Figure 3. Aerial view of Camp Ellis Beach and Saco River entrance 



History of Breakwater/ Jetty Construction 



Before the federal project, the Saco River was difficult to navigate since 

 many sharp turns were required to avoid ledges and sandbars. In 1827, Con- 

 gress authorized construction of 14 piers, the placement of beacons and buoys, 

 and the removal of several obstructions from the river. In 1867, construction 

 of a 1,280-m-long (4,200- ft-long) breakwater north of the river mouth with an 

 el of -1-3 m (-f-10 ft) was approved by Congress and subsequently completed. 

 Prior to construction, a single narrow and fairly deep entrance channel -6.1 m 

 ((-20 ft) in throat of entrance) forked into two channels just east of the inlet 

 throat. One channel was 1.2-1.8 m (4-6 ft) deep and oriented in the east- 

 northeasterly direction, with the other 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) in depth and oriented 

 toward the east. Substantial ebb tidal shoals existed adjacent to and between 

 the two channels. Construction of the first segment of the north breakwater in 

 1867 severed the east-northeasterly channel and paralleled the northern edge of 

 the easterly channel. 



During the period 1885-1897 the entire north breakwater was raised to an 

 elevation (el) of +4.5 m (+15 ft). Construction was undertaken to reduce chan- 

 nel shoaling caused by sand flowing over the breakwater during storm wave 

 conditions and to protect against flanking of the breakwater where it 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



