Stinson Beach is an unincorporated community in Marin County, Calif.

In Marin County, a roughly 3-mile, crescent-shaped stretch of soft sand that’s popular with locals and tourists alike has gained an undesirable distinction. Stinson Beach has been deemed as the community most immediately threatened by sea level rise in West Marin and could face devastating economic and environmental impacts, according to a comprehensive new report released by county officials.

The three-year study reveals that the coastal town could experience 3.3 feet of sea level rise by 2085 and potentially 6.6 feet of sea level rise by 2125. Under current conditions, severe storms and the flooding they cause already pose significant risks, with the estimated damages from today’s 100-year storms reaching nearly $8 million. But with 3.3 feet of sea level rise, property damage costs could skyrocket to $1.3 billion, affecting nearly all of Stinson Beach. The other option in that scenario is doling out $1.2 billion to implement the report’s adaptive measures.

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