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

Location

Ogunquit Beach, located in York County, is a 2,265m long (Nelson, 1979) barrier oriented north-south.  Moody Beach to the north and Ogunquit Beach comprise one of the longest continue barrier spits in Maine.  The spit terminates in the Ogunquit River Inlet, which abuts a bedrock headland. Wide meandering tidal channels, a flood tidal delta and intertidal reentrant sands occupy the back barrier environment.  There is also an extensive salt marsh system.  A spit platform fronts the beach.
 
 

Geological History

The Ogunquit spit most likely formed with transgression of the sea over a low-lying coastal plain of glacial outwash.  The spit is prograding into the inlet as a result of a net southerly longshore transport of sand.  Once sand reaches the inlet, it circulates in a counterclockwise gyre, and is deposited both in the ebb and flood-tidal deltas.  In 1974, the flood tidal delta was mined of its sand, which was used for dune construction.  One year later, the delta had reformed to its original shape and size, indicating the landward transport of sediment (FitzGerald et al, 1989).  The Ogunquit River Inlet is the only inlet that has naturally shifted to a new location in the past 200 years; an old inlet existed north of the present inlet on a 1785 British map.
 
 

Development Status

Although Ogunquit Beach appears pristine, it is a fragile ecosystem with artificial dunes that were built to protect the sewage plant at the north end.  Between the sewage plant and the Norseman Motel to the south, the beach is extensively vegetated.  A riprap revetment and a seawall protecting a parking lot stabilize the spit end.  Property located in this region is armored, and therefore, less impacted by storms than the sand dunes.  Despite the fact that the beach is artificial, it is a classic example of a beach with distinct summer vs. winter profiles (Nelson and Fink, 1980)
 
 

Additional Facts

Some of the largest and most active parabolic dunes in Maine are found at Ogunquit Beach.  Winds from the northwest create these dunes of fine, pure quartz sand (Nelson and Fink, 1980).  Seaward of the beach lies a 12 million m³ deposit of sand off Bald Head Cliff (Miller, 1998).
 
 

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, Moody Beach, Ogunquit Beach, Wells and Ogunquit, Maine, Maine Geological Survey Open-File Report (Photo 2-8).

FitzGerald, D.M., Lincoln, J.M., Fink, L.K, and Caldwell, D.W., 1989, Morphodynamics of tidal inlet systems in Maine, in:  Studies in Maine Geology, v.5, Quaternary Geology, R.D. Tucker and R.G. Marvinney (eds.), Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, ME, p. 67-96.

Miller, G.T., 1998, Deglaciation of Wells Embayment Maine: An Interpretation from Seismic and Side-Scan Sonar Data (Unpublished M.S. thesis): University of Maine, 231 p.

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., 1980, Geological and Botanical Features of Sand Beach Systems in Maine:  Maine Critical Areas Program, Maine State Planning Office Planning Report No. 54, 269 p.