Narragansett Bay Reserve, Rhode Island
State
Rhode Island
State Partner
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Acres
4,259
Est. Date
1980
The Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is made up of four islands, which consist of just under 4,300 acres of salt marsh, pine and deciduous forests, coastal meadows, eelgrass beds, and rocky intertidal zones. The Reserve is home to a variety of wildlife including white-tailed deer, mink, butterflies, turtles, harbor seals, and countless species of birds. The staff work on important issues, such as adaptation to climate change, conservation, and low-impact development.
Explore the impact of Narragansett Bay Reserve’s educational programs in 2019, including stewardship and monitoring projects for homeschoolers and the annual Rhode Island Envirothon, gone virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Be A Friend
This reserve currently does not have a formal friends organization. Please stay tuned for more information.
Did You Know…
The Narraganssett Bay’s Hope Island is a major rookery for colonial nesting wading birds.
News from the Narragansett Reserve
Advancing wetland restoration science
A recent paper in Estuaries and Coasts sheds light on the practice of adding sediment onto marsh surfaces as a strategy to help them keep pace with rising seas.
One Seal, Two Seal…
This spring, with support from the Narragansett Bay Reserve and EPA staff, volunteer citizen scientists participated in an annual Save the Bay tradition: counting seals. The Reserve was responsible for counting the seal population around Prudence Island.
Coastal Resilience Yankee Style
Across New England, communities are struggling with the impacts of climate change, and the Coastal Training Programs (CTP) at the Great Bay, Wells, and Narragansett Bay Reserves are there to help.