Early Assessment of a Early Assessment of a Two Inlet Two Inlet SystemSystem, ,

Chatham. MAChatham. MA

Cape cod

ChathamChatham

NantucketNantucketMarthaMartha’’s Vineyards Vineyard

Cape CodCape Cod

Glacial Deposits(Pleistocene)

Coastal Deposition(Holocene)

50 km50 km

Figure 1. Net littoral drift (from E. Pendleton)

Figure 2. Historical changes in the Nauset Beach - Monomoy Barrier Beach System ( From: Geise, et al, 1988 Development,Characteristics and Effects of the New Chatham Harbor Inlet, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,Reproduction from E. Pendleton )

Nauset Beach CycleNauset Beach Cycle

19841984

Nauset InletNauset Inlet

Cape Cod BayCape Cod Bay

Nantucket SoundNantucket Sound

Pleasant BayPleasant Bay

Chatham Harbor

Chatham Harbor

Predicted Predicted BreakBreak

Actual Actual BreakBreak

PrePre--1987 Inlet1987 Inlet

LighthouseLighthouse

““OldOld”” ChathamChathamBars InletBars Inlet

1987 Nauset Beach Break1987 Nauset Beach Break

Approx 4000 ftApprox 4000 ft.

January 13, 2006January 13, 2006

MinisterMinister’’s Points PointNorth Village (12 “camps”)

South Village (10 “camps”)

Pleasant BayPleasant Bay

September 26, 2006September 26, 2006

7 Months before 7 Months before ““breachbreach””

““Patriots DayPatriots Day””StormStorm

April 2007April 2007

April 20, 2007April 20, 2007 April 23, 2007April 23, 2007

June 18, 2007June 18, 2007 August 29, 2007August 29, 2007

April 23, 2007April 23, 2007

August 29, 2007

““MungMung””

August 2007

Incoming Incoming ““floodflood”” tidetide

““MungMung””

August 2007

October 31, 2007October 31, 2007

July 10, 2008July 10, 2008

2000+ ft.2000+ ft.7 Camps lost7 Camps lost5 Relocated5 Relocated

September 26, 2006September 26, 2006

January 14, 2008January 14, 2008

16 months later16 months later……

January 18, 2008January 18, 2008

July 2008July 2008June 2007June 2007June 2006June 2006 April 2009April 2009

Mean High

Mean Low

July 10, 2008July 10, 2008

May 2009May 2009

March 2008March 2008 July 2008July 2008

October 2008October 2008 February 2009February 2009

TwoTwo--channel Inletchannel Inlet

Single Channel InletSingle Channel Inlet

Flood TideFlood Tide

Ebb TideEbb Tide

April 25, 2008April 25, 2008

“Big” Pleasant Bay

“Little” Pleasant Bay

April 10, 2009

April 10, 2009

Photo Courtesy of Paul LaggPhoto Courtesy of Paul Lagg

Special ThanksSpecial Thanks::•• Graham GieseGraham Giese-- Center for Coastal StudiesCenter for Coastal Studies•• John Ramsey & Sean KelleyJohn Ramsey & Sean Kelley-- Applied Coastal ResearchApplied Coastal Research•• Spencer KennardSpencer Kennard-- KelseyKelsey--Kennard AirviewsKennard Airviews•• Paul LaggPaul Lagg-- Town of ChathamTown of Chatham

New Inlet SummaryNew Inlet Summary________________________________________

•• Continued development and Continued development and ““maturingmaturing”” of inletof inlet•• Change in tidal flowChange in tidal flow

–– New inlet better connected to Chatham HarborNew inlet better connected to Chatham Harbor•• Large sediment intrusion into estuaryLarge sediment intrusion into estuary•• Likelihood of increased (storm) flood potentialLikelihood of increased (storm) flood potential•• No obvious changes to Chatham InletNo obvious changes to Chatham Inlet•• No significant mainland erosionNo significant mainland erosion•• No severe navigation impactsNo severe navigation impacts

July 6, 2009July 6, 2009

Late Season NorLate Season Nor’’eastereasterJune 26, 2009June 26, 2009

18931893 19171917

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