The State of Maine's Beaches in 2009 - Water Quality

After a short break we will be hearing a presentation called The State of Maine's Beaches in 2009. The speakers will be Stephen Dickson and Peter Slovinsky from Maine Geological Survey; Mark Margerum from Maine's Department of Environmental Protection; and, Keri Lindberg from Maine Sea Grant and UMaine Cooperative Extension.

We are welcomed by Steve Dickson, explaining that the presentation will be broken into two parts: water quality and geology. Mark Margerum, Program Manager for the Maine Healthy Beaches Program at the MDEP, will speak with Keri Lindberg, the Statewide Coordinator for the Maine Healthy Beaches Program. First up is Mr. Margerum.

Mark is here representing the DEP and wants us to know that the agency is not looking to change the Maine Healthy Beaches program much. He wants to continue to analyze the recent spate of bacteria and other issues on the beaches and is working hard already to address these problems. The DEP feels that this is a good fit for our program, but he's learning quickly in his new role with the program.

Keri coordinates the program. MHB is a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health along Maine's coastal beaches. Funding is provided by a U.S. EPA grant. Today’s presentation will cover the State of Maine’s Beaches as far as water quality is concerned. This program monitors for Enterococci, and indicator of fecal contamination from the guts of warm-blooded animals such as humans, dogs, waterfowl and wildlife. In 2009, Maine has 62 beaches that participate spanning from Kittery to MDI, but today we are only going to talk about a dozen of them, located primarily in York and Cumberland County. I will briefly shared water quality data and potential pollution sources moving north to south along the coast.

First, Long Sands Beach in York. Keri puts a map on the screen of the beach, with data from 2003 to 2008. Overall, Long Sands Beach has beautiful water quality. However, there are some potential sources of bacteria. It is important to note potential as it is difficult to determine actual sources and Enterococci does not differentiate between human and non-human sources of bacteria.

Cape Neddick Beach. Here, due to the Cape Neddick River outlet, the bacteria levels have been higher compared to Long Sands. There is a lot of activity here, and it is more threatened. York is very proactive with its water quality program and is taking action to help pinpoint sources and figure out solutions. York has hired a shoreland resource officer who will examine local land-use practices and how they affect water quality, including collecting samples upriver to help pinpoint sources. It has been popular in York thus far, and is receiving local support. The board of selectmen unanimously passed the plan to continue this work in 2009 with funding to supplement what Healthy Beaches can support.

Ogunquit Beaches. Ogunquit has been divided into separate beach management areas water quality can differ greatly from one end to another; primarily due to the impact of the Ogunquit River mouth. There have been bacteria spikes here, exceeding the EPA safety limit. These are happening close to the river. Why? Rainfall washes the land and picks up various contaminants including malfunctioning septic system, pet waste, manure and compost piles too close to the stream bank. The water reaches stormdrains, streams, rivers, etc., and eventually makes its way to the shoreline. The watershed for the Ogunquit beaches is large, this is land mass draining to this particular water body. Many additional monitoring sites have been set up, and there are acoustic doppler profiling and other measure being set up along Ogunquit's beaches to identify pollution and bacteria sources. Generally, the larger the waves, the less the bacteria. Also, the more rain, the more bacteria. Maine Healthy Beaches is working to bring towns and other groups in the Ogunquit area together to identify and remediate pollution sources within the watershed.

Casino Square in Wells, Maine. The water quality is generally very good here, but an increase in impervious surfaces may be a threat. This is a heavily used beach.

Wells Beach. Also good quality, despite a river mouth along the beach. As with other beaches, there are threats.

Mother's Beach, Kennebunk. Overall good quality.

Gooch's Beach, Kennebunk. This area has had consistent bacteria problems, especially after large rain events. This is due in large part to the mouth of the Kennebunk River, which has a very large watershed. Many volunteers have worked for years on extra measurements along this river and watershed, and they are identifying hotspots in certain regions to help clean up. Working with the Maine Geological Survey, there has been a circulation study of the area and additional data analysis. One surprise of the study is that 59% of high samples were taken on a flood tide. Pollutants are leaving the river but hanging out just offshore, and then are being returned to the beach once the tide changes to flooding. Local circulation patterns may also be depositing pollutants and seaweed near site KBK-2, which could help lead to water quality issues. The town has been great in terms of improving their stormwater system and encouraging education and boating restrictions.

Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport. Another area where freshwater meets the shoreline, causing water quality problems. There are several examples of monitoring sites which exceed EPA limits, especially at the river mouths. Lots of potential sources for bacteria, both up river and along the coast. There has been special study work along Goose Rocks looking for sources, property surveys and more. Although bacteria levels are still high, there is a definite downward trend. The MGS circulation study determined this areas does not flush out well with the semi-diurnal tides and contaminants are pinned or kept at the beach by a large eddy or gyre formation.
Gil Bouche Park/Biddeford Pool Beach. Overall very good water quality. Lots of boating and moorings can lead to a lot of people dumping waste overboard.

Hills Beach, Biddeford. Exit of the Saco River means a lot of potential for problems. Problems with water quality here are being worked on by the town of Biddeford, especially in the areas of GIS mapping. Lots of properties surveyed throughout the watershed and illegal Basket Island discharges have been remedied.

Bayview and Kinney Shores, Saco, ME. Generally pretty good, but some bacteria spikes from Goosefare Brook on the north end.

Old Orchard Beach. Some spikes in bacteria, especially after rain events and the outlet of Goosefare Brook. This is a very large beach which has been divided into separate management areas as water quality can vary significantly on one end compared to the other. OOB is very heavily used.

Scarborough Beach State Park. Unlike the rest of the beaches, there's very little development around Scarborough Beach and potential for contamination. Very good water quality.

Higgins Beach, Scarborough, ME. Outflow of the Spurwink River has resulted in higher bacteria levels, especially following rainfall. The town is beginning to take notice of problems and has been improvements to the stormwater system.

Crescent Beach State Park. Overall very good water quality, however a small outlet by Kettle Cove lead to high bacteria levels, especially following rainfall.

Willard Beach, South Portland, ME. Has had some consistent spikes in bacteria, especially after rain events. The local beach manager is working to put out alerts after big rain storms. Willard Beach (just outside the window!) is very heavily used, and urban. Like many areas, it is multiple sources of bacteria acting together to cause a larger problem.

Popham Beach, Phippsburg, ME. A large beach, split into several sections, but overall very good water quality.

Questions? Rocky asks how many sewage treatment plans are on the rivers in question. He didn't realize that the Ogunquit sewage treatment plant pumped sewage offshore. A man from the area says that it was removed from the river and located a mile and a half offshore, and the result has been much cleaner water in the river and at the inlet.

John White responds to the treatment plant question that the Kennebunkport Sewage Treatment Plant pumps directly into the river, and is pleased to report that the Kennebunkport Plant does a good job disinfecting the river and keeping it clean. Disinfectant is not required, but this plant is doing it anyway, which goes a long way toward water quality. Also, after hearing about increased storms, the fact that water quality will be hurt wasn't mentioned. Mr. White thinks that water quality will be an increasing problem, despite the pleasant trends currently. Some solutions include better stormwater runoff and septic tank improvements.

Another questioner asks whether there have been cost-benefit studies about sewage treatment. Keri answers that she hasn't heard of such studies, but they're a great idea. She says it's up the local areas.

Another questioner asks whether there is data older than 2002. Keri answers that, no, there isn't older data. The questioner thinks that the data may be too small to make predictions about overall trends, and wonders whether this is just a result of natural trends. Keri responds that there simply wasn't the funding to get data previously.

Question: What about the impact of lawncare and pesticides? We can increase waterside buffers and decrease out dependance on chemicals.

Question: Peter Rush of the Portland Water District. There are a lot of regulations involved in this issue, more so than with drinking water. He says that in his 20 years, there isn't a lot of fluctuation from year to year in water quality. Big rain events are the biggest problems, and Portland is good about putting out alerts. Also, he says, there are other options on how to solve these issues, and the EPA hasn't necessarily given the best answers for how to do this.

Question: Ed Dion of the East End Beach asks if there have been studies about whether higher bacteria levels have affected humans? Keri responds that there is a huge need for such studies. It goes very underreported in Maine, these issues. Keri says that the DEP is coordinating with DHHS about what questions to ask and how they can do it. Similar studies should be done for economic impacts, she says.

Question: All water runs downhill. So, if you're trying to determine the problems, it may seem simplistic, but you can just look at the population increase in Southern Maine. There has been a large increase in impervious surfaces, and that will harm water quality. Also, he appreciates and depends upon Keri et al for their help and dedication to not only Southern Maine but the entire coast. Thunderous applause!