State of Maine's Beaches in 2009

Higgins Beach, Scarborough

Three beach profiles (HI01, HI02, and HI03, Figure 8) were available for comparison of Patriots' Day Storm impacts and recovery. Beach profile data were available from April 2, 2006, April 22, 2007 (immediately post-storm), April 11, 2008, and April 5, 2009.

HI01 = A

Figure 9

Profile HI01 (Figure 9), which was located along the seawall at the end of Ocean Avenue, underwent clear erosion – especially from about 175 cm below the starting pin, or roughly 10 m seaward of the pin. Sediment was lost along this entire seaward length of profile, and the berm that was somewhat apparent in the April 2006 profile was completely eroded by the Patriots' Day Storm. By 2008, the profile showed marked recovery from April 2007, with large gains in sediment along the uppermost portion of the profile, and at the 50 m mark and seaward of the 100 m mark. Recovery from the Patriots' Day Storm event seems to have occurred within one year, with the profile actually slightly exceeding the pre-storm shape. Unfortunately, it is impossible to compare the profiles between 2008 and 2009 since the seawall where the pin was located was reconstructed.

HI02 = A

Figure 10

Profile HI02 (Figure 10), located along the middle of Higgins Beach, lost a berm and sediment in the offshore, resulting in a post-storm Patriots' Day Storm profile that was low in elevation and flat. However, within one year, the profile appears to have responded very well, with growth back to pre-storm elevations in the upper portion, and elevation gains in the offshore portion of the profile. By 2009, the profile seems to have achieved a shape very similar to the 2006 pre-storm shape, with a slight increase in elevation in the offshore.

HI03 = C

Figure 11

Profile HI03 (Figure 11), located at the Spurwink River, clearly displays the influence of the Spurwink River on trapping sediment moving in an easterly-directed longshore drift. The 2006, pre-storm profile was actually significantly lower than the immediate post-storm profile from 2007. It appears that large amounts of sediment - potentially sourced from loss that occurred within the upper portions of the profile or other areas of the beach (or both) - were deposited along the profile as a result of the storm. The 2008 profile showed additional dune and beach berm building, along with a large offshore bar. However, the 2009 beach profile showed significant loss of sediment along the profile, especially starting near the -60 cm elevation, though there was additional seaward growth of the dune. This profile is highly variable because of its proximity to the Spurwink River, whose channel migrates rapidly. This profile underwent accretion immediately after the Patriots' Day Storm, and its offshore portions have been losing sediment since the storm; however, the upper portion (berm and dune) have been growing seaward, indicating recovery and stability. If we base the grade on the upper portion of the profile, it would be given a B; if we base it on the offshore portion of the profile, which has been losing sediment since the Patriots' Day Storm, it would receive an F. However, because of the variability and influence of the river, we assign HI03 a C, because it is clear that the storm actually positively influenced the offshore portion of the profile, and the upper portion has recovered in a satisfactory way.

Summary

Overall, recovery of the profiles along Higgins Beach appears to have occurred, with HI01 and HI02 recovering well within one year of the Patriots' Day Storm. HI03 appears to have been positively influenced by the storm, especially along lower portions of the profile. Recovery seems to have occurred at HI03, but it has been eroding since 2007 along its lower portions, most likely due to channel migration and inlet instability.

Overall grade = B

Contents Introduction Beach Responses Discussion Conclusions References

Last updated on November 19, 2009