SrA-UE OF CHIO-ASHTABULA TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE LINE 



The area studied is located in Ashtabula County on the south shore 

 of Lake Erie from 58 to 72 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio. It lies 

 betvreen a point about 1^ miles east of the mouth of the Ashtabula River 

 and the Pennsylvania State Line, a distance of about 14. miles. Ashtabu^ 

 Harbor, located Just west of the study area, and Conneaut Harbor, located 

 near the east limit of the study area, have been improved by the United 

 States for navigation. Ashtabula County had a population of about 69,000 

 in 194.0. The principal centers of population are the cities of Ashtabula 

 and Conneaut which had populations of about 21,4.00 and 9>4-00 respectively. 

 The property along the shore line of the study area has been developed 

 mainly for private residential and recreational purposes. The principal 

 summer colonies are in the village of North Kingsville. The population 

 of the shore area is increased somewhat by summer visitors. Inland 

 areas are devoted mainly to agricultural uses. The shore is publicly 

 owned at the Conneaut Water TiTorks, Conneaut Tovmship Park and Lake View 

 Park. The latter lies within Conneaut Harbor. Its beach is not suitable 

 for bathing . Conneaut TiTater Works and Lake View Park are not in need of 

 additional protection at this time. Conneaut Township Park is used for 

 recreational purposes. It has a wide beach for about the eastern half 

 of its frontage. The remainder of the shore within the study area is 

 privately oimed except for a short stretch along the highway at Whitman 

 Creek, which is adequately protected at present. 



The shore line of the study area consists generally of eroding 

 bluffs 4-0 to 80 feet high of clay, silt, sand and gravel fronted by 

 narrow beaches of sand and gravel. The bluffs are founded on shale 

 which varies in elevation from about 4- feet above to 4- feet below low 

 water datum. The bluffs are the major source of beach material in the 

 study area. Probably no material reaches the area from west of 

 Ashtabula Harbor and little is supplied by tributary streams. Analysis 

 of samples of bluff material indicated that in general approximately 

 13 per cent of the material is suitable for beach building in the virestern 

 half of the study area and 27 per cent in the eastern half. Erosion of 

 the bluffs thus makes available some beach material in the eastern half 

 of the study area. West of Conneaut Water Works and Conneaut Harbor 

 relatively wide beaches ha.ve formed by accretion caused by the structures 

 extending into the lake. Miscellaneous groins and seawalls have been 

 constructed in an attempt to prevent erosion of the shore . Short groins 

 have generally caused minor accretion on their west sidds and have re- 

 duced recession of the bluffs to some extent. The pronounced accretion 

 west of the harbor structures and the accretion west of short groins 

 indicate a marked eastward predominance of littoral drift. 



The mean level of Lake Erie in the study area is about 2 feet above 

 the established low water datum. The highest stage recorded and the 

 highest monthly mean are respectively about 5 and 4- feet above that 

 datum. The greater fetch and movement of winds from the westerly 



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