The Willard Beach System

Executive Summary & Recommendations......... 4

I Introduction 9

II About the Willard Beach System... 10

A) Background

B) Sea Level Rising

C) History of Casco Bay Water Quality

D) 1982 Army Corps of Engineers Report summary

III Sewer & Water Lines. 13

A) Water Lines - Portland Water District

i) Locations

B) Sewer Lines

i) Location, sizes, and ages of lines

ii) Pipe replacement issues

iii) Separation of storm and sewer water (Results 2002)

iv) Storm drain runoff - Best Management Practices

v) Beach water testing and 2002 summer testing results

IV Dune Management..... 16

A) Background on dune grass

B) Dune grass planting

C) Dune grass removal

D) Dune fencing / Dune Walkovers

E) Dune Grass Die-Out

F) Coastal Resource Planner - Dune Vegetation Restoration

G) Sand Dune Map (2002) - Maine Geological Survey

V Hazard Mitigation Plan - South Portland Waterfront Development 19

VI Beach Replenishment/Nourishment 20

A) Background Research

B) Erosion Discussion

VII Mooring Information - Portland Harbormaster.... 22

VIII Punts. 23

A) Storage locations

B) Proposed Punt Rules

C) South Portland Parks and Recreation rules regarding punts and beached boats

IX Animal Information 25

A) Dog Owner Rules

B) Mammal Strandings

X Police Department - Beach Rules. 26

XI Beach Entrances 27

A) General Information and plant maintenance
Attachment - Spring Point Shoreway Improvements Plan (Mitchell & Associates, Feb. 2000)

XII Shoreline Regulations - City of South Portland Code Enforcement 28

XIII Coastal Sand Dune regulations - Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection 29

XIV South Portland Floodplain Management Regulations.... 30

XV Fish Shacks 31

XVI Bath House 32

A) Maintenance

B) Lifeguard Duties

C) Bathroom Facilities - Off season availability

D) Swimming Float

XVII Current Beach Maintenance Practices 34

XVIII Other Issues & Research 35

A) Jetty

B) Beach cleaner

C) Seaweed information and removal issues

D) Seawall construction

E) Coast Guard numbers (to call when identifying water pollution)

XIX Who To Call (Provided by the Friends of Casco Bay).. 37
With regards to the following: search and rescue, clam flat questions, dredging, coastal clean-up, education, general questions about the ocean, oil spill emergencies, reporting sewage from boats, oil recycling information, fisheries, injured birds and wildlife, marine mammal strandings, red tide hotline, water quality or other pollution questions, speakers, other Casco Bay groups, environmentally-friendly landscaping contacts, pump out services

XX List of Resources 41

XXI Appendix

1. Barry Timson’s 1977 Geological Survey of Willard Beach

2. South Portland Tax Map of Willard Beach

3. FIRM - Flood Insurance Rate Map

4. Willard Beach Resolution dated December 6, 1999

5. Coastal Beach Resource Planner - Sue Schaller’s notes on 10/31/02 beach visit

6. Summer 2002 Beach water testing results

7. Dune Grass Die Out Information

8. Dune Vegetation Restoration Efforts (November 14, 2002 e-mail from Sue Schaller)

9. Willard Beach Sand Dune Map - Maine Geological Survey

10. Willard Beach - Storm discussion (May 14, 2002 from Steve Dickson)

11. Shoreline Zoning Regulations

12. Sand Dune Regulations - Current and Proposed Changes

13. South Portland Floodplain Management Regulations

14. List of Pumpout Service for Recreational Boats (from Friends of Casco Bay)

15. Willard Beach Sewer and Storm Drain Lay-out Diagram

16. Mooring Application and Rules

I Introduction

This Willard Beach Resource and Maintenance Guide has been created for both city officials and residents of the neighborhood as well as other concerned citizens. Recommendations for recreational usability, long-term welfare of the beach and the surrounding communities are included in this summary.

It is our intention that this document be consulted as changes/improvements to the area are planned. This document will continue to be updated as more information is obtained or beach conditions change. It is the primary responsibility of the Willard Neighborhood Beach Committee to insure its relevance and communicate its intentions.

Distribution List:

§ The City of South Portland:

§ Town Council Members

§ City Manager - Jeff Jordan

§ Parks and Recreation Department - Dana Anderson 767-7651 and John Switzer 767-7670

§ Public Works Department - Steve Johnson 767-7635

§ Pollution Abatement Department - Pat Cloutier, David Thomes 767-7678

§ City Engineer - Dave Pineo 767-3383, Craig Worth 767-7645

§ Planning Department - Tex Haeuser 767-7602

§ Waterfront Development Director - Tom Meyers 767-5556

§ Code Enforcement - Pat Doucette 767-7603

§ South Portland Conservation Commission

§ Nonprofit & Community Organizations

§ Willard Neighborhood Association - President

§ Willard Neighborhood Beach Committee - Chairperson

§ Friends of Casco Bay

§ South Portland Dog Owners Group

§ South Portland Land Trust

§ South Portland Public Library

§ The State of Maine

§ State Planning Office - Maine Floodplain Management Program

§ State Planning Office - Maine Coastal Program

§ Southern Maine Regional Planning

§ Maine Geological Survey

§ Maine Department of Environmental Protection

II About the Willard Beach System

Willard Beach is an important recreational resource and open space for the city of South Portland that is used daily by many people. We are fortunate to have such a public treasure, as there are only 70 miles of sandy beach in 4,500 miles of Maine coastline. Willard Beach is one of a few free public beaches south of the city of Portland.

Sea Level Rise: In the October, 1999 beach walk meeting, Joe Kelley (Geologist, USM) stated,

“The biggest problem this beach and other beaches face is the rising of the ocean. The ocean has risen almost a foot in the tide gauge in Portland since 1912. And if you look at the slope of the beach here, it is gentle. A one foot vertical rise in the water means the shoreline moved a considerable distance landward.” (See Appendix 1)

Pollution: In the 1980's, Casco Bay was considered one of the top ten most polluted bays in this country. Copies of the report, The Dirty History of Portland Harbor, are filed at the South Portland Library and may be obtained from the Friends of Casco Bay.

Since then, cities and citizens have worked to clean up Casco Bay and the ongoing activities of today (See Section III) will have a positive and long lasting effect on the Bay and on Willard Beach. It is important to consider “that every watershed eventually empties into the ocean, and each of us lives in a watershed. Each drop of rain that lands on each lawn is an empty vessel, ready to carry contaminants down through the watershed. Cleaner watersheds will continue to lead to a cleaner bay. The phone number for the Casco Bay Estuary Project is listed in Section XVI of this report.

Erosion: In 1982, The Army Corps of Engineers investigated beach erosion control needs for Willard Beach. The Corps recommended the rebuilding of the crib wharf jetty and the construction of two groins at the bathhouse and at the north end of the beach. It also recommended beach nourishment in the front beach area and called for back beach area dune restoration to be accomplished by dune fencing and dune grass plantings. The high cost and the uncertainty of the success of implementing all but the last recommendation (dunegrass planting) proved prohibitive. At this time, the science does not support their future implementation.

Recommendations

III Sewer & Water Lines

1) Water Quality Alerts (Parks & Rec.):

a) Post Signs at each beach entrance with the following information:

i. General post-rain event advisory

ii. Look for flags (yellow and red) above beach house for beach swimming advisories & closures

iii. Watch for submerged hazards in swimming area

b) Establish Flag system at the beach house

2) Pollution Abatement

a) Research the feasibility of capturing the "first flush" to improve overall water quality after rains.

b) Research feasibility, and if appropriate, develop a long-term plan to remove sewer pipes from under the beach.

c) Beach committee volunteer will help to coordinate volunteer education efforts with appropriate municipal/state and private organizations.

d) Recruit volunteers with in the community to assist the city with NPDES Phase II Education (Note: c&d could be put together into one recommendation and specifically name the school board and other organizations to assist city)

IV Dune Management

1) Beach committee will draw up plans for the placement of dune fencing, walkovers (if appropriate) and plantings and seek city approval of plans.

2) Beach committee will provide volunteers who will continue to work with the city to obtain approval, needed material, funding and support to do the following:

a) Continue to plant dune grass and put up dune fencing where appropriate - It is specifically recommended to fence in a portion of the dune between Myrtle Avenue and Beach Street entrance and plant some dune grass. Also it is recommended to put in wood posts along either side of the recreational area by the bathhouse to delineate dune and recreational area.

b) It is recommended to plant a greater variety of plants in the dunes for genetic diversity

c) Review the possible use of dune walkovers where appropriate.

V Hazard Mitigation Plan - South Portland Waterfront Development

1) Beach committee will continue to provide Tom Meyers, Director of Waterfront Development for the City of South Portland, with information necessary to complete the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

2) It is recommended that the Hazard Mitigation Plan include provisions for the rebuilding of the dunes after a natural disaster or flood. Include in these provisions would be criteria for dune replenishment, timing and sand and plant sources for dune restoration.

VI Beach Replenishment/Nourishment

Beach committee will continue to research replenishment in the back beach area (dune area). There is no recommendation for sand replenishment on the beach face at this time.

VII Mooring Information - Portland Harbormaster

Please consult section VII of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

VIII Punts

1) South Portland Parks & Recreation Department and the Willard Beach Committee shall establish punt storage areas (on or off the beach) clearly defined by signs. It is recommended that two signs connected with Coast Guard chain for punt attachment border each area. City or volunteers shall install signs and chains.

2) The Willard Beach Committee will write a proposal to the Harbor Master to create and enforce a new regulation requiring the mooring number be placed on all punts stored at Willard Beach.

3) The Beach Committee and the City of South Portland Parks & Recreation Department will help alert the Harbor Master of Punts left in storage areas after November 1st or before April 1st.

IX Animal Information

Please consult section IX of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

X Police & Fire Department - Beach Rules

Please consult section X of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

XI Beach Entrances

1) Beach committee will draw up plans for the reconfiguration of the beach entrances in order to retain sand, build dune and prevent storm surge from entering roadways. These plans would be reviewed and approved by the Parks and Recreation Department before implementation.

2) Beach committee will provide volunteers who will continue to work with the city to obtain needed material, funding and support to accomplish this reconfiguration.

3) The Beach Committee and the City of South Portland Parks & Recreation Department will work together to remove existing invasive plants and fill in with native vegetation where needed.

4) Two blocks of granite should be placed at the bottom of the Deake Street Entrances. One at the bottom of the ramp and the other at the bottom of the stairs. Alternatively, explore the option of removing concrete ramp.

XII Shoreline Regulations - City of South Portland Code Enforcement

Please consult section XII of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

XIII Coastal Sand Dune regulations - Maine Department of Environmental Protection

Please consult section XIII of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

XIV South Portland Floodplain Management Regulations

Please consult section XIV of this guide for current regulations and contact information.

XV Fish Shacks

1) It is recommended that the City of South Portland Parks & Recreation Department will provide a mason and materials to fix the chimney on the biggest shack.

2) The Willard Neighborhood Association and the Beach Committee will continue to recruit volunteers to maintain and repair the shacks. Materials will continued to be provided by the City or donated.

XVI Bath House

1) The Willard Neighborhood Association and the Beach Committee will continue to recruit volunteers to maintain the paint & stain on the BathHouse. Materials will continued to be provided by the City or donated.

2) For lifeguard assignment recommendations, see Section 17.

3) It is recommended that a Portable Toilet be placed at the BathHouse during the months of May and September. This toilet could be attached in a way to prevent tipping.

XVII Current Beach Maintenance Practices

1) $City to create budget line item to fund contract labor for the following beach maintenance items:

a) Remove large and/or hazardous debris from Willard Beach after large storms. Currently, Steve Gray, a beach committee member, removes the heavier debris at the beach and puts it in piles for Public Works to pick up. This is recommended in anticipation of the future absence of Steve’s volunteer services.

b) Rake seaweed:

i. At the beginning of the month (June, July, and August) and in coordination with a full or new moon (see Section 18c for timing) and rake the seaweed into the water in the main bathing areas of the beach (from Beach Street to Willard Street). It is anticipated to recruit volunteers to rake any seaweed in July and August. It is recommended that the city contract labor to rake in early June. No raking will be required if there is no significant seaweed on the beach at any of these times.

ii. In the fall, after the first significant October Storm, the beach committee will recruit volunteers to place seaweed and seed in the dune. This will provide much need nutrients in the dunes. Invasive plants in the dunes will be removed at this time.

2) Assign regular beach cleaning duties to lifeguards. These should include raking around the beach house and major recreation areas as well as picking up trash along the length of the beach. At the beginning of the day, one lifeguard will go down the beach to pick up trash, and one lifeguard will rake the recreational area by the bathhouse and pick up debris.

3) Include the daily cleaning of the concession area as a stipulation of the contract for the snack bar.