Publication Date:
2022-05-26
Description:
A new tidal inlet into Chatham Harbor, Massachusetts, has developed from a breach in the
barrier beach, Nauset Beach, that forms the outer shoreline of southeastern Cape Cod. Increased
tidal range and wave energy resulting from the new inlet produced acute coastal erosion and
channel shoaling within Chatham Harbor, with significant impacts on the fishing and boating
industries, and on private and public propeny and interests. Study results are consistent with the
hypothesis that the Nauset-Monomoy barrier beach system undergoes a long-term cycle of
geomorphological change, and that a new cycle was initiated with the formation of this new inlet.
Based on this new understanding, future changes in the system can be foreseen and provided to
coastal resource managers.
Description:
Funding was provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Environmental
Management, Division of Waterways; the Town of Chatham; Woods Hole Sea Grant Program;
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(New England Division and Coastal Engineering Research Center);
Town of Orleans; and Friends of Pleasant Bay.
Keywords:
Coast changes
;
Beach erosion
Repository Name:
Woods Hole Open Access Server
Type:
Technical Report
Format:
application/pdf
Permalink
