bluff and beach from benchmarks on top of the bluff. Though most of the data 

 appear reasonable, errors in determining the edge of the bluff were found to 

 have had a large impact on computed volume changes. 



29. During the Nauset Beach surveys (1970 to 1974), only three storms 

 were monitored with sufficient detail for inclusion in this report. The data 

 indicate that this locality is highly erosive and unstable. Median poststorm 

 volume change (for three events) was -20.7 m-'/m. Most of the erosion 

 occurred high on the profile lines, either between the 1.5- and 3.0-ra 

 contours or from the bluff. Interestingly, the beach tended to widen; median 

 shoreline change for the three storms was 2.6 m. Foreshore slopes generally 

 flattened after storms with a median slope change of 0.024. 



30. Profile line 3 had the highest overall erosion rate at Nauset 

 Beach. Median storm profile loss at this line was -49.0 m-'/m. Profile line 

 3 also experienced the largest single change of any profile line for this 

 locality losing -80.2 m^/m of sand after the storm of 19 February 1972 (the 

 largest event documented in this study). The peak water level reached 1.9 m 

 above msl at Boston (1.2 m surge) with a surge-return period of approximately 

 12 years. Volume changes ranged from -80.2 m^/m at profile line 3 to 15.9 

 m-^/m at profile line 6. The median for the 10 profile lines was -22.8 m^/m. 



Misquamicut Beach, Rhode Island 



31. Misquamicut Beach, a stable low-lying barrier island, is located 

 on the southern coast of Rhode Island (Figure 8). The island spans 8 . 5 km 

 from Watch Hill Point to Weekapaug Point, and faces south. Winnapaug Pond 

 separates the barrier from Rhode Island Sound on the west. Because of 

 sheltering from Long Island and Block Island, Misquamicut Beach is most 

 affected by storms from the east and south-southeast. Based on visual 

 observations, net longshore transport is toward the west. The beach tends to 

 be wide ranging from 100 to 150 m with a foreshore slope which varies from 

 1:15 during the summer to 1:25 during the winter. A well-developed dune runs 

 the length of the study area with heights up to 6 m. Misquamicut Beach is 

 heavily developed with houses and commercial buildings constructed on or near 

 the frontal dunes. At one time, restoration projects included beach fill on 

 the upper portions of the beach, mechanical grading to flatten the foreshore, 

 and the barricading of property with junk cars. It is likely that a jetty 



20 



