DUNE RESTORATION THROUGH “PETITION BY RULE”, SOUTHERN SACO BAY, SOUTHWESTERN MAINE

Six winter storms between late October 2012 and late March 2013 caused serious erosion of coastal dunes along an approximate 1.6 km long stretch of shoreline in the southern portion of Saco Bay. The amount of dune retreat varies along the shoreline but is estimated to be between approximately 3 and 8 meters. Height of the erosional scarp varied between 0.5 and 1.5 meters. Approximately 56 separate lots were adversely affected. Affected properties included two rights of way controlled by the City of Saco, plus Ferry Beach State Park. Chapter 305, Section 16 (Activities in Coastal Sand Dunes) of Maine’s Natural Resources Protection Act (Revised 30 June 2011) permits property owners to restore frontal dunes through a process referred to as Permit By Rule. Twenty three land owners contracted with a consultant, and filed applications to restore the frontal dunes using “raked seaweed and scraped beach sand”. Restoration was followed by planting of dune grass required by legislation.

Restoration occurred between approximately 15 September and 15 October 2013. Dune grass planting continued until approximately the end of October. The 23 lots which had their dunes restored did so through the use of heavy equipment. A bulldozer and front end loader were brought onto the beach through two temporarily constructed access points. One of which was a public right of way owned by the City of Saco. The access points were restored at the conclusion of the restoration. Sand was scraped from the approximate high tide line and pushed onto the frontal dune. The volume of sand needed to restore the frontal dune varied with the height of the erosional scarp. The 2013 erosional scarp ranged in height from approximately 0.5 to 1.75 m. The width of the restored dune face ranged from approximately 3 to 7 m when restoration was concluded.

Because many of the sandy beaches along the Maine coast are eroding the longevity or ultimate success of the restoration remains unclear.