Figure 4. This map shows elevations of the beach and dunes (in meters) in shaded colors superimposed on a 2003 aerial photograph (courtesy of the Maine Coastal Program and Office of GIS). This map also shows historical shorelines that are based on a series of orthophotographs and a July 2007 field survey with a precise RTK-GPS by the Maine Geological Survey. Both the computer digitizing and surveying methods trace the seaward edge of dune vegetation along Popham Beach. Over time the dunes have built seaward and also eroded landward in a cyclic process. This give-and-take in the shoreline position is very unusual for a Maine beach and due to the influence of rocky islands offshore, the outflow of sand on the bottom of the Kennebec River, and more immediately the movement of the Morse River channel at the west end of Popham Beach. Note the base air photograph shows the large area of dunes in 2003 that have since eroded by the summer of 2007. The topographic elevations were taken in 2004 by aircraft with a laser for the Maine Geological Survey by the Coastal Services Center (NOAA, 2007). Map graphic by Peter A. Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey, December 13, 2007.

Higher resolution PDF image of Figure 4 (250 kb).

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Last updated on April 8, 2008

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