Variation of Beach Morphology along the Saco Bay Littoral Cell
This study was initiated to research some of the geomorphic trends along the Saco Bay shoreline in hopes of gaining more understanding of the impacts of the Saco River jetties on the Saco Bay littoral cell. Due to a lack of adequate historical beach profile data, aerial photographs were used in conjunction with recent LIDAR data to estimate shoreline changes (and volumetric changes) along Saco Bay. Results generally indicate that:
- The Saco Bay littoral cell as a whole is relatively stable to accretive; volume changes for the subaerial-intertidal beach from 1962-1995 indicate that the Saco Bay shoreline, from Hills Beach to Pine Point, has gained approximately 1.53 x 106 yd3 of sediment, not including material discharged as part of harbor/channel dredging or beach nourishment.
- A 5,000-foot erosive shoreline exists immediately adjacent to the northern Saco River jetty, directly influencing Camp Ellis Beach and Ferry Beach. The highest erosion is concentrated within approximately 2,500 ft of the jetty; this stretch accounts for approximately 2/3 of the 55,390 yd3 of sediment lost within the 5,000-foot length of erosive shoreline.
- Using beach profile characteristics and calculated net erosion and accretion, a 100-year future shoreline was projected along Saco Bay; future shoreline positions were used to identify areas of erosion and accretion where future impacts to structures could be expected;
- Morphologic trends were used to identify stretches of shoreline that may require future planning actions, including beach and dune restoration.
Additional Study and Research
Last updated on January 10, 2006.