Beaches are a dynamic interface between water and land and are frequently subjected to a range of natural hazards, which include flooding, storm effects, and coastal erosion. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is conducting a national assessment of coastal change hazards across the Nation. One component of this research effort, the National Assessment of Shoreline Change Project, documents changes in shoreline position as a proxy for coastal change. Shoreline position is one of the most commonly monitored indicators of environmental change and it is an easily understood feature marking the location of a beach through time. A principal component of the USGS national assessment of shoreline change has been to develop...