Environment Bay of Plenty
5.4
47
Ohope Beach system
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5.4.1
Environment Bay of Plenty
Ohope Spit (CCS 9)
Discussion
The site is located 200m to the west of the Ohiwa Harbour
entrance. The Ohope Spit evidently formed rapidly
through longshore drift in the late Holocene (c. 2000 calendar years BP) Richmond et al. (1986);
Beanland & Berryman (1992). Murdoch (2005) has proposed a new mid-Holocene evolutionary
model. The model is based around new radiocarbon ages obtained from subsurface shells, in
situ tree stumps, together with tephrochronology and investigations of buried soil horizons. The
spit attained its current (historical) length by 4190 cal. yrs B.P. based on a shell date of this age
near the spit’s eastern end. A dominant feature is the series of six well vegetated sub parallel
dune ridges that recurve on the distal eastern end towards the harbour (Julian, 2006).
Ohiwa and Ohope Spits appear to be in a state of dynamic equilibrium, as Ohiwa Spit is now in a
state of strong accretion; the Ohope Spit is currently in a state of strong erosion. This trend is
highlighted in the profile summary and the statistical analysis. Conversely, Gibb (1994) when
reporting on the trend for 1944-1994 stated a shoreline advance of approximately 200m.
The offshore profiles show a significant loss of the sand when comparing the 2003 against the
1992 profile. A dominance of El Nino conditions (Figure 4.1) would result in an increased
eastward drift and a resulting loss of material from the Ohope Spit and corresponding
renourishment of the Ohiwa Spit/Bryans Beach section (as evidenced in Section 5.3.8).
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CCS 09 - Ohope Spit
Number of Profiles
Seasonal Profile Distribution
State: Erosion
25
20
15
10
5
Location: NZMG 2873878E 6348979N
Period of record: 1990 – 2006
No. of profiles: 39
Morphodynamic type (Wright Short model): Longshore Bar and Trough
Volume p-level – 0.00
TOF p-level.-.0.00
0
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Beach Profile Summary
MHWS position from Benchmark
(elevation 1.1m)
10
300
Distance (m)
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
12
8
6
200
100
Range = 295m
0
-100
Date
4
2
0
-2
-100
-50
0
8/03/1990
11/12/1996
50
Distance (m)
15/03/2006
100
Min Envelope
Average
150
Max Envelope
Offshore Profile Summary
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
-100
400
900
1400
Distance (m)
28/04/1992
16/05/1997
1900
2400
27/05/2003
Volume and Toe of Foredune Summary
180
850
y = -0.0404x + 1493.3
R2 = 0.9287
750
60
650
y = -0.1161x + 4569.4
R2 = 0.9153
550
450
20
350
-20
250
-60
-100
1990
3
100
Volume (m /m)
Distance from Front
Benchmark (m)
140
150
50
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Date
TOF position
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Volume
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5.4.2
Environment Bay of Plenty
Moana Street (CCS 10)
Discussion
This site is located 7km from the Ohiwa Harbour entrance.
Like CCS9, the photographic evidence shows that a
significant landward beach position change has occurred
along this section of the Spit. Faceted dune scarps
exhibiting deficient vegetation growth along central Ohope Beach and Ohope Spit provide visual
evidence of an actively eroding beach profile (Julian, 2006).
Investigation of the profile summary shows a landward retreat of the frontal dune at this site.
This trend is supported by the MWHS plot showing a 44m horizontal range at a fixed elevation of
1.1m.
The offshore profile record shows the seaward movement of sediment and the development of a
sizable offshore bar. Dissipative beaches normal do not normally exhibit marked offshore bars
but in this erosive state material could well be stored some distance offshore.
Statistical analysis of the toe of foredune position and beach volume show strong negative
sloped trends indicating a state of erosion for this site. As with CCS9, Gibb stated a long-term
trend (1944-1994) of shoreline advance of approximately 65m, ranging from 45 to 80m for this
section of beach.
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Seasonal Profile Distribution
Num ber of Profiles
CCS 10 - Moana Street
State: Erosion
35
30
25
20
15
10
Location: NZMG 2867816E 6350682N
5
0
Period of record: 1990 – 2006
No. of profiles: 77
Morphodynamic type (Wright Short model): Dissipative
Volume p-level – 0.00
TOF p-level – 0.00
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Beach Profile Summary
MHWS position from Benchmark
(elevation 1.1m)
6
110
Distance (m)
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
8
4
100
90
80
70
60
Range = 37m
2
Date
0
-2
0
20
40
60
08/03/90
80
11/12/96
100
Distance (m)
15/03/06
120
140
Min Envelope
Average
160
180
200
Max Envelope
Offshore Profile Summary
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Distance (m)
28/04/92
26/06/97
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
30/04/03
Volume and Toe of Foredune Summary
320
75
280
65
240
60
200
55
160
50
45
40
1990
y = -0.0103x + 506.76
R2 = 0.4413
Volume (m3/m)
Distance from Front
Benchmark (m)
70
y = -0.0036x + 184.57
R2 = 0.6065
120
80
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Date
Volume
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TOF position
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5.4.3
Environment Bay of Plenty
West End (CCS 11)
Discussion
This site is located 800m to the east of the Kohi Point
headland. This section of Ohope Beach has a north-north
east aspect. Steep cliffs shelter the beach from south and south easterly winds (Saunders,
1999). The photographic history shows a well vegetated low profile upper beach area. The
2006 photograph shows the effects of several significant storms and the introduction of a
number of exotic vegetation species.
The profile summary shows the retreat of the frontal dune position. Most of this landward
movement occurred during the three events listed in Table 3.1 (January 1996, December 1996
(Cyclone Fergus) and January 1997 (Cyclone Drena)). Not only was there a horizontal retreat
measured, but also a significant reduction in beach elevation, as material was removed off the
upper beach. The offshore profiles show no significant offshore bar (sand reservoir). When
discounting the divergent 1992 profile (700 – 1700m offshore) the remaining two profiles
converge at -6m.
The statistical analysis shows a significant retreat in the toe of foredune position. The volume
record is markedly different for the period 1999 to 2003 when there was significant vertical
growth in the beach profile. The state proposed for this site is heading toward erosion. As with
the other Ohope Beach sites, Gibb (1994) when analysing an earlier period of record calculated
a long-term trend (1944-1994) of shoreline advance of approximately 15m for this section of beach.
NERMN Beach Profile Monitoring
Environmental Publication 2007/08
Environment Bay of Plenty
53
CCS 11 - West End
Number of Profiles
Seasonal Profile Distribution
State: Erosion?
Location: NZMG 2864107E 6352323N
Period of record: 1990 – 2006
No. of profiles: 85
Morphodynamic type (Wright Short model): Dissipative
Volume p-level – 0.91
TOF p-level – 0.00
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Beach Profile Summary
4
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
MHWS position from Benchmark
(elevation 1.1m)
Distance (m)
120
2
100
80
60
Range = 84m
40
Date
0
-2
0
50
8/03/1990
100
Distance (m)
11/12/1996
15/03/2006
150
Min Envelope
Average
200
Max Envelope
Offshore Profile Summary
Elevation (Mot. Datum m.)
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
0
500
1000
Distance (m)
28/04/1992
26/06/1997
1500
2000
30/04/2003
Volume and Toe of Foredune Summary
160
140
90
y = -0.001x + 88.911
R2 = 0.0029
70
120
100
80
60
50
Volume (m3/m)
Distance from Front
Benchmark (m)
110
40
30
10
1990
y = -0.0045x + 189.33
R2 = 0.3583
20
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
Date
TOF position
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Volume
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NERMN Beach Profile Monitoring
Environment Bay of Plenty
Environmental Publication 2007/08