Location Geological History Level of Development Additional Facts Profile Data Pictures References

Location

The 2 km Laudholm Beach/Drakes Island barrier complex (Nelson, 1979) in York County, Wells, extends northeast from the Webhannet River to the Little River.  The beach terminates in the Laudholm spit, which forms a double spit with Crescent Surf on the north side of the Little River.  The Little River is a tidal reentrant with an extensive back-barrier salt marsh.  This complex forms one of "the best examples in Maine of a sandy double-spit, tidal river and marsh system remaining in a natural state" (Nelson and Fink, 1980).
 
 

Geological History

Patches of gravel, cobble, and boulders on the “low-tide terrace” of Laudholm Beach are remains of small glacial till mounds, deposited over 13,000 years ago.  Peat exposed on the shoreface during the winter indicates that the beach has migrated landward over time, as a result of the rising level of the sea (Hussey, 1959).  Relict frontal dune ridges are visible behind the present shoreline, indicating that the spit end is historically.  The spit is currently accreting and possibly extending into the Little River as a result of longshore sediment transport.
 
 

Development Status

Although Drakes Island is highly developed, Laudholm Beach is still in a natural state.  The area is well vegetated with species such as American Beach Grass, Beach Pea, Beach Heather and a climax Pitch Pine forest.  A typical beach profile from this area shows distinct geomorphic features.  An aeolian ramp, berm, foreslope and low-tide terrace are distinctly defined by different grain sizes.  Overwash is a natural process that occurs on Laudholm Beach, as evidenced by gravel, wood, flotsam and debris, on top and behind the dunes.  The Maine Department of Conservation manages the beach.
 
 

Additional Facts

Laudholm Beach provides a nesting ground for Piping Plovers.  It is one of the few beaches in the state that provides extensive habitat for this rare species of bird to live.
 
 

Topographic Profiles
 
 

Profile 1 Monthly Data Greatest Change Profile 2 Monthly Data Greatest Change Profile 3 Monthly Data Greatest Change Profile 4 Monthly Data Greatest Change

Pictures
 
 
 

References

Dickson, S.M., in press, Beach and Dune Geology, Laudholm Beach, Little River, Wells, Maine, Maine Geological Survey Open-File Report (Photo 3-7)

Hussey, A.M. II, 1959, Age of Intertidal Tree Stumps at Wells Beach and Kennebunk Beach, Maine, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, vol. 29, no. 3, pp 464-469

Nelson, B.W., 1979, Shoreline Changes and Physiography of Maine’s Sandy Coastal Beaches [Unpublished M.S. thesis]: University of Maine, 303 p.

Nelson, B.W. and Fink, L.K., Jr., 1978, Geological and Botanical Features of Sand Beach Systems in Maine: Maine Critical Areas Program, Maine State Planning Office Planning Report No. 54, 269 p.