State of Maine's Beaches in 2011

Goochs Beach and Middle Beach, Kennebunk

A total of three of four beach profiles (GO02 to GO04, Figure 53) were available for comparison. Profile GO01 was lost during the storm, and profiling was not resumed until June 2007 at this location, we use the June 2007 as the "post-storm" profile. The profiles trend west to east along the beach for GO01 to GO03; GO04 is located on the adjacent beach to the west.

Winter Profile Changes

GO01 = D (65)

Figure 54

This profile is located at the southwestern end of the beach. Profile GO01 received an A in the last assessment. The starting pin at GO01 was lost in the Patriots' Day Storm and monitoring was resumed in June 2007. The post-storm June profile (Figure 54) displays a steep nearshore slope from the wall, and a noted berm near the 10 m mark. In 2008, the entire profile gained about 20 cm in elevation. This trend continued into 2009, with good profile stability. Additional profile growth occurred in 2010, with the upper profile (nearest the seawall) increasing in elevation. However, in 2011, the profile was eroded to or below the June 2007 profile shape, with about 50 cm loss of sand elevation adjacent to the seawall. This profile shows stability to growth from 207 to 2010; however, based on the 2011 shape, the profile clearly underwent large amounts of erosion. The question is whether or not this is representative of a new trend, or if recovery will occur by next April. At this point, because erosion cut down to or below the 2007 shape, we give the profile a very cautionary D. We are concerned about the loss of berm adjacent to the seawall.

GO02 = B (85)

Figure 55

Profile GO02 is more centrally located along the Goochs Beach seawall. It received an A in the last assessment. The post-storm profile was steep, with a very low, flat berm into the low-tide area. The 2008 and 2009 profiles (Figure 55) showed good recovery, with steady gains in elevation along the profile. In 2010, the upper portion of the profile (nearest the wall) gained a good amount of sediment, while the berm deepened and lost sand, near the 20-30 m mark. In 2011, this area recovered, but the profile lost around 30 cm of elevation adjacent to the seawall. Overall, GO02 is showing relatively good signs of profile recovery and general stability in terms of its overall shape, although it has lost sediment along the seawall (the berm). We are slightly concerned about the loss of berm adjacent to the seawall.

GO03 = C+ (78)

Figure 56

Profile GO03, located at the northeastern end of the beach, received a B in the last assessment. The post-storm winter profile (Figure 56) had a steep slope from the wall, which began to flatten near the 20 m mark. The 2008 and 2009 profiles showed slight, gradual recovery. The winter 2010 shape exhibited the highest level of sand adjacent to the wall, and additional slight growth in elevation along the profile. By 2011, although sand was lost adjacent to the wall at the berm (the elevation fell by around 50 cm), the lower portion of the profile gained elevation. This is consistent with GO02, which also lost sediment directly adjacent to the seawall. We are concerned about the loss of berm adjacent to the seawall, but encouraged by the amount of sand offshore.

GO04 = B (85)

Figure 57

GO04, located along Middle Beach, received a C in the last assessment. The profile gained cobble and sand adjacent to the seawall from 2008 to 2009 (Figure 57), but steepened in the offshore, starting at around the 12 m mark. This offshore loss led to a cautionary grade of C. In 2010, the apparent berm that had formed was lost, but the overall profile gained elevation along its length. In 2011, a large, well-defined berm at the 10 m mark was noted, and the profile maintained general stability along its lower length. This profile did not undergo loss of sediment adjacent to the wall, as the profiles along Goochs Beach displayed. It is generally showing good recovery and stability.

Winter Beach Grade = C+ (78)

Winter shapes at Goochs Beach, aside from GO04, show typical concave, relatively featureless winter shapes. Profile changes show stability to growth at the central and eastern portion of the beach, with erosion at the western portion of the beach (at GO01). Growth at GO03, stability at GO02, and erosion at GO01 indicate that sand may be migrating from west to east along the beach.

Summer Profile Changes

GO01 = D (65)

Figure 58

The summer 2007 profile (Figure 58) started at an elevation near 40 cm below the starting mark on the wall, displayed little berm, and continued with a gradual slope to the offshore. By the summer of 2008, the profile gained nearly 40 cm of sand at its starting point, and maintained its gradual slope to the offshore. In 2009, the profile lost sand in the nearshore portion of the profile, and lost sand adjacent to the wall. This trend continued in 2010, with the sand elevation being -50 cm at the starting point, and the profile actually eroding to below the summer 2007 profile shape. This profile clearly underwent large amounts of erosion in the summer of 2010. Based on this trend, we are very concerned about, and will be looking for, a summer berm at this location in 2011.

GO02 = A (95)

Figure 59

The summer, post-storm profile (Figure 59) started near -60 cm below the starting point, and exhibited a featureless, gentle slope into the low-tide area. The 2008 and 2009 profiles showed slight recovery, with steady gains in elevation along the entire profile and adjacent to the wall. In 2010, the berm, nearest the wall, gained about 60 cm of sand, with sand actually piling up above the starting point on the wall. The 2010 profile either stayed at the 2009 shape, or showed slight increases in elevation. This profile is showing extremely good summer recovery.

GO03 = B (85)

Figure 60

The summer shape of profile GO03 (Figure 60) appears to have undergone very little change over the last four summers. It does appear that the 2010 profile had the highest sand elevation at the start of all four years, and the most sand along the majority of the profile, even though the berm evident in 2008 was lost. In general, profile GO03 has shown signs of good stability in terms of its summer shape.

GO04 = B (85)

Figure 61

At GO04 (Figure 61), the profile appears to have remained relatively stable in the summer, with the formation (except in 2009) of a well-defined berm, and similar slope into the offshore. Summer 2009 appears to be an anomalous shape, with just a featureless slope into the offshore. By summer 2010, the profile seems to have recovered with a well-defined berm.

Summer Beach Grade = B (83)

The summer shapes along Goochs Beach appear to be generally flat, with little no berm aside from GO04, which shows a well-defined cobble berm. However, the summer beach profiles, aside from GO01, appear to be fairing very well through the summer of 2010, with most accretion at the central portion of the beach, at GO02. GO01, located at the western end of the beach, appears to be undergoing erosion based on its summer shapes.

Summary

Overall, Goochs Beach is showing relatively good stability in the central to eastern portions of the beach. Erosion is clearly occurring at the southwestern side of the beach, nearest GO01. The profiles here are relatively flat and featureless, but it appears that sediment lost in the 2010 storm has been returning to the beach.

Overall grade = B- (81)

Contents Introduction Beach Responses Discussion Conclusions References Appendix

Last updated on July 14, 2011