State of Maine's Beaches in 2009

Ogunquit Beach, Ogunquit

Four beach profiles (OG01 to OG04, Figure 59) were available for comparison; however, at each location, profiling had been occurring at the front stake, and post-storm, profiling was initiated from the back stake. It is difficult to relate front-to-back stake profiling, thus we have not included the pre-storm (2006) profile shapes for the Ogunquit beaches, so it is impossible to describe the immediate impacts of the storm. Also, no data from profiles collected in 2009 were available via the Shore Stewards website. Therefore, we chose to use the latest available data for each profile, which varied from July to November 2008. Beach profile data wer available from April 21 and May 19, 2007 (post-storm), and May 24, 2008, along with subsequent July, September, or November 2008 dates.

OG01 = C

Figure 60

Since no 2006 profile is available from the back stake, we can only describe the recovery from 2007-2008 comparison. The 2008 profile, from May, showed clear erosion and lowering of the profile along its entire length when compared with the 2007 profile from the same month (Figure 60). This may be related to a series of storms in May which had waves over 1.5 m (5 feet) in height on May 5, and waves consistently over 2 m (6.5 feet) from May 11 - May 15, 2008. By November 2008, the profile had gained over 50 cm of elevation along its nearshore to offshore portions, from about 20 m seaward. The largest gains were near the 200 m mark (close to 1 m in elevation gain from the May 2008 profile). Although the November 2008 profile exceeds the 2007 post-storm profile from the 50 m mark and seaward, the upper portion of the profile never comes close to attaining the immediate post-storm dune elevation.

OG02 = C

Figure 61

The 2007 profile had a relatively concave shape, with an apparent scarp cut into the dune near the 10 m mark (Figure 61). By 2008, the upper portion of the profile (40 m landward) had either remained stable, or had gained elevation, especially nearest the starting stake. Offshore, however, seaward of the 40 m mark, the 2008 profile lost elevation and remained below the 2007 post-storm profile. However, by November 2008, the profile had regained much of its elevation in reference to the immediate post-storm profile, and shows some sense of profile stability.

WE03 = B+

Figure 62

At OG03, the post-storm profile had a well developed dune, and then a concave shape into the offshore (Figure 62). By 2008, the dune crest appears to have lost a slight bit of elevation, but the remainder of the profile in a seaward direction gained about 10-25 cm along its length. The latest profile available was from September 2008, which showed massive amounts of elevation gain along the profile, especially seaward of 25 m. This was in the form of onshore migrating bars. However, the upper portion of the profile had not increased in elevation.

WE04 = B

Figure 63

The post-storm profile showed an apparent berm at about the 20 m mark, and a relatively concave profile shape into the offshore (Figure 63). By 2008, the upper portion of the profile gained elevation remarkably (from 10 m landward), but seaward of this, the entire profile appears to have lowered well below the 2007 profile shape. The latest profile available was from July 2008; by this time, the profile recovered very well, with additional dune growth, and the remainder of the profile mimics or slightly exceeds the immediate post-storm profile.

Summary

For the Ogunquit Beach profiles, there appeared to be good recovery of the profiles through the late summer and fall months of 2008, which was the latest profile data available. No 2009 data were available, so we were unable to compare April or May 2008 to April or May 2009 data. The late summer and early fall months are typically when profiles are most developed, and have the most sediment within their shapes and therefore highest elevations. Therefore, the recovery noted may be a somewhat false indicator, since these shapes are being compared with typically "leaner," more erosive, springtime shapes from the other years.

Overall grade = B-

Contents Introduction Beach Responses Discussion Conclusions References

Last updated on November 19, 2009