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

Location

Western Beach is a 980 m (Nelson, 1979) straight, fringing, pocket beach, oriented northwest-southeast.  It forms the western shore of Prouts Neck and extends to Ferry Rock.  Ferry Beach curves almost circularly from Ferry Rock to Black Point, another bedrock outcrop to the north.  The beach is 840m (Nelson, 1979), but a broad relict spit extends 240m further north-northeast into the adjacent marsh.  Ferry Beach is partly a pocket fringing beach and partly a pocket barrier beach.  Both beaches are located at the mouth of the Scarborough River, and the low-tide terrace is also part of the ebb-tidal delta of the river.  A forest and a golf fairway are found behind Western and Ferry Beaches.
 
 

Geological History

Historically, the shorelines of both Ferry Beach and Western Beach have been stable (Nelson and Fink, 1980).  However, numerous paleo-dune ridges, cross-cutting one another, suggest a complex history of episodic erosion and accretion at Western Beach.  Air photos, however, indicated accretion along Western Beach since 1953 (Nelson, 1979). Pine Point on the opposite side of the Scarborough River, is a possible sand source for the accreting beach.  The relict spit of Ferry Beach indicates the meander activity of the Scarborough River, as well as the past location of the beach.   The former location of Western Beach is shown by the relict erosional scarp that runs along the forest and lawn, as well as the paleo-dune ridges.
 
 
 

Development Status

Western Beach and Ferry Beach are undeveloped and remain unthreatened (Kelley et al., 1989).  The golf course behind Western Beach represents a minimal developmental impact on the beach.  Ferry Beach is a town park owned by Scaroborough.  Altering the anchorage near Pine Point could potentially disrupt the sand supply needed by these beaches, however.
 
 

Additional Facts

Prior to dredging of the Scarborough River Inlet, a breach in the inlet channel passed in front of Ferry Beach.  Since dredging near Pine Point in the 1950's, this channel has begun to fill.
 
 
 

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, Ferry Beach, Western Beach, Scarborough Maine, Maine Geological Survey Open-File Report (Photo 13-6)

Kelley, J.T., Kelley, A.R., and Pilkey, O.H., sr., 1989, Living with the Coast of Maine, Duke University Press, Durham, NC, 174 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., 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.