CoastWeb - Conrads Beach, Site 2035, Halifax County, Nova Scotia

Conrads Beach is located 15 km east of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It is predominantly a sand beach except near Fox Point and Conrad's Head at its west end, where there is more pebble cobble. Landward of the present beach, multiple beach and dune ridges exist to the east of Fox Point, whereas to the west, there is extensive wetland and lagoon. West Marsh, inland of Conrad's Beach, is drained by the Eel River which flows into the ocean east of Fox Point.

Sketch of Site 2035

Conrads Beach and the location of seven cross-shore survey lines and control markers established as early as 1981. Beach surveys on next few pages illustrate how the beach morphology has adjusted over time with the transfer of sediment from the outer shore into the former tidal channel.

Repetitive Cross-Shore Surveys

Below high tide level, short term fluctuations in sand levels occur as a result of changing wave conditions. In contrast, the backshore dune is modified by wave run-up during less frequent storms, associated with high water levels (photos c, d). Photos taken a) July 30, 1986, b) August 7, 1991, c) February 26, 1998 and d) January 23, 2000, show that more sand tends to accumulate during the summer than winter but sand levels also fluctuate in winter as shown by photos c and d. The photos also show the longer term progressive switch in the backshore from sand to pebble cobble, and the burial of dunes by gravel.

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Quantitative measurements of beach change are derived from repetitive surveys. Changes observed at three lines are presented to illustrate the beach response at lines 2 and 5 which are west and east respectively of Fox Point, and within the area of the former tidal channel (line 7). All elevations are relative to Geodetic Datum.

Survey line 2

Five surveys from the period 1981 to 2005 were selected to illustrate the initial downcutting and transfer of sediment from the front of the beach into the inlet during the 1980s to the mid 1990s. Pebbles and cobbles exposed as the beach was cut down were deposited over sand dunes at the top of the beach and formed the foundation for additional dune building as the lower beach was rebuilt. The pebble-cobble upper beach ridge progressively extended from east to west alongshore from Fox Point. Inset: An expanded view of the sequence of beach ridge building over dunes.

Survey Line 5

Five surveys illustrate the dramatic loss of the seaward duneline between 1987 and 2005 with a short rebuilding phase between 1999 and mid-2003. The width of dune lost was 30 m at this location whereas farther east erosion was delayed until after 1997 when 15m of dune was removed by 2005. Repetitive surveys show that sand levels fluctuate by as much as 1.4 m across the upper intertidal zone.

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Views looking northwest alongshore at survey line 5

a) April 24, 1995 and b) June 16, 1997 showing the cut back in the seaward duneline and the loss of sand close inshore. (temporary markers, circled, show location of survey line). Changes across the lower intertidal flats occur in response to changes in the position of the tidal channel that cuts between Conrads Beach and Lawrencetown Head (background).

Survey Line 7

Four surveys at line 7 illustrate the rapid sediment accumulation and growth of new dunes after the inlet was closed off in 1989. The new duneline grew rapidly by 0.5 m in height betwewen 1995 and 1997 and was increased by a total of 0.85 m by 2005. The upper beach was built seaward nearly 30m in width between 1995 and 2005.

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View looking west at line 7 (person on line ), April 24, 1995, where a wide sand beach developed after the inlet to West Marsh closed in late 1989. Wind blown sand from the beach enhances the growth of dune grass in the backshore and the rapid growth of new dunes.

Additional reading

Nichol, S.L. and Boyd, R. 1993. Morphostratigraphy and Facies Architecture of Sandy Barriers Along the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia; Marine Geology; 114, 59-80.

Taylor R.B., Wittmann, S.L., Milne, M.J. and Kober, S.M. 1985. Beach Morphology and Coastal Changes at Selected Sites, Mainland Nova Scotia; Geological Survey of Canada Paper 85-12; 59 p.