An illustration of a beach complex showing an "inundation regime" where water levels exceed the beach complex and dune crest

Image 7. This illustration of a beach complex shows an "inundation regime" where water levels exceed the beach complex and dune crest, submerging the entire beach and dune, and flooding the community behind it. An inundation regime describes the frequency, duration, and depth of tidal or storm-induced flooding in a given location. Water and sand are pushed into adjacent land and communities at a distance away from the beach, instead of only being limited to immediate adjacent infrastructure in the less severe "overwash regime." Impacts can include long-term environmental damage, habitat loss, water/sewage contamination, and a long economic recovery time for tourism and fishing industries.