’re protecting communities, ecosystems, and heritage.”

A Lighthouse on the Brink

East Point Lighthouse in P.E.I., 2024. Chandler Martin photo.

Nowhere is the impact of erosion more visible than at East Point, home to the Confederation Lighthouse, the East Point Lighthouse.

Built in 1867, the lighthouse has already been relocated twice due to encroaching waters. Today, it stands precariously close to the edge.

“We’ve done everything we can to preserve it,” said Grace Cameron, member of the East Point board. “But the land is disappearing faster than we can act. Forty to fifty years from now, it might not even be here.”

Despite its precarious position, the lighthouse continues to draw visitors, serving as both a tourist attraction and a symbol of resilience. But for locals, it’s also a painful reminder of the reality of erosion.

“When I was a child, we used to play on the beach and walk down a dirt road that’s completely gone now,” Grace said. “It’s fascinating in a way, to see what mother nature can do, but is also heartbreaking, compared to what it used to be”

For many residents, there’s little choice but to accept the inevitable.

“I would say most people here are very philosophical about it,” Grace added. “They say, ‘Mother Nature gets her way. I think we can all imagine a time in which P.E.I. is not here anymore.’”

Grace Cameron, member of the East Point lighthouse board and long time East Point inhabitant has seen the degradation of P.E.I.'s coastline during the last 40 years due to erosion. Judith Mendiolea photo.