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 dune migration inland.
The Issue: Natural Barrier Island Migration versus Engineered Protections
Our Research Question: Are engineered structures improving the beach?
Monitoring the Beach Profile with Emory Rods
Our Crews at Work
Bi-weekly Profiles at Plum Island 50 meters apart
Observed Beach Characteristics Undeveloped Dunes Back Dune
Engineered Structures Rock Groins Protective Sea Walls
Beach Slope Data Taken Oct. 2, 16, 30, and Nov. 13, 2015 Five groups moved down the beach from Plum Island Turnpike to just south of the boardwalk at Lot 1 (Wildlife Refuge). Each team measured beach slope every 250 meters. Coverage was every 50 meters however.
Data As a Graph (Line Slope Represents Morphology)
The Beginning: Plum Island Turnpike The End: South of Lot 1, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Our furthest south sampling location was Transect 5E.
Beach Profiles Reflected the Structures along the Shoreline
Seawalls
Groins
Sand Removal
Sand Addition and Grass Stabilization
Undeveloped Beaches
Our Conclusions: Are engineered structures improving the beach? ∗ 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.
According to Orrin Pilkey ( Co-author of The World’s Beaches, 2011 ) -- ∗ Beaches never create an ∗ Beaches have found the erosion problem fountain of youth ∗ Beaches are damaged by ∗ Beaches protect shoreline engineering themselves from storms ∗ The greatest single threat ∗ Beaches have different to beaches in the personalities immediate and in the long term is engineering
Thank You! Environmental Technology Seniors, Essex Tech High School
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