1. Project History

The culvert at Paines Creek beach provides flow to the salt marsh and salt pond to the east (Freemans Pond).  It was originally a partially crushed 3’ wide pipe, but in 2013 it was replaced by a box culvert.  This allowed additional flow to the restricted salt marsh and pond.  Due to sensitive wetlands surrounding the channel to the pond, we were unable to obtain a permit to install sufficient scour protection in the channel.

The area around the culvert and the beach access way that crosses over the top have been suffering from ongoing erosion over the years. The erosion occurs on both the ocean facing (west) and the upstream facing (east) sides of the culvert. Ocean facing side erosion is mostly due to storm surges with related wave action while upstream side erosion is due to both overtopping during storms and the drainage velocity conditions created as upstream water drains out of the culvert on the falling tide. As a result of this erosion, Town staff have had to replenish the sand over and surrounding the culvert about a half dozen times a year on average to maintain beach access and protect the integrity of the culvert itself.

The Town now seeks to stabilize the culvert and surrounding areas to actively minimize the erosion, allow for continued safe and reliable pedestrian beach access, and to protect the previous investment in the replacement culvert with its tidal restoration and resilience benefits.