UCLA

Coastal areas of the United States utilize many strategies to adapt to the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise and strong storms. These strategies can include hard infrastructure, like sea walls, or nature-based solutions, such as coastal sand dunes. After Hurricane Sandy hit, the state of New Jersey aimed to utilize coastal sand dunes to prevent damage from future storms. However, this decision created contention among residents as to whether dunes were the best solution for the Jersey Shore. This thesis utilized media analysis of news articles published in the years after Sandy to identify the root and the motivations behind the resistance to dunes cited in news articles and understand how media covered these dune “battles.” Ultimately, the resistance as it was covered in the media had a varied array of motivations, including aesthetic concerns and apprehension from residents regarding government seizure and use of their properties. Exclusion and violent language played vital roles in the reporting done surrounding these dune battles and Sandy recovery, which potentially shaped residents’ experiences and feelings towards dunes as a coastal protection solution. These findings will help guide future dune implementation efforts in response to growing coastal, climate-related concerns.