Preserving Rhode Island’s Coastal Wetlands

Rhode Island’s coastal wetlands safeguard clean water, support fisheries, protect shorelines from storm surges and erosion, and bolster the state’s outdoor recreation economy. However, these habitats are increasingly at risk due to development pressures and rising seas. In response, the Narragansett Bay Reserve and partners have protected a coastal area near Winnapaug Pond, ensuring the preservation of its wetlands, public access for recreation, and enhanced resilience for the local community.

“Without intervention, Rhode Island could lose up to 80% of its salt marshes by 2100 due to sea level rise,” says Caitlin Chaffee, manager of the Reserve. “By using marsh migration modeling conducted by the University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center, we identified the site as an ideal candidate for conservation; protecting it ensures the marsh will have space to migrate and continue to benefit local communities into the future.”

The 7-acre property, located along a barrier spit between Winnapaug Pond and Block Island Sound, was privately owned parcel and used informally by the Town for educational programs to access Winnapaug Pond. Recognizing its ecological and recreational value, the Reserve and its state partner, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), worked with the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and the Town of Westerly to secure federal funding to support its conservation. This allowed the Town of Westerly to purchase the property and DEM to acquire a conservation easement.

“As a coastal community, the Town of Westerly recognizes the immense value of natural habitats and the ability to safely access natural coastal environments,” says Shawn Lacey, Town Manager.

With the land secured, the Reserve, DEM, and the Town are now developing a management plan to guide habitat recovery and public use. A large pile of fill from the former water park will be redistributed to create gentle slopes that support marsh migration. Native vegetation will be planted to stabilize the coastal buffer zone and enhance biodiversity. These improvements will enhance public access to the pond for kayaking, paddleboarding, and birdwatching, which historically have been limited. 

The Reserve will monitor the impact of this work and apply lessons learned to future projects in Rhode Island and beyond. Mary Schoell, a former Digital Coast Fellow who led research that strengthened the case for BIL funding, spearheaded a project involving six other Reserves, which aims to support states in identifying and protecting future marsh migration areas. Pathways to Resilience is a Reserve-led initiative to collaborate with partners and communities to identify, protect, and manage the pathways through which wetlands can migrate as sea levels rise. The Pathways to Resilience project supported conversations around identifying the Winnapaug Pond property as a priority location for marsh migration. 

“This project is a winning example of how land conservation can be used to support the future of coastal wetlands in the face of sea-level rise,” says Mary Schoell, coastal scientist with Woods Hole Group and former Reserve project coordinator. “We are so excited to be able to preserve key sensitive habitat, reduce risk to surrounding communities, and protect an area that is under imminent and intense threat of development.”