State of Maine's Beaches in 2011

Scarborough Beach, Scarborough

A total of four beach profiles (SC01 to SC04, Figure 12) were available for comparison. The profiles run chronologically from northeast to southwest along the beach. Stakes at SC02-SC03 were lost after the Patriots' Day Storm and relocated in the approximate area of the previous stakes.

Winter Profile Changes

SC01 = C (75)

Figure 13

SC01 (Figure 13), located north of the beach access path at Scarborough Beach State Park, received a C+ in the 2009 assessment. By 2008, the profile gained slightly in elevation along its length, mostly at the berm. The 2009 profile indicated some loss in berm elevation. 2010 exhibited the formation of a berm again, while the upper portion of the profile remained relatively stable. The 2011 profile showed a stable upper portion, but loss along the lower portion of the profile. The 2011 shape appears to be more erosive than the 2008 recovered shape, but not as bad as the immediate post-Patriots' Day Storm shape. Overall changes at the profile appear to be minimal, but show a slightly erosive trend since some recovery in 2008.

SC02 = C (75)

Figure 14

Profile SC02 (Figure 14), located just south of SC02 but still north of the access path, received a B in the 2009 assessment. By 2008, recovery was noted along the upper portion of the profile, though the offshore portion underwent little change. Notes from the volunteers state that the pin was lost in 2009 and reset in May 2009; therefore, it is difficult to compare 2008 and 2009 data. Between 2009 and 2010, the profile lost sediment along its upper and lower portions, but did gain a notable berm near the 30 m mark. By 2011, the profile had eroded back to a shape that was just below the 2009 shape. Based on changes since the pin was moved in 2009, the profile appears to be slightly erosive.

SC03 = F (55)

Figure 15

Profile SC03 (Figure 15), located just south of the access path, received a C in the 2009 assessment. According to volunteer notes, the profile starting pin at SC03 (Figure 15) was lost during the Patriots' Day Storm. A new pin position was located in March 2008, and this will be used as the "starting point" for profile comparison. From 2008 to 2009, the profile underwent erosion and lowered along its entire length. Recovery appears to have occurred in 2010, with elevation gains along the profile back to 2009 levels, and the formation of a notable berm at the 40 m mark. However, by 2011, the profile eroded to well below the initial 2008 elevation, and in fact, below the 2007 profile shape along its entire length. It also lost elevation at its dune. This profile is showing evidence of substantial erosion, especially in the last 2 years.

SC04 = C (75)

Figure 16

SC04 (Figure 16) received a C in the last assessment. The profile recovered from its 2007 shape very well by 2008. This trend is consistent with SC03. However, by 2009, the profile had been eroded back to near the post-storm 2007 shape. In 2010, the profile recovered, with a notable well-defined berm near the 40 m mark. However, this was eroded mostly in 2011, and the lower portion of the profile (from about 40 m seaward) is actually lower than the 2007 post-storm shape. If we use the 2008 profile as a starting point, this profile is clearly eroding. If the 2007 profile is used, it is showing some stability, with shapes consistent in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

Winter Beach Grade = C- (70)

2008 appears to be the best year for winter beach profile shapes at Scarborough Beach, especially south of the access path for SC03 and SC04. Recovery from the Patriots' Day Storm was solid through this year at all profile locations. Profiles north of the access path appear to undergo less dramatic changes than south of the path. Since 2008, the winter beach profiles have shown stability to slight erosion; they are clearly not accreting. The winter profiles at Scarborough appear to be eroding more than the summer shapes.

Summer Profile Changes

SC01 = B+ (88)

Figure 17

For SC01 (Figure 17), the summer immediately after the storm showed a well-defined berm near the 40 m mark. In 2008, this was eroded (or moved up the profile) because the upper portion of the profile gained elevation. By the summer of 2009, the uppermost portion of the profile stayed stable, but the berm area eroded. In 2010, the berm clearly recovered and moved up the profile slightly, but the profile seaward of about 45 m steepened and lost elevation. This profile is showing signs of good summer beach stability, with little dune erosion and a berm that has reappeared in 2008 and 2010.

SC02 = B (85)

Figure 18

From 2007 to 2008 (Figure 18), the summer beach profile showed the migration of the berm in a landward direction, slightly up the profile. In 2009, the profile appeared to flatten. From 2009 to 2010, the profile gained in elevation in the form of a berm around the same location of the 2008 shape, indicating good recovery. This profile appears to show good stability in the upper portion of the profile, with some deepening offshore.

SC03 = D (65)

Figure 19

Since a new pin position was located in March 2008, this will be used as the "starting point" for profile comparison (a "summer" date of October 2008 was the only one available for analysis). From 2008 to 2009 (Figure 19), the summer profile underwent erosion and lowered along its entire length. This trend continued in 2010, with dramatic loss in the upper portion of the profile close to 1 m in elevation at the 15 m mark. A prominent berm feature did form in 2010 at the 30 m mark, but it was much lower in elevation than in 2008. A very steep and erosive lower portion of the profile dominated, with differences in elevation from the 2009 beach profile shape of 1 m or more. This profile is showing evidence of erosion.

SC04 = B+ (88)

Figure 20

In response to the storm, SC04 (Figure 20) underwent scour in its upper portion, developed a low but well-defined berm, and exhibited a steeper lower portion. By 2008, the profile had gained some elevation in the nearshore, but flattened, with sediment gain in the low-tide area. The 2009 shape is very similar to 2008, but the small berm evident in 2008 was eroded. In 2010, a large, well-defined berm is evident near the 30 m mark - this is the highest berm of all the profiles. Closer to the dune, however, the profile saw some erosion. Also, the slope coming off the berm is equal to the 2007 profile shape, and is actually lower in elevation. This profile is showing evidence of landward berm migration, but appears to be maintaining a good berm elevation. This may be due to cobbles that occasionally move into this area.

Summer Beach Grade = B (82)

The summer beach shapes north of the access path appear to be somewhat stable, with slight landward migration of the berm shape. South of the access path, erosion seems more apparent, with substantial erosion at SC03, while SC04 shows landward migration of the berm, but very good elevation. It appears that the area south of the access path is undergoing a period of erosion. In general, however, the beach is showing relatively good stability in terms of its summer profile shapes, much better than the winter shapes.

Summary

Scarborough Beach appears to be relatively stable to slightly erosive, with the largest erosion occurring at the beach near SC03. It shows more erosion in winter than in the summer shapes, which appear to recover relatively well. Luckily, the beach appears to be maintaining generally good summer profile shapes, especially north of the access path.

Overall grade = C (76)

Contents Introduction Beach Responses Discussion Conclusions References Appendix

Last updated on July 14, 2011