The 2013 State of Maine’s Beaches Report is the 4th report in a consecutive series of reports coinciding with the Maine Beaches Conference from 2007, 2009, and 2011. The purpose of the report is to summarize major observed morphologic characteristics and changes of Maine beaches that are monitored as part of the State of Maine Beach Profiling Project (SMBPP, Maine Sea Grant Extension, 2003). The SMBPP utilizes trained volunteers to collect monthly beach profiles which start at a known point or benchmark (usually in the frontal dune or in a seawall) and continue shore-perpendicular to roughly the low water line. Fixed starting locations are used with the Emery Method of beach profiling (Emery, 1961). Data collected is entered by volunteers into an online database, where it is accessible for outside researchers (Maine Shore Stewards, 2007). The SMBPP is funded and managed by combined efforts of the Maine Geological Survey, University of Maine, Maine Sea Grant, and Maine Coastal Program
