Southern Maine Beach Profile Monitoring Program
Beach profiling is a simple method of measuring beach sand erosion and accretion each month. The Maine Geological Survey establishes profile transects that are used to profile in straight lines from an elevation higher than the ground. Typically, starting elevations are established in dunes and seawalls as seen in these photos.
Volunteers start profiling from these starting elevations towards the ocean in a straight line.
By tracking the movement of sand every month and comparing those results each year, beach profiling can help the state of Maine and local communities better manage their coastal resources.
For more information, please visit our Maine Sea Grant website at Maine Sea Grant.
More questions? Contact Emily Greene, volunteer coordinator for the project.