Author-journalist delves into California’s vanishing coastline

California is changing physically. And not in good ways.

Those who live inland know all too well about fire. Those on the coast know the ocean is encroaching.

On April 2, Rosanna Xia, an environmental reporter with the Los Angeles Times, spoke to an audience at Chico State about climate change—specifically how the coast is being impacted.

Rosanna Xia speaks April 2 at Chico State about her book on sea level rise. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Xia is the author of California Against the Sea: Visions For Our Vanishing Coastline (Heydey, 2023). It was this year’s book in common for Chico State and Butte College students.

“The book in common is a shared, community read, designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues facing the broader community. The book in common is chosen each year by a group of university faculty, staff, students and community members,” the university’s website says.

Curriculum is designed around the book and its subject matter. The author comes to campus, joining several classes before giving a presentation to the greater community.

This book is one that grabbed me. The talk was even better. Mom and I went with a friend of hers. Mom said she could have listened to Xia all night. The stories Xia told of being a journalist and author resonated with me.

The book captured my attention because the coast is so much a part of what California is all about. I don’t think it matters where one lives—especially if they have a California address—the coast is practically part of our DNA even if we don’t often visit it.

While Xia focused on the California coast, the issues and stories she presented are just as relevant to any coastal location.

Even if you don’t believe in climate change or the reasons behind it, the truth is the sea level is changing.

I liked how in her talk (maybe it was in the book, too) she touched on how we humans speak of “critical infrastructure” that is along the coast. Think of rail lines, highways, etc. The ocean doesn’t care, though.

Anyone who has had a leak in their house or yard or been in a substantial flood understands water goes where it wants to. The ocean is going where it wants.

Intellectually, we probably can all understand the pounding surf is eroding the land mass it is washing against. That’s not climate change. That’s physics.

We have all seen photos of glacial regions melting. That ice becomes water. That body of water expands. Then we have sea level rise. That’s the simplified version of things.

What Xia’s book touches on and what she spoke to is the human element. People’s homes, businesses, whole communities—they are all threatened by sea level rise. Politicians and organizations responsible for doing something—either proactively or retroactively—can’t all get on the same page. It’s an issue with consequences. It’s an issue we should all being paying more attention to.

I encourage you all to read the book (or listen to it like I did) no matter where you live. This is an important topic that affects us all no matter where we live.