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Plum Island Beach Erosion Studies
Environmental Technology Major Essex Technical High School Hathorne, MA October and November, 2015
Plum Island Beach Erosion Studies Environmental Technology Major - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Plum Island Beach Erosion Studies Environmental Technology Major - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Plum Island Beach Erosion Studies Environmental Technology Major Essex Technical High School Hathorne, MA October and November, 2015 Project Background Sea level rise and more intense coastal storms are increasing both dune erosion and
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Sea level rise and more intense coastal storms are increasing both dune erosion and dune migration inland.
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The Issue: Natural Barrier Island Migration versus Engineered Protections
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Our Research Question:
Are engineered structures improving the beach?
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Monitoring the Beach Profile with Emory Rods
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Our Crews at Work
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Bi-weekly Profiles at Plum Island 50 meters apart
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Observed Beach Characteristics
Undeveloped Dunes Back Dune
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Engineered Structures
Rock Groins
Protective Sea Walls
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Taken Oct. 2, 16, 30, and Nov. 13, 2015
Five groups moved down the beach from Plum Island Turnpike to just south
- f the boardwalk at Lot 1 (Wildlife Refuge).
Each team measured beach slope every 250 meters. Coverage was every 50 meters however.
Beach Slope Data
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Data As a Graph (Line Slope Represents Morphology)
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The Beginning: Plum Island Turnpike The End: South of Lot 1, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
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Our furthest south sampling location was Transect 5E.
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Beach Profiles Reflected the Structures along the Shoreline
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Seawalls
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Groins
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Sand Removal
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Sand Addition and Grass Stabilization
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Undeveloped Beaches
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Our Conclusions:
∗ Beach width is maximum at the undeveloped dunes at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beach. ∗ Beach width is minimum between the groins, which are wave washed even at low tide. ∗ Erosion and beach loss in developed dunes, even with engineering structures and sand supplements, is continuing.
Are engineered structures improving the beach?
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According to Orrin Pilkey (Co-author of The World’s Beaches, 2011) --
∗ Beaches have found the fountain of youth ∗ Beaches protect themselves from storms ∗ Beaches have different personalities ∗ Beaches never create an erosion problem ∗ Beaches are damaged by shoreline engineering ∗ The greatest single threat to beaches in the immediate and in the long term is engineering
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