Posted on September 17, 2025
Before and after pictures show where there used to be sand now there’s only water and part of the popular beach walk appears to be sliding into the bay.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Beach erosion is taking a bite out of North Beach.
Before and after pictures show where there used to be sand now there’s only water and part of the popular beach walk appears to be sliding into the bay.
If you remember a wide open beach in front of the parking spots next to the USS Lexington Museum, you’re not alone.
Today, much of that sand has vanished.
“About 3 years ago, there was sand all the way, very pretty far out, and now it’s just water and so this erosion has occurred so quickly,” said longtime North Beach resident Carrie Robertson Meyer.
Meyer is bringing attention to the issue.
She pointed out two large sections of the mile and a half beach walk that appears to have collapsed.
“We’re very vulnerable right now for this to be undermined, for the erosion to continue to take out not only the sand but the infrastructure that’s already here,” said Meyer.
The city recently repaired part of the walkway but Meyer said it’s a band-aid.
“This is the old beach walk, this gray part is the new part and you can see it’s already starting to get undermine, by the water coming in,” said Meyer.
A beach nourishment project began back in 2019 following damage from Hurricane Harvey.
Then, last summer, Tropical Storm Alberto added to the decay.
“I’m sure you saw the pictures today, that water is continuously hitting that sidewalk. It’s continuously getting on the beach, that just causes deterioration on a daily basis,” said Robert Dodd.
Dodd is with the city’s Parks and Rec Department. He said the next nourishment project is in the works but it will take time and money.
“Right now we are finishing up getting the surveys from the Conrad Blucher Institute again, once we get those surveys we are going to apply for those grants, the funding on our end is going to be limited,” said Dodd.
Currently the operational budget for the city does not include funding for a beach nourishment project but once the city can get a grant they still have to find matching funds.
“Something we are very concerned about, something that we continue to work on, and something we have a long range goal,” said Dodd.
Meyer believes a breakwater similar to the one at the Corpus Christi Marina could be a long term solution.
“You can bring in sand, bring in sand and keep piling it up on this man made beach, until you stop or slow the erosion, you are just buying time,” said Meyer.
“We haven’t discussed that alternative yet, anytime you are dealing with water, it’s going to cost lots and lots of money,” said Dodd.
For now every wave, any storm also brings the risk of losing more beach.
