U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced on Mar. 9 that the Maine Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a construction contract to build a spur jetty at Camp Ellis in Saco.
The project aims to address severe shoreline erosion that has affected the Camp Ellis area for generations, resulting in the loss of dozens of homes and significant changes to the coastline. The new funding will support both the construction of a 750-foot spur jetty and the addition of approximately 300,000 cubic yards of sand fill. The first phase is expected to be completed by August 2027.
“The awarding of a construction contract is a key step in building a spur jetty at Camp Ellis,” said Senator Collins. “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to secure this funding, which will protect against the severe erosion that has destroyed dozens of residents’ homes over generations, and restore the receding shoreline.”
Jodi MacPhail, Mayor of Saco, also commented on the announcement: “On behalf of the City of Saco, we cannot be more thankful for the hard work, dedication and most of all the support of Senator Collins in her attempt to bring this project to reality. She has been a never-ending advocate in our partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers to secure our jetty in an attempt to protect our shoreline and all the residents who live there.”
The original jetty was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more than 150 years ago and expanded in the 1950s. This structure changed local currents and sand movement patterns, leading to ongoing erosion at Camp Ellis Beach and washing away 38 homes since its creation. By 1998, the shoreline had receded by about 400 feet compared to its position in 1908.
Supporters say that completing this project could help stabilize Camp Ellis’s shoreline and prevent further property loss.
