Rhode Island's barrier beaches

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Coastal Zone
og Information
Center

0-10

Rhode lsland!3 Barrier Beaches: Volume 11

Reports and Recommendations
at the Community'Level

The Coastal Resources Center

A Coastal Management Publication
GB University of Rhode Island
459.4
Marine Technical Report No. 4
.044
1973
v. 2

4 33

PrOPertY Of CSC Library

RHODE ISLAND's BARRIER BEACHES: VOLUME II

Reports and Recommendations
at the Community Level

by
Stephen B. Olsen and Malcolm J. Grant

U . S . DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA
COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413

Published by THE COASTAL RESOURCES CENTER
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island

The report which follows is designed to supplement Rhode

Island's Barrier Beaches: Volume I A Report on a Management

Problem and an Evaluation of Options. Both documents are elements

in a study prepared for the State.Coastal Resources Management

Council by the University of Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Center.

In Volume I the natural features of barrier beaches, their

importance in ecological terms and techniques for management are

discussed, together with recommendations for development of a

statewide management plan. In this volume individual beaches are

examined on a community-by-community basis. A consolidated Table

of Contents for Volumes I and II is included. This study was sup-

ported in part by funds from the University of Rhode Island's

Institutional grant from the Office of Sea Grant Programs, National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

VOLUME 1: A Report on a Management Problem and
an Evaluation of Options

Chapter I Introduction I

Chapter 11 Geological Processes 5

Chapter III Ecological Processes 14

Cha pter IV Development Consequences and
Management Policies 25

Cha ter V Tools at Hand: Controlling Use
p of the Land Resource 45

Chapter VI Conclusions and Recommendations 92

Appendices:

1. Report of Citizens Committee
on Barrier Beaches
2. Glossary of Terms
3. Acknowledgments

VOLUME 11: Reports and Recommendations at the
Community Level

Methods and General Findings 1 8

Town of Westerly 9

Town of Charlestown 25

.Town of South Kingstown 41

Town of Narragansett 54

Town of Jamestown 68

Page

City of Newport 72

Town of Middletown 82

Town of Little Compton 89

Town of New Shoreham 103

A location map identifying the barrier beach areas which

were studied follows the Table of Contents. Land use and natural

feature maps were completed for all barrier beaches and a number of

these appear in this volume at the ends of some of the individual

reports.

__j --j _jl; __j so,
R1 10DE ISLAND BARRIER BEINCIA STUDY
co.%s-[.\I, ;@1'-.S01.-RC1,S
UNIVERSI'I'N' OF R11010" 1S1,X\D
j 0. V63
PRIDVIDENC

LOCATION MAP

Key:
'I . Napatree Point Barrier
2. Mashauq Ponds Barrier
3-- Winnapaua Pond Barrier (Atlantic Beach)
4. Quoncchontaug Pond Barr-er
5.. Michel, Garden and East'Ponds-Barrier
6. Ninigret Pond Barrier (East Beach portion) f
7. Ninicret Pond Barrier (Charlestown. Beach portion)
8. Green Hill Pond Barrier,
9. Trustom Pond Barrier..
10. Card Ponds Barrier
11. Eas tMatunuck and Jerusalem Barrier -
12. Point Judith Pond Barrier
13. Narragansett Beach Barrier
14. Sonnet Shores Barrier
15. Mackerel Cove Barrier @q a
16. Lily Pond Barrier (Hazard's Beach) 0 2T
19 26
17. Almy Pond Barrier(Bailey's Beach) 18
25
18. Easton Pond Barrier (First Beach) 141
19.- Nelson and Gardiner Ponds Barrier (Second Reach) 15 24
i 21 22 23
20. Third Beach Barrier I T
21. Watch House Pond Barrier
22. Round Pond Barrier
23. Long Pond Barrier (Tappen's Beach)
24. Briggs Harsh Barrier
25. Ship Pond Barrier - L111 \RHODE ISLAND SOUND
.26. Round Meadow Pond Barrier 8 10
27. Tunipus, and Quicksand Ponds Barrier 7
28. Coast Guard Beach Barrier 5
29. Sandy Point and West Beach Barrier 4
30. Crescent Beach Barrier 2 29

BLOCK ISLAND SOUND.
30
28

r- 9-r -9
0 3 10 MILES

VOLUME II

ERRATA

Location Map: Mashaug Ponds should read Masdhaug Ponds.

Page 3, line 2: delete period between barriers and it. Read as
single sentence.

Page 41, Title: South Kingston should read South Kingstown.

Page 60, line 16: NauraZ should read NaturaZ.

Page 62, line 16: LEESEES should read LESSEES.

Maps following page 88: SACHUET should read SACHUEST.

Page 108, lines 16, 17: Sachem Pond Barrier (Sanoy Point, West and
Coast Guard Beach) should read Sandy Point, Flest and Coast Guard
Beach Barriers. Reference to Sacher Pond should be dropped.

Maps following page 112. The southernmost barrier beach indicated on
the maps (lower right,hand cornet) is not labeled. It should read
COAST GUARD BEACH.

Map following page 52. Industrial and Governmental area around Card
Pond should- appear as Light ResidentiaZ.

INTRODUCTION

METHODS

In this study all narrow strips of land composed principally of

sediments ranging in size from sand to cobble and separated from the

mainland by a coastal pond or wetland were considered barrier beaches.

Napatree Point, which is a barrier spit (technically a tombolo) also was

included. The lateral boundaries of the study areas were defined by

lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastal trend from the ocean

side of the barrier to the furthest lateral extension of pond or wet-

land. Headlands, as identified by higher elevations and changes in

geology, were not included. Generally, the study areas included all

pondside wetland joined to the barrier. Thirty barrier beaches were

identified (see Location Map) with a total-area of 2,287 acres and

27.4 miles of ocean shoreline. In some cases areas have been included

that may not come under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Resources

Management Council. The findings of this study, however, will be of

great assistance when, for the purposes of management, a legal defini-

tion of barrier beaches is developed.

The Coastal Resources Center was given approximately six months to

complete thestudy and propose recommendations forthe future management

and use of Rhode Island barrier beaches to the Coastal Council. The
Center, 'with a small permanent staff, was hard pressed to meet the dead-

line. Additional part time staff was recruited and the form and content

of the report was shaped by what we felt could be done with the time and

resources available. The results of an extensive literature study are

presented in Volume I. This volume presents the findings of a field

survey, interviews with town officials, a study of natural features made

from aerial photographs and a study of ownership and land use made from

the records of town assessors.

The field survey was completed in early October of 1972. First

the barrier beaches were photographed from the air, then they were all

walked or driven over from end to end. Notes were taken on the condi-

tion of the dunes and the vegetation. Transit readings were made to

get representative figures for the heights of dune crests above sea

level. When the dune crest was fairly even only one or two readings were

made; when it was uneven.additional readings were taken to cover the range

of heights.

Before the barrier beach study was planned, the Center had arranged

for Environmental Associates of North Kingstown, Inc. to map the pri nci-

pal natural and man-made features in a mile wide strip around the state's

coastline. The features are identified on aerial photographs taken in

April of 1972. When it became necessary to prepare a study of the barrier

beaches it was decided to map them first. Some of the results of this

work are included under the heading of "Principal Vegetation Types" in

the data tabulations on each barrier. The maps in this volume of the

principal natural and man-made features on the barriers were drawn from

more detailed maps produced by this study. It must be noted that the

areas identified as marsh on the maps only include true salt and fresh-

water marsh. Other freshwater wetlands, including stands of the reed

Phragmities communis (a hydrophytic grass) which is common along the

pond side of barrier beaches but is not strictly speaking a marsh species,

are included with secondary. growth. However, since Phragmities, is

protected by the Rhode Island Freshwater Wetlands Law and will be used

in defining the lateral boundaries of the barriers. It is included under

the "wetland" heading in the area tabulations in the text.

The results of the ownership and land use study are presented in

summary form-in-the maps and tables in the chapters that,follow. The

data were gathered from tax assessors records at town 'halls. Flat maps

of the barriers were traced and the plat numbers recorded. The area,

assessed value, and use of the properties and the place of residence
of owners were then tabulated. It is important to recognize t@at the

accuracy of.tax records is variable. In some cases property recorded

at the town halls has been eroded or inaccurately surveyed. Since

Little Compton has no plat maps all figures for the town had to be

estimated. It also should be made clear that the market value of the

property is substantially greater than its assessed value. The values

given in the data tabulations for each barrier, therefore, must be used

with great caution. They do, however, tell us the value of barrier

property to the town through the taxes they produce. The categories

used in the ownership and land use study are defined as follows:

Private Undeveloped (PU): privately owned land which is without

structures and is notbeing used for a taxable activity.

Private Conservation (PC): privately owned land which is

classified in the tax assessor's records as a Conservation

Area and is tax exempt.

Private Beach (PB): a privately owned bathing beach administered

as a commercial enterprise or a club.

Private Limited Development (PLD): privately owned unsubdivided

property with an average of not more than one residence every

two acres.

Private Urban Development (PU D): privately owned subdivided lots

averaging more than one residence every two acres.

Town Conservation (TC): land owned by a town and classified as

a Conservation Ar ea.

Town Beach (TB): land owned by a town and administered as a

public bathing beach.

Special District Conservation (-DC): land owned by a fire district

or utility such as a water company and classified as a Conserva-

tion Area.

Special District Beach (DB): land owned by a fire district and

administered as a bathing beach.

State Conservation (SC): state land classified as a Conservation

Area.

State Urban Development (SUB): state land !eased to private

parties for residential and commercial development (for

example, Galilee)

Federal (US): land owned by the federal government.

FINDINGS

Forty-nine percent (13.1 miles) of Rhode Island's barrier beach

ocean shoreline is presently undeveloped. As the state's shoreline

becomes more crowded and developed the pressures on the undeveloped

barrier beaches increases. In Charlestown and South Kingstown houses

are again being built on barriers that had every structure swept off

them during both major hurricanes of the past 40 years. The barriers

that have been developed as residential areas and public bathing beaches

are fragile and vulnerable to storm damagebut their use is well

established and is unlikely to change, at least until the next major

hurricane. The undeveloped barriers, however, are a unique natural

resource which is being badly misused. Rhode Island has no law pro-

tecting the dunes and most people are unaware of their value. Only

in the Napatree Point Conservation Area have concerted efforts been

made to inform the public of their importance. The majority of Rhode

Island's barrier dunes are crisscrossed with footpaths and vehicle

tracks, and natural redevelopment after their erosion by the 193q and

1954 hurricanes has been checked. Lines of well developed barrier dunes

would provide the barrier ponds and mainland with a buffer against

hurricanes and they would add to the beauty of the state's shoreline.

A comparison of aerial photographs taken in 1962 and 1972 makes the

misuse of the barriers full y evident. The 1962 photographs of the

Ninigret Pond barrier, for example, show that the band of vegetation

was narrow but that the barrier was recovering from the destruction of

the 1954 hurricane. There was only one vehicle route up the middle of

the barrier and a few footpaths across the dunes. Photographs taken 10

years later show that the width of the vegetated strip has almost doubled

but that vegetated areas have been cut up by a maze of paths and vehicle

tracks. Large areas are completely unvegetated and the erosion of the

dune by wind and waves is evident along the length of the barrier. Such

erosion could be checked if the dunes were protected from human use and

current dune stabilization programs were continued.

Only the towns of Westerly and New Shoreham have ordinances protect-

ing the dunes. The dunes along Westerly's heavily developed Winnapaug

Pond barrier have been preserved by forbidding any construction that

would weaken the dunes and by requiring that all houses built behind

dunes must have boardwalks across the dunes to the beach. On other

barriers several projects were undertaken to rebuild and revegetate dunes

destroyed by the 1954 hurricane. These projects were successful and

along Second Beach in Middletown, for example, a line of substantial

dunes was developed. Since then, however, these dunes have been unpro-

tected from human misuse and erosion has been allowed to go unchecked.

As a result these dunes are in places lower today than they were 10

years ago.

Interviews with town officials made it clear that the towns would

welcome suggestions and assistance to help them better manage their

barrier beaches. It was also clear, however, that relations between the

towns and state authorities are poor. Along the coast west of Narragansett

Bay the towns are displeased with the management of the state beaches.

Town officials feel that the towns should be given a share of the

revenues they produce. There is little or no cooperation or even com-

munication between town and state officials on the management of state

owned beaches and conservation areas and any suggestion of more state

control and ownership of barrier beaches is not welcomed. There will

always be struggles for authority between local and state governments

but the present atmosphere of distrust does not augur well for the co-

operation that will be needed if the barrier beaches are to be properly

managed in the future.

The findings of the land use and ownership study are summarized

below:

LAND USE OWNERSHIP

Undeveloped
29% State
32%
tic Beach
79% Conservation Private
36% 46%
Town
8% 13%
8% us
6%
Urban 3%-
Development Special District
Limited Development

Of the 2,287 acres of barrier beach in Rhode Island, 65% are un-

developed and 35% are developed.

Of the total,, 8% is classified as "private urban development"

(more than one house per two acres), 5% is "private limited development"

(one house or less per two acres), 19% is in public bathing beaches with

or without permanent structures, and 3% is federal property in the

"limited development" category.

Private owners control undeveloped barrier beach available for

exploitation amounting to 26% of the total. The state and ocean com-

munities ow nundeveloped barriers established as conservation areas

amounting to 32% of the total acreage. Of the remaining undeveloped
Pub

barrier beaches, 2% are in tax exempt private conservation areas, 2%

are in fire district or public utility conservation areas and 3% are in

undeveloped federal land.

There are at present no state or local ordinances that expressly

prohibit the development of privately owned land. Several towns, however,

are in the National Flood Insurance Program and, therefore, impose special

building standards on structures on harrier beaches. In the case of

Charlestown and Green Hill Beach in South Kingstown these constraints

have not discouraged people from building.

All of the "private urban development" category is in Washington

County and such development is presently increasing.

All of the state beaches on the ocean barriers are in Washington

County while by far the largest amount of municipally owned barrier

bathing beaches is in Newport County.

Out-of-state residents own 410,o of all developed and undeveloped

barrier beach acreage in the private sector.

TOWN OF WESTERLY

BARRIER BEACHES:

1. Nap atree Point Barrier

2. Maschaug Ponds Barrier

3. Winnapaug Pond Barrier (Atlantic Beach)

4. Quonochontaug Pond Barrier,

Total Length: 5.6 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean
Acreage ShoreZine Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 183 6,200 ft. 167,000

2. Private Conservation 16 --- 5,000

3. Private Beach 22 31,300 11 104$000

4. Private Light
Development 3 400 35,000

5. Private Urban
Development 62 6,000 1$066,000

6. Town Conservation 2 --- ---

7. Town Beach 3 600

8. Special District
Conservation 37 4,800

9. Special District
Beach 18 2,100 49,000

10. State Conservation 9 500

11. State Beach 62 3,200

Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment

12. State Urban Development $

13. Federal --- ---

TOTALS 417 27,000 ft. $11,426,000

*NOTE: This is approximately 2.3% of the assessed value of all property

taxed by the town. It produces $BO,000 in annual tax revenue.

DISTR1-BUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 88

2. Other, Rhode Island 14

3. Out-of-state 115

TOTAL 217

MunicieaZ ControZs: Westerly is in the permanent program of the

National Flood Insurance Program. Its zoning ordinances and building

code have been amended to include special restrictions on new construc-

tion in flood prone shore areas including the barrier beaches. With

the exception of Atlantic Beach, the barrier beaches are zoned as flood

prone residential areas where development is stringently controlled.

Atlantic Beach is zoned for residential and commercial development.

Westerly has effective ordinances protecting its barrier beaches

and dunes. No building is permitted on dunes and the owners of homes

built behind dunes are required to protect them by building boardwalks

to the beach and erecting snow fences. This ordinance has preserved the

dunes in a heavily developed strip along Atlantic Beach. Vehicular use

of the beach is prohibited from mid June to mid September.

Comprehensive Community Plan: Westerly's community plan does

not propose any major changes for the town's ocean shoreline and the

existing patterns of barrier development are maintained. Only Atlantic

Beach is open to commercial development. The plan proposes that re-

maining marsh areas be preserved as open space.

Genera I Problems: The management of Westerly's barrier beaches

is complicated by the town's proximity to Connecticut and by the state

beach at Misquamicut (Atlantic Beach). Out-of-state recreators crowd

Westerly's beaches and create a number of problems for residents. The

great numbers of people that visit the private conservation areas at

Napatree and Quonochontaug make their maintenance a complex and often

expensive problem. The Misquamicut State Beach places a heavy burden

on town police and traffic control services for which the town receives

no compensation. Local officials are united in their belief that com-

pensation should be provided by the state and Westerly legislators have

this year again introduced legislation in the General Assembly requir-

ing that State Beach revenues be shared with the town.

Napatree Point Barrier
Length: Z.2 miles

LAND USE: Ocean .No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 39.0 13,220 ft. 17 $ 9,400

0 cean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

2. Private Urban
Development 1.0 --- 1 $ 51,150

3. Special District
Conservation 37.0 4,760 ft. 12 unavailable

4. Special District
Beach 18.0 2,130 5 48,500

TOTALS 95 8,110 ft. 35 $ 109,050

DISTRTBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 10

2. Other, Rhode Island 2

3. Out-of -state 7

TOTAL 19

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 19.6 acres

2. Secondary Growth 10.6 acres

3. Wetland 0.9 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 39 homes destroyed, 15 deaths

2. 1954 $180,000 damage

HURR-TCANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER)

1. 1938 10.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 9.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end (near Point) 7.5 ft. above m.ean sea level

2. Middle 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Ea st end (near entrance) 10 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features: Napatree Beach is a tombolo a sand spit

formed by longshore currents and wave action. It connects Napatree

Point,to the Watch Hill headland. The barrier is narrow (200 yards

maximum) and low in profile. The ocean and bay side beaches are

separated by a vegetated dune varying in height from eight feet above

mean sea level at the western end to ten feet at the eastern end. Vege-

tation on the barrier is a vigorous growth of beachgrass. The dune is

cut by numerous washovers (33 are visible on 1972 aerial photographs)

and footpaths. At the eastern end of the barrier the seaward base of

the dune has been eroded by wave action. Napatree Point is formed of

glacial deposits and rises substantially higher than the barrier beach.

It is densely covered in shrubs and small trees and supports the ruins

of old coast artillary batteries.

DeveZopment: At the extreme eastern end of the barrier beach is

a private beach club which leases its land from the Watch Hill Fire

District. The clubhouse is built onthe dune and a large parking lot

extends across the width of the barrier. The remainder of the barrier

is administered as a Conservation Area by the Watch Hill Fire District.

The Napatree Point Conservation Committee, a private group of Watch

Hill residents, has been active in trying to protect the area and edu-

cate the public to its proper use. Snow fences have been erected across

the washovers, a number of ecological studies initiated and in 1970

vehicles were banned. the resu lts of this work are encouraging.

Napatree, at least in the fall and winter, is an oasis of calm and

natural beauty in an otherwise crowded'and heavily developed region.

The survival of Napatree as a natural area of great beauty is, however,

by no means assured. The average number of visitors on summer weekends

is some 500 people and close to 200 boats. A number of houseboats anchor

for the summer in the lee of the barrier. Studies made during the summer

of 1972 relate the refuse from boats to the decreasing numbers of clams,

crabs, scallops and lobsters in the area. The Department of Health

has prohibited the harvesting of shellfish along the northern side of

the Point. It has proved difficult to restrict people to the beach and

designated paths and the protection of beachgrass has been a major problem.

Storm HistoyW: Napatree Beach was heavily developed by the turn

of the century. The 1938 hurricane destroyed all structures that had

been built on the barrier and fifteen lives were lost. The dune was

washed into Little Narragansett Bay. The barrier was again extensively

damaged in 1954 and sin ce then has remained undevelope d. Its present

elevation remains well below potential hurricane flood levels. Al-

though low and narrow, the barrier provides limited hurricane protec-

tion to the towns of Westerly and Pawcatuck (Connecticut).

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The continued management of Napatree as a private Conservation

Area open to the public is desirable.

2. Should the Watch Hill Fire District wish to assure Napatree

Point"s futureas a Conservation Area it can negotiate a

conservation easement with the town or state. The time

period covered by such aneasement could be flexible and the

town would be authorized to lower the area's tax assessment

under Chapter 44-27, General Laws of 1968. A negotiated

easement need not involve modification of existing use

restrictions and might provide for state or municipal assis-

tance in management and policing (see-Vol. I, pp. 77-83 for

additional information on easements).

3. The.town could insure the. future of Napatree, Point as a

Conservation Area by rezoning it for conservation and thereby

closing it to development.

4. A stabilized walkway from the Conservation Area's main access

point across the dune to the beach should be provided. Addi-

tional efforts should be made to keep people off beachgrass.

5. The existing use of the developed eastern end of Napatree is

acceptable.

Maschaug Ponds Barriers
Length: 0.8 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 6.2 1,185 ft. 13 $ 16.1260

2. Private Beach 17.2 2,880 13 49,920

Ocean No. of
Acreage ShoreZine Lots Assessment-

3. Private Urban
Development 0.9 250 ft. 5 $ 17,350

TOTALS 24.3 4,315 ft. 31 $ 83,530

D-TSTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND-LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 4

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 9

TOTAL 13

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 6.6 acres

2. Secondary Growth 0.6 acres

3. Wetland None

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (=LWATER):

1. 1938 11 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 10 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end of
Little Maschaug Pond 8 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development: This barrier is less than a

mile to the west of Winnapaug Pond. The beach and dune are composed

of a mixture of sand and pebbles. The dune is poorly vegetated and

severely eroded at the eastern end but its condition improves to the

west. The ponds behind the barrier have no permanent breachways and

are fringed by freshwater marsh.

The eastern end of the beach is littered with the remains of

foundations of homes destroyed by past hurricanes. There is presently

no construction on or immediately adjacent to the barrier. The land

behind the pond is developed as a private golf course.

Storm History: The maximum elevation (eight feet above MSL)

of this barrier is well below projected hurricane flood levels. No

hurricane damage figures are available, but the remains of former re-

sidences indicate the beach's vulnerability to storms

RECOMIENDATIONS:

1. Flood hazard zoning should be applied to this barrier. It

should be closed to any development.

2. Conservation easements should be negotiated by the town or

the state with the owners to insure its preservation as

open space.

Winnapaug Pond Barrier
(Atlantic Beach)
Length: 2.5 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 118.7 2,200 ft. 105 128,590

2. Private Beach 4.4 400 8 54,200

3. Private Light
Development 2.5 350 1 34,700

4. Private Urban
Development 59.7 5,800 180 994,120

5. Town Conservation 2.2 --- 1 ---

6. Town Beach 3.1 580 7 ---

7. State Beach 62.3 3,200 2 ---

TOTALS 252.9 12,530 ft. 304 $1,211,610

DISTRIBUT-TON OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 67

2. Other, Rhode Island 12

3. Out-of-state 99

TOTAL 178

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 45.4 acres

2. Secondary growth 34.5 acres

3. Wetland 132.5-acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 All houses destroyed

2. 1954 $2.946 million

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 11.8 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. State beach
(artificial dune) 10.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. Atlantic Ave. residential
development (by public
right-of-way) 13 ft. above mean sea level

3. High dune at eastern end 30 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and DeveZopment: This is one of the most

heavily developed barriers in the state. Misquamicut State Beach is

located at its western end and is surrounded by a heavy concentration

of concession stands and recreationally ori6nted businesses. The dune

in this area has been replaced by an artificial dike made of gravel fill.

Much of the barrier behind this dike has been paved to provide parking

for the state beach. A long stretch of Atlantic Avenue east of the

state beach is flanked by summer homes. The houses on the ocean side

are built behind a well developed dune which is in remarkably good con-

dition and maintains a relatively constant elevation of approximately

14 feet above MSL. There are few blowouts and no washovers. The good

.condition of the dune can he attributed to the restriction of foot

traffic over the dune to boardwalks. There is, however, only one public

right-of-way to the beach along this stretch of the barrier. Develop-

ment is less dense on the pond side of the avenue. There has been some

filling of the extensive salt marshes which stretch far out into

Winnapaug Pond. Filling is most common at the western end of the barrier.

Remnants of the high dunes which once ran the length of the beach

can be seen at the eastern end of the barrier. Several homes built

before 1938 are located on the pond side slope and near the crest of

these dunes whose crest heights approacb 30 ft. above MSL. The seaward

face of the dunes is unvegetated and wind erosion is evident in many

places. A private bathing beach is located beyond the high dunes and

adjacent to the Weekapaug Breachway. A low dune in front of the bath-

house is unvegetated.
. .. I
Storm History: In 1938 and again in 1954 all but the dunes at

the western end of Atlantic Beach were swept clean of buildings. Bath-

ing facilities and many summer homes were destroyed and washed inland.

In 1954 hurricane damages approached $3 million. Dune crest heights

along most of the beach are at present only slightly above the 1938

hurricane stillwater levels. All but the few residences built on the

high dunes to the east are consequently vulnerable to severe storm

damage. While the dune will provide storm protection to development

behind the pond, past experience suggests that the barrier itself will

be swept clean and that much damage will be caused by debris washed

off the barrier and across the pond.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. Prospective buyers of barrier property should be informed

of the barrier's vulnerability to storm damage.

2. Town ordinances protecting dunes and requiring walkovers

from back dune residences to the beach should remain in force.

3. A dune stabilization program should be undertaken to prevent

further erosion of the ocean side slope of the high dunes at

the eastern end of the barrier. Public access to these

areas should be prohibited.

4. The state and town should cooperate in solving problems caused

by the heavy use of Misquamicut State Beach. User fees should

be levied and shared with the town. Traffic problems will

require careful management. Recreators.should be-warned

and detoured to other areas when the State Beach is filled

to capacity. T hey should be intercepted on all major roads

leading to the beach.

Quonochontaug Barrier
(WesterZy Portion)
Length: Z. I miZes

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
-Acreage ShoreZine Lots Assessment--

1. Private Undeveloped 19.0 1,555 ft. 7 $ 12,870
2. Private Conservation -16.1 --- .1 5,250

3. Private Urban
Development 0.3 --- 1 3,500

Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

4. Special District
Beach 17.7 3,910 ft. 67 $ unavailable

5. State Conservation 9.3 4 exempt

TOTALS 62.4 5,965 ft. 80 $ 21,620

D-TSTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 7

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 0

TOTAL 7

PRINCIPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 35.8 acres

2. Secondary Growth 15.8 acres

3. Wetland 10.8 acres

HURR-TCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $81,000 (includes Charlestown portion)

HURR-TCANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end 13 ft. above mean sea level

2. East end 18.5 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and DeveZopment: The western two thirds of this

barrier is in the town of Westerly and the remainder in Charlestown.

Nearly all of the Westerly portion is administered as a Conservation

Area by the Weekapaug Fire District. The dune is well vegetated and

has only one washover at its extreme western end. The dunes increase

in height to the east and reach 20 feet above MSL towards the middle

of the barrier. These dunes like those at the western end of Atlantic

Beach are remnants of the high dunes common before the 1938 hurricane.

The pond side of the dune is densely vegetated in shrubs and small

trees and the ocean side is well vegetated by beachgrass. A road for

four wheel drive vehicles runs behind the dune from the western end of

the barrier to the breachway.

Storm History Quonochontaug barrier as a whole sustained $81,000

in property damages during the 1954 hurricane (1938 data is not avail-

able). The barrier west of the breachway has not been redeveloped.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The use of this barrier as a private Conservation Area

open to the public is desirable.

2. Should the Quonochontaug Fire District wish to assure this

barrier's future as a Conservation Area it can negotiate a

conservation easement with the town or state. The time

period covered by such an easement could be flexible and the

town would be authorized to lower the area's tax assessment

under Chapter 44-27, General Laws of 1968. A negotiated

easement need not involve modification of existing use restric-

tions and might provide for state or municipal assistance in

management and policing (see Vol. I, pp. 77-83 for additional

information on easements).

3. The town could protect the future of the ConservationArea

by rezoning it for conservation and thereby closing it to

development.

now MMMMMMMM M- wm-mm, ON

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANUARY 1973

NAPATREE POINT BARRIER

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

Uz ... - SECOND GROWTH

F-7-7-7 771
- MARSH

- AGRICULTURAL

- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

NAPATREE BEACH

................ .

NAPATREE POINT

0 100' 500' 1/4mi. 112 mi.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
3ANUARY 1973 Q
NAPATREE POINT BARRIER

PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach
SC State Conservation
SB State Beach
SUD State Urban Development
us Federal

DC ')C -?1j PU
PU DC DC

NAPATREEBEACH

NAPATREE POINT

0 log 500'

m m m w mm m m m w m w w m mom
RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES (:ENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JNNUARY 1973

QUONOCHONTAUG BARRIER

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

r777777777n
- SECOND GROWTH

- MARSH

- AGRICULTURAL

- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL QUONOCHONTAUG POND

--- - -------

QUONOCHONTAUG BEACH

0 lw sw 1/4.i. 112 i.
iL

RHODE ISL 'kND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOLTRCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JAMARY I'M

QUONCICHONTAUG BARRIER
PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach
SC State Conservation
SB State Beach
SUD State Urban Development
us Federal

QUONOCHONTAUGPOND

PU SC
PU DC
-B pu@
PU PUD
PUD
QUONOCHONTAUG BEACH S'B

0 W 5W LA.i. 1/2.i.

TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN

BARRIER BEACHES:,

1. Quonochontaug Barrier (Charlestown portion)

2. Michel, Garden and East Pond Barrier (including Central Beach)

3. Ninigret Pond Barrier (East Beach and Charlestown Beach)

Total Length: 5.1 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean
Acreage -Shoreline Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 198 10,400 ft. $ 105,000

2. Private Conservation --- --- ---

3. Private Beach 4 300 53,000

4. Private Light
Development --- ---

5. Private Urban
Development 22 1,700 305,000

6. Town Conservation --- --- ---

7. Town Beach 17 50 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation ---

9. Special District Beach --- --- ---

10. State Conservation 330 13000 exempt

11. State Beach --- ---

12. State Urban Development --- ---

13. Federal 27 1,200 exempt

TOTALS 598 27,050 463,000

26 -

NOTE: This is approximately 2.2% of the assessed value of all property

taxed by the town. It produces an annual tax revenue of $13,900.

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town residents 21

2. Other, Rhode Island 37

3. Out-of-state 78

4. Unknown 25

TOTAL 161

MunicipaL Controls: Charlestown has no zoning-ordinances. The

town participates in the permanent program of the National Flood Insur;-.

ance Program. However, Charlestown is overdue in making the necessary

modifications to its building code and there is a definite possibility

that it will withdraw from the program in the near future. A town

ordinance prohibits vehicles from driving on beaches but is not enforced.

Comprehensive Conmnity PZan: The Charlestown community plan

was completed in 1971. It has yet to be formally adopted and without

town zoning it is unlikely that it will have any significant infl uence

over community development.

General Problems: The State of Rhode Island and the federal

government own large tracts of land in Charlestown. The town receives

no compensation for the loss in property tax revenues that this entails

and,therefore,does not favor further public acquisition. Town officials

feel that the state owned beaches are poorly managed and compete un-

fairly with tax paying commercial facilities.

Charlestown officials are highly critical of the present situation

at the Ninigret Conservation Area. They feel that the area is inade-

quately police d, is suffering from severe misuse and competes un-

fairly with the adjacent private beaches. Heavy summer traffic along

the access road from Route 1 is an inconvenience to, local residents.

Quonochontaug Barrier
(Charles-town Portion)
Length: 0.9 miZes

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 65.5 3,150 ft. 28 $ 17,05 5

2. Private Beach 4.1 335-11 12 52,875

3. Private Urban
Development 5.5 490 56 147,975

4. State Conservation 49.2 280 24 exempt

TOTALS 124.3 4,255 ft. 120 217,905

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town.Residents 4

2. Other, Rhode Island 11

3. Out-of-state 13

4. Unknown 12

TOTALS 40

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION. TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 17.1 acres

2. Secondary Growth 16.1 acres

3. Wetland 103.5 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $81,000 (includes Westerly portion)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.0 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. High dune on west
side of breachway 21.5 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features and DeveZopment: The Charlestown portion of

Quonochontaug barrier west of the breachway is undeveloped. The dune

is high and well stabilized by beachgrass on the ocean side and a dense
growth of shrubs and small trees on the pond side.' A road behind the

dune for four wheel drive vehicles leads to the breachway. Many

vehicles, however, drive along the beach which is steep and narrow near

the breachway. In October, when investigators visited this barrier,

vehicles had crowded the.dune and eroded the dune base. A widening strip

of beachgrass was being destroyed and the dune face had been weakened.

With the exception of a small area owned by the state, this portion of the

barrier is owned by the Nopes Island Association which administers it

as a Conservation Area.

On the eastern side of the breachway Quonochontaug barrier is

administered by the Shelter Harbor Fire District and has several houses

onit. The ext ensive salt marshes on the pond side are a state conser-

vation area.

Storm Histor rrier were severely
,y: Structures on Quonochontaug ba i

damaged by the 1954 hurricane. Records are not available for damages

from the 1938 hurricane.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Should the Nopes Island Association or the.Shelter Harbor

Fire District wish to assure the Quonochontaug barrier's future

as a Conservation Area they can negotiate a conservation ease-

ment with the town or state. The time period covered by such

an easement could be flexible and the town would be authorized

to lower the area's tax assessment under Chapter 44-27,

General@Laws of 1968. A negotiated easement need not involve

modification of existing use restrictions and might provide

for state or municipal assistance in managing and policing

(see Vol. I, pp.77-83 for additional information'on easements).

2. The town could insure the future of the Quonochontaug barrier

as a Conservation Area by zoning it for conservation and there-

by-closing it to development.

3. Prospective buyers of barrier property should be informed of

the barrier's vulnerability to storm damage. No further

development or redevel opment after destruction of existing

structures by a storm should be permitted.

4. Special attention should be given to damage being done by

vehicles to the ocean side face of the dunes on the western

side of the breachway. Vehicles should be strictly confined

to the beach an d the back dune road.

MicheZ_, Garden and East Pond Barrier
.(incZuding CentraZ Beach)
Length: 0.3 miZes

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 8.4 1,765 ft. 93 $ 12,540

2. Private Urban
Development 0.2 --- 1 4,270

TOTALS 8.6 1,765 ft. 94 $ 16,810

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 2

3. Out-of-state 9

TOTAL 14

PR-TNC-TPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 5.6 acres

2. Secondary Growth 1.5 acres

3. Wetland None

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level.

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Parking lot in front
of Michel Pond 10 ft. above mean sea level

2. Western side of
Garden Pond 9 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development: There are three small ponds

in this area.. Michel Pond, the largest and most westerly of the three

is within the lands administered by the Shelter Harbor Fire District.

Residential development is heavy from Michel Pond to Quonochontaug

barrier and access is limited to residents and their guests. Michel

Pond has no natural dune. A parking lot has been made by filling be-

tween a low seawall and the pond. To the east of Michel Pond a low

dune well vegetated by beachgrass leads past the two smaller ponds.

Portions of this dune have been leveled to build parking lots. The

land surround ing these ponds is privately owned and is developed as a

residential area.

Storm History: Several homes between and behind these ponds were

destroyed or heavily damaged by the 1938 hurricane. Lesser damages

were sustained in 1954. The parking lot in front of Michel Pond is

flooded during storms and requires frequent maintenance.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. No building or further expansion of the present parking lots

should be permitted on this barrier.

2. Boardwalks over the dune to the beach are needed at access

points to the shore.

Ninigret Pond Barrier
(East Beach Portion)
Length: 3.2 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
-Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment.

1. Private Undeveloped 89.7 3,560 ft. 42 $ 25,195

2. Private Urban
Development. 7.8 --- 11 42,205

3. State Conservation 236.0 12,235 21 exempt

4. Federal 27.1 1,200 4 exempt

TOTALS 360.6 16,995 ft. 78 67,400

DISTR-TBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 7

2. Other, Rhode Island 6

3. Out-of-state 16

4. Unknown I

TOTAL 30

PRZ'NCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 110.9:- adres@

2. Secondary Growth 59.1 acres

3. Wietland 65--2 acres

HURRTCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $358,000 (includes Charlestown Beach)

HURRICANE FLOOD LETIELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1939 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Unvegetated dune in
developed area 9 ft. above mean sea level

2. Opposite Conservation
Area parking lot 9 ft. above mean sea level

3. Western section 10 ft..above mean sea level

4. Central section 13.5 ft. above mean sea level

5. Washover central
section 7 ft. above mean sea level

6. Eastern section 12 ft. above mean sea level.

7. By breachway 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

- 34

NaturaZ Features and DeveZopment: Two private beaches ar e

located at the western end of the barrier. Parking, bathhouses life-

guards and sanitary facilities are provided to paying customers. A

number of summer cottages, many of which are elevated on pilings, are

scattered along the pond side of the access road. The dune in this

area has been much modified by development and heavy use and is largely

unvegetated. The greatest part of the Ninigret Pond barrier west

of the breachway is a State Conservation Area. The Conservation Area

parking lot lies a few hundred yards east of the cottages. A large

area around the parking lot has been devegetated by heavy vehicular

and foot traffic. Primitive sanitary facilities are provided near the

parking lot. Swimming in the Conservation Area is unsupervised but

popular. Policing is limited to occasional visits by Department of

Natural Resources enforcement officers and enforcement of the posted

regulations is grossly inadequate.

The conditions of the dune and the beachgrass cover in the Con-

servation Area are generally poor. This is due in large part to the

number of off road vehicles that drive in the dune field. Many vehicles

obey the rules and keep to the beach and the marked track that runs

down the middle of the barrier, but enough cut across the dune to damage

significant areas of beachgrass. Among the worst offenders are small

beach buggies designed for high speed joy riding across the dunes.

R hode Island Mobile Sportfishermen, an organization whose members

operate off road vehicles along the barriers, has its own dune stabiliza-

tion and restoration projects. Each winter members place discarded

Christmas trees and erect snow fence along the lower dunes and across

badly eroded areas. Similar efforts are made by the Department of

Natural Resources. Much of this work, however,, is later damaged or

destroyed by vehicles which use blowouts as crossover points from the

track to the beach.

Along several stretches of the barrier the dune has been cut back

by waves. Studies made over the past ten years by geologists at the URI

Graduate School of Oceanography suggest that the beach may be eroding

and that the volume of sand on the beach is maintained by a steady wave

erosion of the dunes. Another problem in the Conservation Area is a

number of die offs of beachgrass unrelated to erosion by people or

waves. The reasons for these die offs are not known.

The breachway into Ninigret Pond has been the subject of much

controversey. In the seventeenth century cargo ships could enter the

pond and unload at docks on the mainland side. Rapid silting in the

breachway, however, has since limited access to all but sm. all boats.

In the early 1950's a permanent breachway was dredged and stabilized

by riprap and two short jetties were built out from the beach. The'in-'

creased flow of seawater into the pond caused a number of problems.- Water

flowing into the pond on the.flood tide carries quantities of suspended

sand which are deposited in the pond. The volum e of the.pond has,

therefore, decreased and the breachway has silted up. The increa se

in the pond's salinity made it possible for new marine species to

migrate into the pond. Among these were predators that reduced the

pond's oyster population. At present the breachway is of limited use.

Silting and the collapse of portions of the jetties into the channel

make it hazardous to boats.

Storm History: East Beach was heavily built up with summer

cottages prior to the 1938 hurricane. These were all destroyed and

washed across the pond. In 1954 homes built on the barrier were again

destroyed and damages of $358,000 were sustained. When development

began for the third time the state condemned most of the barrier and

since then has managed it as a conservation area. The present'poor

condition of the dunes reduces this barrier's value as a storm buffer

for the pond and back pond properties.

RECOMMENDAT1-ONS:

1. This barrier is unsuitable for residential development and

further residential development or redevelopment after

destruction of existing structures by a storm should be

prohibited. The barrier should be classified as a f lood

hazard zone.

2. Prospective buyers of barrier property should be informed

of the area's vulnerability to storm damage.

3. A vegetated dune should be developed and protected in front

of the built-up section of the barrier. This would provide

some storm protection and enhance the aesthetic value of the

area.

4. Due to a lack of Natural Resources enforcement officers and

the absence of a law protecting dune areas the condition of

the State Conservation Area is poor. Much good would be done

if the rules posted at the entrance to the area were enforced.

These are as follows:

1. Camping permitted onZy in designated sand lot.

A. Cconping units must have completeLy self-
contained water suppLy and sewage disposaL.

B...No tents or tent trailers permitted.

2. Travel to sand Zot1must be over designated sand
route.
Parking along sand route prohibited.

3. Four (4) night maximum for carnping.

4. Vehicles other than camping units must Leave area
at It P.M.

5. Vehicles are prohibited on beach front May I-Sept U.

6. Alcoholic beverages prohibited.

7. Open fires prohibited.

8. Animals must be Leashed.

9. Day arking in designated areas onl
P Y.

ZO. Disposal of home refuse prohibited.

It. Lawful directions of enforcement officers must
be obeyed.

5. A determined effort must be made to revegetate eroded areas

and to build up existing dunes. Such efforts, however, will

be fruitless if rules protecting dune areas from vehicles

are not enforced.

Ninigret Pond Barrier
(Charlestown Beach Portion)
Length: 0. 7 mi le.s

LAND USE-
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline -Lots Assessment.

1. Private Undeveloped 34.1 1,920 ft. 127 $ 50,270

2. Private Urban
Development 8.4 1,165 30 110,165

38
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

3. Town Beach 17.1 50 ft. 3 exempt

4. State Conservation 44.3 880 26 122,630

TOT ALS 103.9, 4,015 ft. 186 $ 160,435

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AN D LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 7

2. Other, Rhode Island 18

3. Out-of-state 40

4. Unknown 12

TOTAL 77

PRINCITPLE VEGETATION T-VPES,:

1. Beachgrass 27.5 acres

2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland 44.2 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable
2. 1954 $358,000 (includes East B'each)

HURRICANE FLOOD LETIELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Half way down beach
(in front of homes) 10 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features and DeveZopment: The portion of the Ninigret

Pond barrier from the eastern side of the breachway to the South

Kingstown town line is known as Charlestown Beach. The state maintains

a large parking area near the breachway which is reserved for camper

trucks. The access road to the parking lot is unpaved and cuts into

the back base of a low and poorly vegetated dune. Vehicle traffic from

.the state parking lot to the beach has damaged the dune. To the east

the barrier is developed as a residential area. Houses have been built

both on and behind the dune. In many places there is no vegetation and

the dune crest is extremely low. Nearly all the houses have been built

on stilts with the floor level about eight feet above the ground. The

town beach is on the pond side of the barrier near the South Kingstown

town line. It includes a large gravelled parking lot, sanitary

facilities and provides lifeguards. Resident season passes cost

$4.00 and the beach is open to nonresidents for a daily fee.

Storm History: Charlestown Beach is especially vulnerable to

hurricane damage. Dune crests are well below the 1938 and 1954 still-

water flood levels. Residential development on the barrier is at a

great risk to life and property.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. This barrier is highly unsuitable for residential development.

Further development or redevelopment after destruction of

existing structures by a storm should be prohibited.. Flood

hazard zoning should be applied to the barrier.

2. All structures on the barrier dune should be removed.

Charlestown Beach should be acquired by the state or town.

As soon as funds are available presently developed lots should

be purchased and the land held for conservation and light

recreation.

3. Prospective buyers of barrier property should be informed of

the barrier's vulnerability to storm damage.

4. Efforts should be made to build up and protect a dune along

the length of the beach. Private owners should be assisted

in stabilization programs.

5. Vehicles should be prohibited from the beach during the

summer months. Vehicular access to the beach from the

state parking lot should be limited to a stabilized road-

way.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RFSOURCES CENTEA
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
),NNUARY 1973 Q
NINIGRET BARRIER (WEST)

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

r777777"M _ SECOND GROWTH

- MARSH

- AGRICULTURAL

- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

NINIGRET POND

AVR
BrACI-1
FAST

o lw

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANUARY 1973 Q
NINIGRET BARRIER (WEST)

NINIGRET POND

SC ACH

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL @ESOURCES CENTFR
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANUAR) 1973 Q
NINIGRET (EAST) AND GREEN HILL BARRIERS

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

r7777771
- SECOND GROWTH

- MARSH

- AGRICULTURAL
q,

r,lr.--, 77
- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL GREEN HILL POND

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

NINIGRET POND

.. . ... ...
........ EACH
GREEN HILL B

Hul

0 100' 500' 1/4mi. 112 mi.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
cavc@rm, REsouRcis cF\,,,rER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
j,xMARY 1971
NINIGRET (EAST) AND GREEN HILL BARRIERS
PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban. Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach 0
SC State Conservation
Q
SB State Beach
SUD State Urban Development 0
CIO
US Federal
GREEN HILL POND

NINIGRET POND

SC PU

V@3 77,
I "t GREEN HILL BEACH

SC,

0*11
S'B
CIA 0 1W

TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTON

BARRIER BEACRES:

1. Green Hill Pond Barrier (Green Hill Beach)

2. Trustom and Card Pond Barriers

3. Matunuck Barrier (East Matunuck Beach)

Total Length: 3.7 miles

LAND USE -
Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 123 9,400 ft. $ 574,000

2. Private Conservation 27 2,600

3. Private Beach ---

4. Private Light
Development 20 2,200 60,000

5. Private Urban
Development 21 1,800 526,000

6. Town Conservation

7. Town Beach --- --- ---

8. Special District
Conservation 1 100

9. Special District
Beach ---

10. State Conservation 80 ---

11. State Beach 54 2,900

12. Sta te Urban
Development --- ---

Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment

13. Federal --- --- $

TOTALS 326 19,000 ft. $1,160,000*

*NOTE: This is approximately 1.1% of the assessed value of all property

taxed by the town. It produces an annual tax revenue of $42,000.

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 13

2. Other, Rhode Island 51

3. Out-of-state 53

TOTAL 117

Municipal Controls: With the exception of the state beach at

East Matunuck, South Kingstown's barrier beaches are zoned for resi-

dential development on acre and half acre lots. Building code restric-

tions are applied to allconstruction within a defined flood hazard

zone under the provisions of the National Flood Insurance Program. A

1955 zoning ordinance prohibiting residential development of shore

areas highly vulnerable to storm damage was dropped when town zoning

ordinances were amended in 1966. These areas, which include the barrier

beaches, are now open to development. Town ordinances close the beaches

to the public after nightfall and prohibit their use by vehicles. These

ordinances are not enforced, however, and vehicular use of beaches is

quite heavy in some seasons.

Comprehensive Comunity PZan: A comprehensive plan was prepared

in 1965 and is presently being revised. Few of the objectives or

recommendations of the plan are reflected in current administrative

policy and practice. In the plan, beach areas at Green Hill, Trustom.

and Card Ponds which are now zoned residential are recommended for

public acquisition and preservation as recreational open space.

Green Hill Pond Barrier
(Green Hill Beach)
Length: 1.4 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1., Private.Undeveloped 85.8 6,040 ft. .193 521,310

2. Private Urban
Development 12.9, 1,1100 25 252,138

3. Special District
Conservation 0.6 120 1 2,400

TOTALS 99.3 7,260 ft. 219 775,848

DISTRITBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 8

2. Other, Rhode Island 40

3. Out-of-state 46

TOTAL 94

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 25.3 acres

2. Secondary Growth 23.9 acres

3. Wetland 28.7 acres

HURRICANE D&L4GF:

1. 1938 $2.5 million, all homes destroyed, 48 deaths

2. 1954 $27,000, all homes destroyed

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.0 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end 9.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. West end (high dune) 15 ft. above mean sea level

3. West end (blowout) 9.5 ft. above mean sea level

4. Middle 9 ft. above mean sea level

5. East end 11.0 ft. above mean sea level

6. East end (east of
access road) 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

7. East end (active
breachway) 1.5 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaL Features: On the Green Hill Pond barrier a sand beach

is backed by a low and irregular dune. Dune crest heights range be-

tween fifteen and seven.feet above mean sea level. Blowouts are frequent

and several washovers cut across the central part of the barrier. Beach-

grass cover varies considerably in density and is most abundant in the

central section of the barrier where human use and modification has been

slight. Along many of its less elevated stretches the beach rises in

a smooth curve to the crest of the barrier. In these areas there is

no vegetated seaward dune slope. A level area of varying width behind

the dune is well vegetated by beachgrass and shrubs. Secondary growth

is,dense on only a few isolated outcrops of glacial till along the edge

of the pond. Green Hill Pond is surrounded by extensive marshes.

Studies made by geologists from the Graduate Sc hool of Oceanography

show that of four South Shore beaches studied Green Hill has suffered

the most severe erosion. Over the ten year periodof the study. the

width of the beach has decreased by thirty feet and one third of the

volume of beach material between the dune base and the waterls edge has

been lost.

Development: Alt hough both the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes had

destroyed all buildings on the barrier, Green Hill. Beach was again

opened to development when South Kingstown amended its zoning ordinances

in 1966. Construction began in the early summer of 1972 and by late

fall more than a dozen homes had been completed and construction had

begun on several others. Many of the new homes are bu ilt on the dune,

substantial areas of which have been bulldozed and devegetated during

construction. Houses have been built along the marsh and work has be-

gun on others in the same area. There are 220 lots platted on the

Green Hill barrier and most of these can be legally developed under

South Kingstown zoning and building ordinances. Development is in full

compliance with local ordinances. Only After several homes had been

built did property owners on the barrier learn that a permit from the

Coastal Council was also required. Seven of the owners have applied

for such a permit and their applications are under investigation.

New homes are concentrated on the eastern end of the barrier and

are spreading down the beach to the west along both sides of the access

road. Homes are also spreading down the beach from the developed sec-

tion of the Ninigret barrier in Charlestown. A gravel access road is

being extended to service the most easterly of these houses. The new

houses are elevated on pilings. Water is supplied by the town at the

ownerls expense and sewage disposal is through individual leach fields.

The town has no immediate plans to provide sewer lines on the barrier.

Storm History: The Green Hill barrier is one of the most vul-

nerable in the state to hurricane damage and erosion. The 1938

hurricane swept away the many homes that had been built on it. Forty-

eight lives were lost and $2.5 million in property damage sustained.

In 1954 the barrier was again swept clean. No lives were lost in the

second hurricane and property damage was only $270,000 due to the

small number of houses that had been rebuilt since 1938.

The present barrier profile is low and all houses built on it are

highly vulnerable to destruction by hurricanes. The dune is severely

eroded and is overtopped by waves during many severe storms. A com-

paratively mild norlea.ster in November 1972 eroded a five foot vertical

scarp to within thirty feet of a group of the new homes on the eastern

end of the beach. The access road was threatened by flooding in

several places, especially along the western end. Most of the people

now building on the barrier are from out of state and it is likely

that few of them are aware of the area's history of destruction by

hurricanes. Green Hill Beach has been proved to be highly unsuitable

for residential development and the present building cannot be justified.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. Green Hill Beach is highly vulnerable to storm damage and

is unsuitable for residential development. Further develop-

ment or rebuilding after the destruction of structures by a

storm should be prohibited.

2. All structures on the harrier dune should be removed.

3. As soon as funds are available presently developed lots should

be purchased, the structures removed and the land held for

conservation and light recreation

4. No further filling of marsh should be permitted.

5. Prospective buyers of property on the barrier should be in-

formed of the barrier's vulnerability to storm damage.

6. Devegetated areas should be planted in beachgrass and efforts

should be made to build up the dune by erecting snow fence.

Access across the dune to the beach should b e over board-

walks.

Trustom and Card Ponds Barriers
(including Moonstone Beach)
Length: 1.7 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 2.3.4 3,370 ft. 7 $ *35,280

2. Private Conservation 26.9 2,570 3 exempt

3. Private Light
Development 12.8 2,210 2 36,000

Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment--

4. Private Urban
Development 3.5 630 ft. 6 $ 183,630

TOTALS 66.6 8,780 ft. 18 $ 255,000

D-TSTRIBVTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2. Other, Rhode Island 3

3. Out-of-state 4

TOTAL 9

PRINCIPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 19.4 acres

2. Secondary Growth 5.2 acres

3. Wetland None

HURRrCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 $1.85 million

2. 1954 $3,800

HURR-TCANE FLOOD LETIELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.0 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end Trustom 5.5 ft. above mean sea level
Pond

2. West end Trustom 3 ft. above mean sea level
Pond (washover)

3. Middle Trustom Pond 6 ft. above mean sea level

4. East end Trustom 8.5 ft. above mean sea level
Pond

5. West end Card Pond 8 ft. above mean sea level

6. East end.Card Pond 11.5 ft. above mean sea level
(in front of houses)

Natural Features and Development: These barriers are in compara-

tively good condition. The T rustom Pond harrier showed two severe

washouts and five blowouts in the spring of 1972. Generally, beachgrass

growth is vigorous. Snow fences along the access path to the beach

from the end of Moonstone Beach Road limit damage to the dune. The

path itself, however, has been eroded by foot traffic. The pond side

half of the barrier is posted and this further reduces walking on the

dune. There is a single house behind the dune at the end of Moonstone

Beach Road.

The eastern portion of the Trustom Pond barrier, Moonstone Beach,

is owned by the Audubon Society which manages the area as a wildlife

refuge. South Kingstown leases 600 ft. of ocean frontage and a

right-of-way from the Society for its town beach. A parking lot with

a capacity of 175 cars has been built a short distance up the access

road. Parking fees are charged to nonresidents at $1/day for weekdays and

$2/day on weekends. The revenue from parking fees covers the salaries

of a parking attendant and lifeguards.

The Card Ponds Barrier is a natural extension of Trustom Pond Barrier

and the features of the two are very similar. Near the western end is

a single washover which becomes active when the water level in the pond

is high. Secondary vegetation is sparse and there is no marsh on the

pond side. At the eastern end of the barrier are several houses that

have survived both the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes. They are built behind

a relatively well developed dune (crest approximately 12 ft. above MSL)

which is thickly vegetated with beachgrass except for a path from each

house to the beach.

Storm History: The Trustom and Card Ponds barriers have suffered

severe damage during the major hurricanes of this century. Both were

heavily developed with summer homes before the 1938 storm destroyed

all buildings except for the small group of homes at the eastern end

of Card Ponds. Dune crest elevations along these barriers are well

below 1938, 1954 and Standard Project Hurricane flood levels.

RECOMAENDATIONS:

1. Beachgrass must be protected by building a boardwalk from

the end of Moonstone Beach Road to the beach. People and

vehicles should be confined to the beach and marked trails.

2. Permanent facilities for the town beach do not appear desira-

ble as the barrier is also a Conservation Area of great beauty.

3. No further residential development or rebuilding after the

destruction of structures by a storm should be permitted.

4. Existing houses.should have boardwalks over the dune to the

beach.

Matunuck Barrier
(East Matunuck Beach)
Length: 0.6 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 13.4 --- ft. 7 $ 17,730

2. Private Light
Development 7.5 --- 1 23,670

3. Private Urban
Development 4.3 --- 11 90,200

4. State Conservation 79.5 --- @2 exempt

5. State Beach 54.2 25900 1 exempt

TOTALS 158.9 251900 ft. 22 131,600

DISTRTBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 8

3. Out-of-state 3

TOTAL 14

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 17.7 acres

2. Secondary Growth 49.1 acres

3. Wetland 69.1 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $3.34 million (Matunuck Point to Point Judith)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.0 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard .16.0 ft. above mean sea level
Project

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Center
(State Beach) 4 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development: This barrier lies seaward

of the eastern part of Potter Pond and western half of the Succotash

Salt Marsh. It is owned by the state. The western end of the barrier

is in its natural condition and the eastern half is a state bathing

beach. The barrier is principally composed of cobbles and pebbles.

There is no dune. The back slope of the western half of the barrier

is sparsely vegetated and leads gently down to a freshwater wetland.

Matunuck Beach Road crosses Succotash Salt Marsh and intercepts the

barrier halfway down its length. The road runs east along the barrier

towards Jerusalem. There has been considerable filling on either side

of the road across the marsh to provide sites for small summer cottages

and trailers. Where the road runs along the barrier there is no dune

and no dune vegetation. Large parking lots have been made on the pond

side of the road by filling the salt marsh. No fees are charged at the

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL ;@E'SOU,RCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHOI)E ISLAND
JANUAR) 1973

TRUSTOM AND CARD BARRIERS

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

- SECOND GROWTH

- MARSH

- AGRICULTURAL

r7m@
- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

CARDPOND

TRUSTOM POND

NING
Bpow

SrrONE BFAC'4
MOON 0 1W 506 1/4mi. 112 mi.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASIAL RESOURCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JAMAR) 1973

TRUSTOM AND CARD BARRIERS
PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach
SC State Conservation
SB State Beach
SUD State Urban Development
us Federal

TRUSTOM POND
PC
PU

PU PU
PC B gONNING
P13
MoONS-FONE BEACH
0 100' 500'

State Beach. Lifeguards and portable sanitary facilities are provided

during the summer.

Storm History: With no dune and a maximum elevation of only four

feet above mean sea level East Matunuck Beach is vulnerable to even minor

storms and is totally unsuitable for development.

RECOOENDATIONS:

1. The construction of permanent facilities on the South Kingstown

portion of this barrier should be prohibited.

2. The barrier's present rec reational use should be continued.

TOWN OF NARRAGANSETT

BARRIER BEA CHES:

1. Matunuck Barrier,, Narragansett Portion (Jerusalem Beach

2. Point Judith Pond Barrier (Sand Hill Cove Beach)

3. Narragansett Barrier (Narragansett Beach)

4. Bonnet Shores Barrier

Total Length: 2.6 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 12 500 ft. $ 218,000

2. Private Conservation --- --- ---

3. Private Beach 20 4,400 899,000

4. Private Light
Development --- --- ---

5. Private Urban
Development 55 3,900 3,554,000

6. Town Conservation --- ---

7. Town Beach 10 2,200 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation 4 --- exempt

9. Special District
Beach

10. State Conservation 1313 --- exempt

11. State Beach 20 2,300 exempt

Ocean
12. State Urban Acreage Shoreline Assessment
Development 18 1,200 ft. exempt

13. Federal 0.2 --- exempt

TOTALS 278 14,500 ft. $4,671,000*

*NOTE: This is approximately 4.6% of the assessed value of.all property

taxed by the town. It produces an annual tax income of $125,000.

DISTR-TBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 37

2. Other, Rhode Island 163

3. 0 ut-of-state 48

TOTAL 248

M4nicipal Controls: Narragansett zoning ordinances were revised

in May of 1972 to qualify the town for the permanent program of the

National Flood Insurance Program. Building code restrictions were im-

posed on all new construction within the hurricane flood plain.

Comprehensive Plan: The Narragansett master plan was adopted in

1968. It calls for acquisition and/or conservation of marsh areas be-

hind the town's barriers, for acquisition of additional recreation areas

and for the preservation of remaining open space. The plan proposes that

both Jerusalem and Sand Hill Cove remain in their present state but that

the Narragansett Town Beach be expanded. Narragansett's community plan

is not at present an active force in guiding the development of the town.

General Problems: Town officials feel that -the state beaches at

Sand Hill Cove and Scarborough impose a heavy burden on town facilities

and services. They believe that the state should help the town provide

adequate access routes, should help police these routes, and should help

relieve traffic congestion by rerouting bathers to other facilities when

state beaches in Narragansett are full. It was felt that the state

beaches attract out of town users in such numbers that they impose a

hardship on the town and its citizens.

Town officials also expressed displeasure at the lack of communica-

tion and cooperation with state agencies involved in beach management

and recreational development. They feel that they are not consulted

when development concerns them and are seldom made awar e of state plans

and activities. Lack of communication was cited as the single most

serious obstacle to good local-state relations.

Matunuck Barrier., Narragansett Portion
(Jerusalem Beach)
Length: 0.4 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment,--

1. Private Undeveloped 1.9 50 ft. 18 $ 132,000

2. Private Urban
Development 23.9 1,163 It 82 1,186,950

3. State Conservation 17.0 --- 2 exempt

4. State Beach 3.2 900 1 exempt

TOTALS 46.0 2,113 ft. 103 $1,318,950

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1*. Town Residents 4

2.,.Other, Rhode Island 90

3. Out-of-state 30

TOTAL 124

PRMCIPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 18.3 acres

2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland 18.5 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $3.34 million (Matunuck Point to
Point Judith)

HURRYCANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.0 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE,CREST-ELEVATION-.-

1. High dune near
breachway 13.9 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features: The Jerusalem beach is the eastern end of the

barrier that includes East Matunuck Beach in South Kingstown. It has

no natural dune system on its western end and is only four to five feet

above mean sea level (MSL). The Jerusalem access road is protected

from winter storms by a bulldozed sand barrier. A low dune which grows

in height and widthas it approaches the breachway extends along the

eastern end of the barrier. The dunes immediately adjacent to the

breachway are several crests wide and rise to 14 feet above MSL. They

are hummocky and have numerous unvegetated areas.

Development: The we stern end of the beach is used as a public

bathing beach and is backed by an extensive salt marsh. The village

of Jerusalem lies behind the eastern end of the barrier. Heavy resi-

dential development is concentrated in and immediately behind the dune

field at the eastern end. Most of the homes are summer residences.

Other residences and several commercial structures are built on the

flat behind the dune and extend onto filled areas of the marsh.

Storm History: Jerusalem was extensively damaged by both the

major hurricanes of this century. In 1938 and again in 1954 many

structures were destroyed or heavily damaged. Several lives were lost

in 1938 and one in 195 4. No accurate figures on property damage are

available for Jerusalem alone.

The Jerusalem barrier remains highly vulnerable to storm and

hurricane damage. The elevation of all but a very small area of the

dune is well below major hurricane still water flood levels.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. No further building or rebuilding after destruction by a

storm should be permitted on or among the dunes.

2. Prospective buyers of property on the barrier should be in-

formed of the barrier's vulnerability to storm damage.

3. Efforts should be made to build and stabilize dunes by

planting beachgrass and erecting snow fences. Access across the

dunes to the beach should be over boardwalks

4. Further filling of.marsh lands should be prohibited.

Sand Hill Cove Beach
Length: 0.9 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 7.6 270 ft. 21 $ 61,350

2. Private Urban
Development 27.9 25-435 47 2,164,250

3. State Conservation 122.0 --- 2 exempt

4. State Beach 16.6 1,400-11 2 exempt

5. -State Urban
Development. 18.2 1,150 1! 41 exempt

6. Federal 0.2 --- if 1 exempt

TOTALS 192.5 .5,255 ft. 114 $25,225,600

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 24

2. Other, Rhode Island 56

3. Out-of-state 11

TOTAL 91

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 7.3 acres

2. Secondary Growth 51.3 acres

3. Wetldnd 103.1 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 $ 3.34 million (Matunuck Point to
Point Judith)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS, (STILLWATER.):

1. 1938 13 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 17 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION

1. High dunes, we st
of State Beach 21.0 ft. above mean sea level

2. East of State Beach 15.0 ft. above mean sea level

Naural Features and Development: The beach is backed by a high

(approximately 21 feet above MSL) well vegetated dune from the western

end by the breachway to the beginning of the state beach whereit ends

abruptly. There is moderate to heavy residential development imme-

diately behind this dune. Access from the houses to the beach is down

stairways and the dune face is consequently well vegetated and stabilized.

A low unvegetated dune separates the state beach from the bathing

pavilion and a large paved parking lot. During the winter this dune is

stabilized by snow fencing. There is no parking or entrance fee at

the State Beach, but some revenue is generated by concessions and bath-

house fees. Relatively high (15 feet above MSL) dunes continue from the

eastern end of the State Beach. They are extremely irregular, hummocky,

poorly vegetated and are being further eroded by pedestrians and motor-

cycles.' The beach is protected by a series of groins designed to inter-

rupt the longshore drift of sand. The area to the east of the State

Beach is heavily developed in summer cottages.

Storm History: The Galilee area has been hard hit, by past

hurricanes and damage during both the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes was

extensive. The area from Matunuck Point to Sand Hill Cove suffered

hurricane damages of $3.34 million in 1954. While the high dune pro-

vides substantial protection to development on the western end of the

barrier, the State Beach remains highly vulnerable to hurricane damage.

RECOANENDATIONS:

1. Access from houses behind the dune to the beach should be

across boardwalks or wooden stairways.

2. The dunes to the east of the State Beach must be protected

from pedestrians and vehicles. Beachgrass should be planted

on denuded dunes and snow fences erected to build up eroded

sections.

3. Prospective buyers of barrier property should be informed of

its vulnerability to storm damage.

3. Sincebuildings in Galilee and Sand Hill Cove are protected

by a high dune and the Harbor of Refuge seawall, and since

development is well established, it is neither desirable nor

practical to prohibit construction in this area. However,

all future building should conform to flood hazard zoning

standards. No filling of marshland or damage to dunes should

be permitted.

Narragansett Barrier
Length: 1.0 miZes

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage ShoreZine Lots Assessment

1. Private Beach 6.9 2,750 ft. 2 $ 509,029

2. Private Urban 1.8 250 4 122,371
Development
3. Town Beach 10.00 2,200 5 exempt

TOTALS 18.7 5,200 ft. 11 $ 631,400

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LEESEES:

1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 2

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL 6

PRINCIPLE 'VFGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 2.9 acres

2. Secondary Growth 2.8 acres

3. Wetland 0.7 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Destroyed all structures. $5.829
million (town)

2. 1954 $2.046 million (Beach and Pier)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1 938. 13.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 17.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Remnant of dune
Town Beach 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. In front of Dunels
Club 20.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Near mouth of
Pettaquamscutt River 11 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features: The Narragansett town beach stretches along

the western portion of this beach. A large parking lot lies behind a

cement seawall. There is no dune in front of the seawall. There is,

however, a small hummocky dune at the eastern end of the town beach.

It is poorly vegetated and severely eroded with a few scattered crests

approaching nine feet'above MSL. East of the town beach in front and

to the west of the privately owned Dunes Club the dunes increase in

height and width. They approach 21 feet above MSL before tapering off

to approximately 11 feet above MSL at the mouth of the F*ettaquamscutt

River. These dunes are well vegetated by beachgrass and scattered

shrubs. East of the clubhouse the dunes are several ridges deep and

remarkably well preserved. The salt marsh along the river behind the

barrier shows no evidence of filling.

Development: Most of Narragansett Beach is developed for recrea-

tional use. The town beach occupies the entire western end of the

barrier. Large paved parking lots and several pavilions and bathing

cabanas lie behind the town beach. There is no charge for parking at

the town beach. Residents can purchase season beach passed for $5.00

($1.00 for children). Nonresidents are charged $1.00/day. Fees are

charged for the use of show.ers, changing rooms and cabana facilities with

daily, weekly and season rates available. The beach is often filled

to capacity on summer weekends. Many recreators are from out of town

and frequently cause severe traffic congestion.

The Dunes Club owns most of the eastern half of the barrier.

The Club includes a large clubhouse built into the dune and extensive

parking areas, tennis court s and other recreational facilities behind

the dune. The club is only open to members and their guests.

Storm History: Narragansett Pier has been devestated by both

major hurricanes of the century. The 1938 hurricane leveled nearly all

structures in the downtown and beach areas including the town bathhouses

and the Dunes Club clubhouse. Damages were estimated at $5.829 million

(for the whole town). Damages in 1954 were estimated at $2.046 million

for the Pier beach area alone. The barrier remains vulnerable to hurricane

damage.

RECOAfffNDATIONS:

1. The dunes between the town beach and the Pettaquamscutt

River should be protected from erosion and alteration.

Pedestrians should be confined to boardwalks across the

dunes and vehicles should be prohibited.

2. Traffic congestion could be alleviated by warning and de-

touring recr eators to other facilities when the town beach

was filled to capacity. Incoming traffic should be inter-

cepted on Route 1.

3. The area east of the developed section of the Dunes Club

should be made into a Conservation Area.

Bonnet Shores Barrier
Length: 0.3 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 2.7 220 ft. 10 $ 24,375

2. Private Beach 13.3 1,600 4 390@350

3. Private Urban
Development 1.2 --- 7 80,168

4. Special District
Conservation 4.2 --- 3 ex empt

TOTALS 21.4 111820 ft. 24 494,893

DISTR-TBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES

1. Town Residents 6

2. Other, Rhode Island 15

3. Out-of-state 6

TOTAL 27

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 3.4 acres

2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland 9.2 acres

HURR-TCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Pavilion destroyed. $730,000

2. 1954 Pavilion destroyed. $516,000

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 13.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 17.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. In front of pavilion 6.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. East of pavilion 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

4. East end'by breachway 9 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development There is no detectable dune

along most of the length of this low and narrow barrier. Maximum eleva-

tions range between 6.5 and 8 feet above mean sea level. A bathing

pavilion and parking lots have been built near the middle of the barrier.

A low (eight feet'above MSL), well vegetated dune begins to the east

of the pavilion and extends to a seasonally active breachway at the

eastern end of the beach. This dune line continues beyond the breach-

way and follows the contours of the adjacent headland. The dune has an

eroded base.and an approximate height of nine feet above MSL.

A pond bordered by a marsh, largely freshwater in nature, lies

behind the barrier to the north. There is some evidence of marsh fill-

ing.

The Bonnet Shores Beach Club owns nearly all of the barrier.

Season and daily membership passes are sold to the general public. The

beach is frequently crowded on summer weekends.

Storm History: Bonnet Shores has bee n extensively damaged during

past hurricanes. The beach was swept clean and the pavilion destroyed

by both the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes. The existing structure does not

appear to be designed to survive a major hurricane. The single access

road to the beach crosses the middle of the pond and is frequently awash

even under normal conditions.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. No further development should be permitted on this barrier.

2. The dune on either side of the pavilion should be stabilized

and restored by planting beachgrass and erecting snow fences.

Vehicles and pedestrians should be prohibited from the dune.

3. Further filling of.the marsh should be prohibited.

TOWN OF JMESTOWN

MackereZ Cove Barrier
Length: 0.2 miZes

LAND USE: Ocean No. of
Acreckqe Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Un developed --- --- ft.

2. Private Conservation 0.4 exempt

3. Private Beach --- ---

4.''Private Light
Development 0.1 --- 1 390

5. Private Urban
Development --- --- ---

6. Town Conservation --- --- --- ---

7. Town Beach 6.9 1,320 1 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation --- --- --- ---

9. Special District
Beach --- ---

10. State Conservation --- --- ---

11. State Beach --- --- ---

12. State Urban
Development --- --- ---

13. Federal --- --- --- ---

TOTALS 7.4 1,320 ft. 3 $

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2, Other, Rhode Island 1

3. Out-of-state 0

TOTAL 3

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 2.2 acres

2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland 15.4 acres

HURRICANE DAM4GE:

1. 1938 Seven deaths

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 13.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project Unavailable

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Road level 8 ft. above mean sea level

MunicipaZ Controls: Mackerel Cove is zoned for recreation and

open space by the town of Jamestown. Abutting land on either end of

the barrier is zoned rural residential, the town's lowest building

density (two acre lots).

Comprehensive Conmunity Plan: The town's master plan was com

pleted in 1966 and adopted soon thereafter. It is currently being up-

dated. The plan recommends that Jamestown should remain a residential

community. It proposes that the town maintain and enhance its natural

recreation and tourist potential by preserving and where appropriate

developing new and existing recreational sites and conservation areas.

According to the plan Mackerel Cove will remain the town's public

beach and the marsh fringing Sheffield Cove will be reserved as a

Conservation Area.

Natural Features:. The Mackerel Cove barrier serves as a cause-

way between Beavertail and the remainder of Conanicut Island.. A two

lane highway elevated approximately eight feet above mean sea level

runs along its length. There is no dune or vegetation on the beach

side of the road. The Sheffield Cove side is fringed by marsh.

DeveZopment Mackerel Cove is operated as the Jamestown town

beach. There are no permanent facilities. A portable concession

stand and toilets are moved in during the swimming season. Parking is

limited to a graveled area off the shoulder of the causeway road.

Season parking passes are issued to town residents at $2.00/family. A

$4.00/day parking fe e discourages nonresidents. The beach is managed

by a small team of lifeguards. Sheffield marsh on the far side of the

road is managed as a Conservation Area by the state Audubon Society.

Storm Histo2@zy: The road across Mackerel Cove barrier has been

seriously flooded only during the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes. Since the

barrier is not developed, no appreciable property damage has been sus-

tained. The possible isolation of the Beavertail end of the island re-

mains a problem. A school bus attempting to cross the causeway during

the 1938 hurricane was swept off the road and seven lives were lost.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. Al. 1 building should be prohibited on the barrier.

2. The barrier should be reserved for public swimming and

conservation as proposed in the town's master plan.

CITY OF NEWPORT

BARRIER BEA CHES:

1. Lily Pond Barrier (Hazard's Beach)

2. Almy Pond Barrier (Bailey's Beach)

3. Easton Pond Barrier (First Beach)

Total Length: 1.3 miles

LAND USE: Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment

1. P rivate Undeveloped 0.2 --- ft. $ 2,000

2. Private Conservation --- --- ---

3. Private Beach 22 2:1300 638,000

4. Private Light
Development 2 100 17,000

5. Private Urban
Development --- --- ---

6. Town Conservation --- ---

7. Town Beach 22 3,000 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation --- --- ---

9. Special District Beach

10. State Conservation

11. State Beach

12. State Urban Development --- ---

13. Federal --- --- ---

TOTALS 46 5,400 ft. 657,000*

*NOTE: This is approximately 0.3% of the assessed value of all property

taxed by the town. It produces an annual tax income of about

$26,275.

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 8

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state I

TOTAL 9

ftnicipal Contrbls: Newport's zoning ordinances were amended

in July of 1,972. Building code restrictions were imposed on all new.

construction in the hurricane flood plain in accordance with the National

Flood Insurance Program. Hazard's and Bailey's Beaches are zoned for

low density residential use. Easton's Beach is in a restricted area

surrounding.the city reservoir at Easton's Pond where development in

addition to the town beach is prohibited. Newport beaches are closed

to vehicular traffic throughout the year.

Comprehensive Copmnity Plan: The present city master plan was

adopted in 1962. A new plan has been drafted and will be presented

at public hearings in the near future. The new plan stresses the need

for establish.ing flexible developmental policies. It recognizes the

city's potential as a tourist center, the importance of its beaches

and shoreline as tourist attractions and the increasing residential

pressure on recreationally valuable shore areas. The new plan recog-

nizes that existing recreational facilities are inefficiently utilized

and recommends that they be improved and redeveloped before additional

areas are acquired. Newport has an active Planning Department and

appears to be pursuing long range developmental goals.

Li Zy Pond Barrier
(Hazard's Beach)
Length: 0.3 miZes

LAND USE: Ocean No. of
Acrea,ge Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped negligible --- ft. 1 11,500

2. Private Beach 9.6 1@140 2 178,800

3. Private Ligh@
Development negligible --- 1 70

TOTALS 9.6 1,140 ft. 4 190,370

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

.1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL. 4

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 2.0 acres

2. Secondary Growth 1.3 acres

3. Wetland None

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Pavilions destroyed

2. 1954 Heavy damage

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 13 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954., 12 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features: The Lily Pond Barrier lies between two rocky

headlands, Cherry Neck to the west and Spouting Rock to the east. There

are a number of exposed rocks immediately offshore and a large out-

crop extends seaward from the middle of the beach. The dune on the.

western third of the beach has been replaced by a low concrete seawall.

A low dune stretches eastward from the seawall to the rock outcrop.

This dune is covered with a moderately dense growth of.beachgrass.

East of the outcrop the dune progressively increase's in height (estimated

at 10 to 12 feet above mean sea level-no transit readings were possible).

This dune consists of isolated hummocks separated by wide b lowouts both

across and along the dune line. Its base has been eroded by wave action

and the dune f ace is unprotected by vegetation. The crest is covered in

patchy stands of beachgrass and low scrub. Efforts are being made to

stabilize eroded footpaths across the dune with snow fencing and dis-

carded Christmas trees. Dune height decreases and the condition of the

dunes improves along the eastern third of the beach. Lily Pond is fresh

and does not have a natural breachway to the ocean.

Development: Hazard's Beach is in a low density residential area

consisting primarily of large estates. The beach is in private owner-

ship; the western half is owned by the Hazard's Beach Club, the eastern

half by the Goosebury Beach Club. The beach is surrounded by a high

chain link fence and access is restricted to club members and their

guests.

The pavilion and clubhouse of the Hazard's Beach Club stands be-

hind a low seawall. East of the buildings is a large parking lot. The

Goosebury Beach Club has a bath-clubhouse complex, a concession stand

and a large parking lot. bcean Avenue is on the pond side of the Club

parking lots.

Storm Histoyy: The dune and the beach facilities appear to be

well below severe hurricane flood levels for this area. The beach was

heavily damaged in both 1938 and 1954.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The present use and development of this barrier for recrea-

tion is acceptable.

2. Residential development should not be permitted.

3. Efforts should be made to restore and vegetate the dunes.

Access across the dune to the beach should be restricted to

boardwalks.

AZmy Pond Barrier
(BaiZey Is Beach)
Length: 0.3 miZes

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

1. Private Beach 12.4 1,140 ft. 6 $ 459,400

2. Privat e Light
Development 1.7 100 3 1711100

TOTALS 14.1 1,240 ft. 9 $ 476,500

DISTRTBUT-TON OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 4

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 0

TOTAL 4

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass Negligible

2. Secondary Growth Negligibile

3- Wetland 5.5 acres

HURR-TCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Pavilion destroyed

2. 1954 Pavilion heavily damaged

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 13 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 12 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.5 ft. above mean sea level

Nat uraZ Features and Development: A low bramble covered dune

extends a short distance from the western end of the barrier to a long

row of bathhouses. A short stretch of dune at the eastern end of the

barrier is well vegetated with beachgrass. Bailey's Beach is owned

by the Spouting Rock Beach Association. A clubhouse and bathing

pavilion stretch along much of the beach's length and are separated

from the beach by a low concrete seawall. Tennis courts are located to

the east of the clubhouse. There are parking lots on either side of

Ocean Avenue between the clubhouse and the pond. The club is restricted

to members and their guests. A few hundred feet of the eastern end

of the beach is open to the public. Access is restricted to a foot

path down a steep hill. There is no public parking in the immediate

area or public facilities on or near the beach.

Storm History: Club buildings were completely destroyed in

1938 and heavily damaged in 1954.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The present use and development of this barrier for recrea-

tion is acceptable.

2. The public right-of-way* to the western pqrtion of the beach

should be made more accessable. Public sanitary facilities

should be provided during the summer.

3. Residential development should not be permitted.

Easton Pond Barrier
(First Beach)
Length: 0.7 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Town Beach 22.3 2,990 ft. 1 exempt

TOTALS 22.3 2,990 ft. 1 exempt

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 1

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 0

TOTAL

PR-TNCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass None

2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland None

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Bathing facilities and reservoir
heavily damaged

2. 1954 $17,000

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938- 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 1.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Pavilion seawall 8.5 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development: The Easton Pond barrier has

been extensively altered by man. With the exception of the beach all

natural features have been obliterated. The beach is owned by the

City of Newport and operated as the town bathing beach. A four lane

highway runs the length of the barrier. A dike has been erected be-

yond the road to contain the city's water supply in what was once the

barrier pond.

The beach is backed by a loose riprapping of large boulders on

which a four foot concrete seawall has been built. This seawall pro-

tects Memorial Boulevard. The Pavilion and bathhouses extend along the

central portion of the barrier. They are separated from the beach by a

concrete seawall which is approximately 8 1/2 feet above mean sea level.

There are large parking lots on either side and behind the pavilion.

A very low and sparsely vegetated dune runs in front of the eastern

park ing lot.

Easton's Beach is heavily used by nonresidents who pay $15/season

or $1/day ($2 on weekends) to park their cars. There is no problem

with nonresident congestion. City residents pay $7 for a season pass.

Additional revenues are provided by bathhouse rentals ($25/season),

reserved parking fees ($25 /season) and concessions. The beach is filled

to capacity on many summer weekends. Accumulations of red algae on the

beach have, however, reduced attendance during the last few seasons.

As a result the beach is underused and operates at a loss.

The algae, problem has interfered substantially with the city's

attempts to develop the'full recreational potential of Easton Beach.

It is felt that the beach could meet future city and regional needs

if it can be made attractive to bathers. The city is considering open-

ing the parkin g lots to overnight camper parking.

Storm Histoi@y Easton's Beach was almost completely destroyed

by the 1938 hurricane. A large salt water swimming pool and amusement

park were both damaged beyond repair. The dike along the front of

Easton's Pond was overtopped and breached in several places by storm

waters and the city water supply was contaminated. In 1954 the pavilion

and the reservoir were again damaged. Normal.storm activity does not

cause flooding or wave damage to existing facilities. The area, however,

remains vuln erable to.majo r hurricanes.

RECOPMENDATIONS:

1. The present use and development of this barrier is acceptable.

TO 0 OF MIDDLETO WV

BARR-MR BEACHES:

1. Nelson and Gardiner Pond Barriers

Total Length: 1.2 miles

LAND USE AND OWVERSHIP: Ocean
Acreage ShoreZine Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped I --- ft. 2,000

2. Private Conservation 7 --- exempt

3. Private Beach 10 600 31,000

4. Private Light
Development --- --- ---

5. Private Urban
Development ---

6. Town Conservation --- --- ---

7. Town Beach 14 4,700 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation 15 --- 7,000

9. Special District
Beach --- ---

10. State Conservation --- --- ---

11. State Beach ---

12. State Urban Development --- --- ---

13. Federal 69 4,200 exempt

TOTAL-S., 116 9,500 ft. 39,000*

NOTE: This is approximately 0.1% of the a@@sessed value of all property
- .- I
taxed by the town. It produces an annu-di tax income of $1,770.

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LEESSEES:

1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 3

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL 7

Municipal ControZs: Middletown is in the permanent program of

the National Flood Insurance Program and restricts construction within

the flood plain. Middletown's barrier beaches and the wetlands and ponds

behind them are zoned as open space where only recreational development is

permitted. Vehicles are prohibited from the beaches b y town ordinance.

comprehen6i ve Community Plan: The existing town master plan

dates from 1964. A new plan is being developed by a Boston firm

(Community Planning, Incorporated and will soon he completed. No change

in the classification of the barrier beaches and adjacent areas from

recreational open space is proposed.

General ProbZems: The town beach at Sachuest is heavily used by

both town and out of town recreators. The present facilities have been

damaged by storms and plans for a new building are being completed. Town

officials would like to see land at Third Beach now owned by the Depart-

ment of the Interior developed as a state recreational area. The Town

Administrator expressed some displeasure at the location of a Navy officer's

beach and recreational facility on Department of Interior land, feeling

that as public land its use should not be appropriated by the military.

There do not appear to be any disagreements between the state and the

town on the present development or administration of beach areas.

NeZson and Gardiner Pond Barriers
(Second-and Third Beaches)
Length: 1.2 mites

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage ShoreZine Lots Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 1.4 --- ft. 1 $ 111700

2. Private Conservation 6.5 --- 2 exempt

3. Private Beach 9.7 580 2 30,700

4. Town Beach 14.4 4@700 3 exempt

5. Special District
Conservation 14.6 --- 5 6,700

6. Federal 68.5 4,235 2 exempt

TOTALS 115.1 9,515 ft. 15 395100

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 3

2. Other, Rhode Island 3

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL 7

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 11.9 acres

2. Secondary Growth 16.9 acres

3. Wetland 54.8 acres

4. Agricultural Land 6.1 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Bathing facilities destroyed,
reservoir damaged

2. 1954 $121,000

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 16.0 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. West end Second Beach 14.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. Middle Second Beach 12.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. East and Second Beach 11.5 ft. above mean sea level

4. Third,Beach 10 ft. above mean sea level

THIRD BEACH

NaturaZ Features and Development: This barrier lies between

Easton Point to the west and Sachuest Point to the east. The two ponds

have been diked and serve as reservoirs for the City of Newport. The

beach is wide and composed principally of sand. Well developed dunes

extend the length of the barrier. Between the dunes and the ponds is

a freshwater wetland some of which has been filled to build Sachuest

Point Road and to provide parking for the Middletown Town Beach. The

dunes along the western two thirds of the barrier are badly eroded.

They are crisscrossed by numerous footpaths many of which have developed

into severe-blowouts. Manyareas are unvegetated and the dunes and

beach are littered with the remains of picnics and cookouts. The dune

in front of the town beach has been completely devegetated and is much

lower than the dunes on either side.

A dune restoration project at the town beach has been funded with

a grant of $6,000 from the Ford Foundation. An additional $1,000 and

labor has been provided by the town. The project is administered by

the town Conservation Commission. Work began in September of 1972

with the installation of,snow fences. Access is now confined to defined

paths across the dune to the beach.

Second Beach is owned and administered by the Town of Middletown.

The town beach has a capacity of 20,000 bathers and is filled on three

or four weekends a season. An estimated 80% of users are nonresidents

who pay $1.00/car/day for parking on weekdays and $2.00 on weekends.

Season parking passes are available for $25. Town residents do not pay

for parking. Additional revenues are generated by the rental of 100

bathhouses at $50/season. The beach is staffed by 12 lifeguards, a

manager and 14 beach boys and parking attendants@

The existing facilit ies at the town beach are antiquated and

plans for building new ones are nearing completion. Fourty thousand

dollars in matching funds have been made av&ilable by the State Green

Acres Aquisition Program, but construction can begin only if a further

$100,000 is granted by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.

Storm History Buildings at the town beach were completely

destroyed by the 1938 hurricane and heavily damaged in 1954. The

reservoirs behind the barrier were damaged and contaminated by salt water

in 1938. Property damage for the entire town in 1938 was $793,000. The

beach facilities alone sustained $121,000 in damages in 1954.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The development and use of this barrier for recreation and

conservation is acceptable.

2. Eroded.dunes should be restored and stabilized along the

length of the barrier. Access to the beach across the dunes

should be limited to walkways. People should,be prohibited

from the dunes.

3. Dama ge to dunes west of the town-beach could be decreased by

prohibiting parking along Sachuest Point Road.

THIRD BEA CH.

Natural Features: Third Beach is on the Sakonnet River and is

protected from severe wave action by Sachuest Point. The beach is backed

by a single well vegetated dune with a crest approximately 10 feet above

MSL. The base of the dune has been eroded by wave action and in several

places the dune has been cut back to provide building sites for small

summer cottages. The dune gradually decreases in height to the south-

east where a boat launching ramp and overnight camping and picnicking

facility are maintained by the town of Middletown. Freshwater wetland

behind the dune has been filled for roads and parking lots.

Development: The beach and back beach areas to the north of the

town launching area were owned by the Audubon Society until title was

recently transferred to the Department of the Interior. It has condemned

the beach cottages and served eviction notices on their owners. Their

removal would do much to improve the appearance of the area.

The beach to the east of the federal property is owned by St.

George's School and is leased to the town. The lease comes up for a five

year renewal in June of this year. The property includes a small boat

launching ramp, a large graveled parking area, picnic tables and sanitary

facilities. It is managed by the town harbor master. Parking is free

for town residents and $1 .00/vehicle/weekday ($2.00 weekends) for non-

residents. Fees do not meet operating costs, but according to the town

administrator. the facility is not a serious drain on the town's recrea-

tion budget. The town would like to improve the ramp and update some

of the other facilities, but has no immediate plans to do so. Parking

is adequate.

Storm History Third Beach was extensively damaged by both the

1938 and 1954 hurricanes. In 1954 twenty buildings were destroyed

at a loss of $205,000. Both the dunes and the wetlands behind them are

well below hurricane flood levels.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The use of this barrier for recreation and conservation is

acceptable.

2. The summer cottages along the beach should be removed and

eroded dune areas restored and stabilized.

3. People should be prohibited from the dunes.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASIAL RESOURCES (1"N'TEIR
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JAMAR) 1973 G)
NELSON AND GARDINER BARRIERS

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

- SECOND GROWTH

- MARSH

AGRICULTURAL
NELSON
POND
RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

GARDINER POND

o loo, 1/4ml. 1/2 mi.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES CENTEIR
UNINTRSIT)"OF RHO'DE ISLAND
JANIAR) 1973

NELSON AND GARDINER BARRIERS
PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach
SC State Conservation NELSON
SB State Beach POND
SUD State Urban Development
us Federal

1b)

GARDINER POND

0 100, 500' 1/4mi. 112 mi.

TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON

BARRIER BEACHES:

1. Sakonnet to Warren Point Barriers (Watchhouse, Long and
Tappen's-beaches)

2. Briggs Marsh Barrier (Briggs Beach)

3. Ship Pond Cove Barrier (Ship Pond Cove)

4. South Shore Barriers (Round Meadow, Tunipus, Quicksand Beaches)

Total Length: 2.4 miles

LAND USE
Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 45 5,200 ft. unavailable

2. Private Conservation ---

3. Private Beach 61 3,900 unavailable

4. Private Light
Development 14 1,700 unavailable

5. Private Urban
Development ---

6. Town Conservation ---

7. Town Beach 4 1,300 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation

9. Special District
Beach ---

10. State Conservation, ---

11. State Beach

Ocean
Acreage S'horeline Assessment

12. State Urban
Development --- ---

13. Federal ---

TOTALS 124* 12,100 ft.*

*NOTE: Because Little Compton does not have plat maps it was necessary

to estimate data after consultation with the town tax assessor.

Barrier property is taxed at a very low rate.

DISTRIBUT-TON OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 7

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 4

TOTAL 11

MunicipaZ ControZs: Little Compton has recently adopted a town

zoning ordinance. With the exception of subdivisions on some headlands,

the shoreline is zoned for two acre residential lots. There are no

special restrictions on shorefront building and the town does not par-

ticipate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Conprehensive Comunity PZan: The Soil Conservation Service of

the Department of Agriculture is completing a land use survey which is

being used by a professional planner (Dr. Elliot, Harvard University)

to propose a master plan for the town's future development. The project

is financed by a Ford Foundation grant. Preliminary recommendations are

expected in the spring.

General ProbZems: Most of Little Compton's ocean shoreline lies

within several large estates. Through the Little Compton Preservation

Society many of these properties are administered as private Conserva-

tion Areas from which the public is prohibited. Public access to the

ocean shoreline is severely restricted and some town officials feel that

this may be contrary to state and local public needs., Town officials

are concerned that the state may acquire property for recreational

development and public access without fully considering the town's

interests.

In great contrast.to other towns with an ocean shoreline Little

Compton survives as a rural area. Residents are jealous, of their

privacy and want to preserve the quiet beauty of their countryside.

They fear being overrun by nonresidents if more public recreational

facilities are provided.

The town has no plans for acquiring more shoreline and it does

not participate in the Green Acres Program. Town officials feel that

the unusually high water table along much of the town's coastline will

prevent further development.

Sakonnet to Warren Point Barriers
(Watchhouse, Long and Round Pond Barriers)
Length: 0.4 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Beach 2.4 400 ft. 1 unavailable

2. Private Light
Development 14.4 1,680 3 unavailable

TOTALS 16.8 2,080 ft. 4 unavailable

DISTR.TBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 2

TOTAL 4

PRINCIPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 4.1 acres

2. Secondary Growth 1.5 acres

3. Wetland 0.5 acres

HURR-TCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 $273,000 (entire town)

2. 1954 $ 30,000 (entire ocean shoreline)

HURR-TCANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 15.5 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Round Pond 9 ft. above mean sea level

2. Long Pond (Tappen's) 13 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features and Devetopment: Watch House Pond lies within a

large estate and is surrounded by pastureland. The pond is very small

and the barrier beach is composed largely of cobbles. To the east a

private road leads to Round and Long Ponds. Round Pond has a sand and

cobble beach which rises to a crest nine feet above mean sea level (MSL).'

There is no dune. A narrow strip of beachgrass and shrubs lies between

the beach an d the pond which is fringed by marsh. There are no struc-

tures on or near the barrier and there is no evidence that it is used

for bathing.

The Long Pond barrier, has a sand and cobble beach. Along the

western half of the barrier are well developed dunes with crests approach-

ing 13 ft. above MSL. In October, when the field survey was made, water

was flowing from the pond across a wide washover near the eastern end.

A four to five foot scarp had been cut through well vegetated dunes on

either side of the washover. The pond is fringed by freshwater marsh.

There are no structures on the barrier. The eastern end beyond the wash7

over is developed as a private bathing club, the Warren's Point Beach

Club, which has a large bathhouse and parking lot on the headland.

Club membership fees are $125/family/season

Storm History: All of Little Compton's ocean front beaches were

severely damaged during the 1938 and 1954 hurricanes and there were

major changes in the shape and composition of several. Since the Little

Compton shoreline is not heavily developed property damages were low.

Damages for the entire town (including frontage on the Sakonnet River)

were nearly $273,000 in 1938. The ocean shoreline alone sustained

$30,000 in damages in 1954.

RECOMENDATIONS:

Watchhouse Pond

1. The continued management of this beach as a private Conserva-

tion Area is desirable.

Round Pond

1. Development of this barrier for recreational or other uses

is not desirable.

2. Public access need not be provided as the recreational

attractiveness of this barrier is limited.

Long Pond (Tappen's Beach)

1. Development of this barrier should be prohibited.

2. The barrier should be a Conservation Area with.provisions for

limited public access provided as needs arise.

3. Public use should be limited to light recreation.

4. Efforts should be made to rebuild and stabilize the barrier

dunes. All access to the beach across the dunes should be

restricted to stabilized walkways.

Briggs Marsh Barrier
(Briggs Beach)
Length: 0.8 miles

LAND USE.
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 40.8 4,245 ft. 1 unavailable

2. Private Beach 0.2 75 ft. 1 unavailable

TOTALS 41.0 4,320 ft. 2 unavailable

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 0

TOTAL 2

PRINCITPLE VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 10.3 acres

2. Secondary Growth 1.9 acres

3.. Wetland 8.0 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1�38 Unavailable

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 15 ft. above mean sea leve 1

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1'. West end 9 ft. above mean sea level

2. Middle 6 ft. above mean sea level

3. East end 8 ft. above mean sea level

Natural Features and Development: This is one of the larger

barriers in Little Compton. The barrier and the land at either end

is privately owned and administered as a private conservation and hunt-

ing reserve from which the public is prohibited. There is a private

beach club, the Briggs Beach Club, on the headland at the eastern end

of the barrier. One of the Club's parking lots extends a short dis-

tance onto the barrier. The Club owns several large buildings and 30

to 40 day cottages on the headland. Club membership fees are $60/family/

season. The barrier is low (six to nine ft. above MSL) and there are

no structures on it. The beach is primarily pebble but there are iso-

lated patches of sand at the western end. A well developed dune was

destroyed by a storm several years ago. There is a small natural breach-

way about one third the way down the barrier from the eastern end. The

pond side of the barrier is vegetated with beachgrass and scattered shrubs.

REC014MENDATIONS:

1. Development of this barrier should be prohibited.

2. The future of this barrier as a Conservation Area should be

assured.

3. While the present lack of public access is acceptable it may

become desirable to open the beach to limited public access

in the future.

4. The town or the state should negotiate a.conservation ease-

ment with the present owner(s) which provides for eventual

public access on mutually agreeable terms.

5. Public use should be limited to light recreation.

6. Efforts should be made to rebuild and stabilize the barrier

dune. All access to the beach across the dunes should be

restricted to stabilized walkways.

Ship Pond Cove
Length: 0.1 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment-

1. Private Undeveloped 2.2 450 ft. 2 unavailable

TOTAL 2.2 450 ft. 2 unavailable

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 1

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL 2

PROCIPLIE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass None

2. Secondary Growth 15.2 acres (behind pond)

3. Wetland None

HURRICANE DAM4GE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURR-TCANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER.):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 11 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 15 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. High point on berm 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features and DeVeLopment: This small and low barrier

rises to 7.5 ft. above MSL. It is vegetated with scattered clumps of

grasses and shrubs and is cut by an active breachway at the western end.

There are no buildings on or near the barrier. The barrier and surround-

ing land is privately owned and there is no public access.

RECOMMENDAT-TONS:

1. Development of this barrier should be prohibited.

South Shore Barriers
(Round Meadow, Tunipus_, Quicksand Beaches)
Length: 1,1 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 1.8 520 ft. 1 unavailable

2. Private Beach 58.2 31,450 1 unavailable

3. Town Beach 3.5 1,250 1 exempt

TOTALS 63.5 5,220 ft. 3 unavailable

DISTRIBUTION 6F OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2. Other, Rhode Island 0

3. Out-of-state 1

TOTAL 3

PRINCIPLE 'VEGETATION TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 17 acres

.2. Secondary Growth None

3. Wetland 17.5 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 Unavailable

2. 1954 Unavailable

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (ST-TLLWATER):

1. 1938 12 ft. above mean sea level

100

2. 1954 11 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project 15 ft. above mean sea level

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Round Meadow Beach 8 ft. above mean sea level

2. East end Tunipus
Beach 6 ft. above mean sea level

3. West end Quicksand
Beach 8 ft. above mean sea levei

4. Middle Quicksand
Beach 10.5 ft. above mean sea level

ROUND MEADOW BEACH

Natural Features and Development: This small barrier lies to the

west of a small development of cottages and trailer homes. There are

no structures on it. The cobble beach is steep and sparsely vegetated

by grasses and shrubs on the pond side. The pond is fringed with marsh

and has no breachway.

RECOMENDATIONS:

1. Development of this barrier should be prohibited.

TUNIPUS POND BARR-TER

NaturaZ Features and Development This barrier is owned by the

@town and administered as a public bathing beach. A cobble beach rises

steeply to a parking lot that runs the length and width of the barrier.

The parking lot is approximately six ft. above MSL and is periodically

overtopped by storm waves. A shallow breachway separates the eastern

end of the barrier from Stony Point.

101

Few residents use the town beach, preferring the nearby private

beaches with their better facilities and sandy beaches. Parking is

free to residents and is $1.00/weekday ($2.00 on weekends) for non-

residents. The beach is filled to capacity on many summer weekends and

it is not uncommon for people to be turned away. During the summer the

beach is staffed by three or four lifeguards and parking attendants.

There are no.concession stands or drinking fountains and sanitary

facilities are inadequate.

RECOARENDATIONS:

1. Continued use of this beach for public bathing is desirable.

2. No permanentstructures should be built on the barrier.

3. Improved sanitary facilities and a freshwater supply should

beprovided.

QUICKSAND POND BARR-TER

Natural Features and Development: This barrier ektends eastward

from Stony Point. At the western end the beach is sandy but the pebble

content increases to the east. A low well vegetated dune increases in

height to the west. It'is cut by many washovers. Isolated dunes reach-

ing elevations of 10.5 ft. above MSL rise on either side of an active

breachway about half way down the barrier. The pond is fringed by

marsh.

The land on either side of the barrier is privately owned. Owner-

ship of the barrier is disputed between the town and the owner of the

Stony Point headland. There is a privately managed public beach on this

headland.

102

Storm Histor,
,q:. All three South Shore barriers are low and exposed

to severe storm damage.

RECOMAENDATIONS:

1. Development of this barrier should be prohibited.

2. The future of this barrier as a Conservation Area should be

assured.

3. The existing public right-of-way should be improved to make

public access easier. Additional access points may be needed

in the future.

4. Efforts should be made to rebuild and stabilize the barrier

dune. All access to the beach across the dunes should be

restricted to stabilized walkways.

5. Public use should be limited to light recreation.

RHODE ISLAND BA RRIER BEACH s,ruDy
COASTAL RESOURCFS CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANIARY 1973 (@
TUNIPUS AND QUICKSAND BARRIERS

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE - AGRICULTURAL

- BEACH GRASS - RESIDENTIAL

- SECOND GROWTH - COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- MARSH - INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

@4
QUICKSAND POND
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RHODE ISLAND BA RRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOURCES CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANIARY 1973 (@
TUNIPUS AND QUICKSAND BARRIERS

(title dispute
C@ PLD I dis

BEACH
QUICKSAND

0 100' 500' 1/4 mi.

-.103

TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM

BARR1ER BEACHES:

1. Crescent Beach Barrier

2. Sandy Point, West, Coast Guard Beach Barriers

Total Length: 5.3 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean
Acreage Shoreline Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 31 600 ft. $ 16,000

2. Private Conservation --- --- ---

3. Private Beach --- --- ---

4. Private Light
Development 74 @,200 148,000

5. Private Urban
Development --- --- ---

6. Town Conservation 170 12,300 exempt

7. Town Beach 35 5,@600 exempt

8. Special District
Conservation --- --- ---

9. Special District Beach --- --- ---

10. State Conservation ---

11. State Beach 25 2,500 exempt

12. State Urban Development --- --- ---

13. Federal 40 3,500 exempt

TOTALS 375 27,700 ft. 164,000*

104

*NOTE: This assessment is approximately 2.2% of the assessed value of

all property taxed by the town. It produces an annual tax in-

come of $41600.

D-TSTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 8

2. Other, Rhode Island 5

3. Out-of-state 15

4. Unknown 3

TOTAL 31

Municip@21 ControZs: The town of,New Shoreham has zoned its low

lying shoreline, including all its harrier beaches, as beach preserva-

tion areas. These are closed to development and reserved for conserva-

tion and recreational use. While some nonconforming uses exist, most

of the barrier shoreline is in its natural state. A large amount of

barrier property is owned outright by the town. Vehicles are prohibited

from the dunes.

Comprehensive Comunity PZan: New Shoreham is one of the few

Rhode Island coastal communities which is vigorously pursuing the objec-

tives outlined in its master plan. The plan was approved in 1971 and

is currently being revised. The key to the New Shoreham plan is the

recognition of the island's economic dependence on tourists who are

attracted by its natural beauty. The preservation of natural beauty is

consequently stressed. The plan calls for acquisition and preservation

105

of unique natural areas, of low lying beach areas subject to flooding

and storm erosion and of fragile natural featur es such as coastal dunes.

The aesthetic and ecological dangers of permitting construction in flood

plains and the value of the dunes as storm buffers are both r ecognized.

The plan reco mmends that all low lying beach areas be closed to resi den-

tial and commercial development and that many be closed to recreational

development as well. Most of these objectives have been or are being

realized. The town has acquired much of a strip of shoreline from

Sachem Pond to th e Great Salt Pond Breachway. This land is a Conserva-

tion Area.

General ProbZems: While the New Shoreham economy is dependent on

tourist dollars, tourism creates or intensifies many of the island's

most pressing problems. Block Island hosts upwards of 150,000 visitors

each summer. Hotels and public bathing beaches are filled to capacity

on many good summer weekends. The strain on town services and on the

island's fragile natural features is severe. Town officials believe

that they will have to cooperate with state authorities to control and

perhaps restrict the flow of tourists from the mainland during the sum-

mer. They do not believe that they can maintain attractive conditions

on their own and feel that the state has been less than enthusiastic

in assisting them.

The Town Council President stated that even with a 1972 ordinance

prohibiting vehicular use of the dunes the town was having great dif-

ficulty maintaining healthy dunes along the exposed and heavily used

Crescent Beach barrier. Bathers a ttracted to the state beach on this

barrier have eroded numerous footpaths across the dune. Erosion and

106

blowouts are common and endanger the only access road to the northern

end of the island. Town-officials have requested state aid in restrict-

ing people to established routes across the dune and in protecting these

routes from erosion. They need technical advice, stabilizing materials

and financial aid.

Crescent Beach Barrier
Length: 1.0 miles

LAND USE:
Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

1. Private Undeveloped 14.5 --- ft. 6 $ 12,320

4
2. Pr.vate Light
Development 19.4 --- 9 61,800

3. Town Beach 28.2 2,840 2 exempt

4. State Beach 25.0 2,500 1 exempt

TOTALS 87.1 5,340 ft. 18 74,120

D-TSTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 6

2. Other, Rhode Island 4

3. Out-of-state 5

4. Unknown 1

TOTAL 16

PR_TNC_TPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 16.8 acres

107

2. Secondary Growth 63.6 acres

3. Wetland 9.2 acres

HURRICANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938 $25,000 (entire island)

2. 1954 $18,000 (entire island)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVELS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 9 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 8.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project Unknown

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. High dune on
south end 11 ft. above mean sea level

2. Exposed length of
road 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. High dune on
north end 16 ft. above mean sea level

NaturaZ Features and Development: This barrier stretches along the

western side of the island between the town and the high bluff of Corn

Neck. Near the town the barrier is very narrow and Corn Neck Road is

protected from wave erosion by stone riprapping. This exposed stretch

of road is only 7.5 ft. above mean sea level (MSL). To the north the

barrier widens and dunes increase in height from 11 ft. above MSL to

nearly 16 ft. near the state beach pavilion. The lower dunes at the

southern end are cut by numerous paths and blowouts, The dunes are well

vegetated with beachgrass on the pond side but the seaward sides of some

108

are unvegetated and have been undercut by waves.

Corn Neck Road runs between the dunes and the marshes of Great

Salt Pond. A few houses have been built on fill in the marsh. The

state beach, with its pavilion and large parking lot, is near the north-

ern end of the barrier. The beach is heavily used during the summ er.

Storm Historjy: According to flood danger maps in the town master

plan the middle section of Crescent Beach is subject to periodic storm

flooding. The'entire barrier from Old Harbor to Corn Neck is in the

hurricane flood plain.

RECOADENDATIONS:

1. People should be prohibited from the dunes. Access to the

beach across the dunes should be restricted to stabilized

walkways.

2. The town and state should cooperate in protecting the dunes

and restoring eroded areas.

Sachem Pond Barrier
(Sandy Point., West and Coast Guard Beach)
Length: 4.3 miles

LAND USE: Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessments

1. Private Undeveloped 16.2 575 ft. 6 $ 3,210

2. Private Light
Development 54.3 3,150 7 86,440

3. Town Conservation 169.7 12,300 2 exempt

109

Ocean No. of
Acreage Shoreline Lots Assessment

4. Town Beach 6.3 2,750 ft. 1 exempt

5. Federal 39.5 3,500 .3 exempt

TOTALS 286.0 22,275 ft. 19 89,650

DISTRIBUTION OF OWNERS AND LESSEES:

1. Town Residents 2

2. Other, Rhode Island I

3. Out-of-state 10

4. Unidentifiedowners 2

TOTAL 15

PRINCIPLE VEGETAT-TON TYPES:

1. Beachgrass 91.7 acres

2. Secondary Growth 57.1 acres

3. Wetland 27.0 acres

HURR-TCANE DAMAGE:

1. 1938. $25,000 (entire. island)

2. 19 54 $18,000 (entire island)

HURRICANE FLOOD LEVFLS (STILLWATER):

1. 1938 9 ft. above mean sea level

2. 1954 8.5 ft. above mean sea level

3. Standard Project Unknown

110

DUNE CREST ELEVATION:

1. Parking area Sandy
Point 7.5 ft. above mean sea level

2. High dune - Sandy
Point dune field 50 ft. above mean sea level

3. North end West Beach 13 ft. above mean sea level

4. Foredune - Coast
Guard Beach 10 ft. above mean sea level

5. Back dune Coast
Guard Beach 15.5 ft. above mean sea level

SACHEM POND AND SANDY POINT BARRIERS:

Natural Features: Sandy Point is a barrier spit that extends

into Block Island Sound from the north end of the island. The beach

of Sachem Pond barrier on the east side of the Point has no dune and

rises only seven feet above MSL. It is stabilized along much of its

length by riprapping. The pond is fringed with freshwater wetland and

has no breachway.

Rhode Island's most extensive dune field is west of Sachem Pond

at the southern end of Sandy Point. It contains thirty acres of dunes

some of which rise to fifty feet above MSL. Vegetation is primarily

beachgrass and shrubs. Large areas are unvegetated and wind erosion of

many dunes is severe. This dune field is one of the most beautiful and

unspoiled natural areas in the state.

DeveZopment: Sandy Point and Sachem Pond barriers are owned by

the town and federal government and administered as a Wildlife Conserva-

tion Area. Corn Neck Road ends in a small parking lot between the pond

and the ocean. Near the parking lot are a few picnic tables and a sign

indicating the area's status as a Conservation Area. An off road

vehicle trai 1 continues from the parking lot towards the point. There

are a few footpaths among the dunes. Signs of human misuse are re-

freshingl:y few due to the area's isolation and the use restrictions

imposed by the town.

Storm,History: Except for the North Light lighthouse, there are

no buildings in this area subject to storm damage. The road and picnic

area are exposed but do not represent a major private or municipal

investment. Thedune field is removed far enough from the beach to

escape serious wave erosion.

WEST BEACH BARRIER

Natural Features and DeVeLopment: The beach of this barrier is a

mixture of sand and cobble. It is backed along most of its length by

a low irregular dune. The dune is well vegetated by beachgrass and

eroded along much of its base. Blowouts are frequent. The two ponds

behind the middle section of the beach are fringed by marsh. Additional

marsh lies along the northern edge of the Great Salt Pond.

The entire length of this beach is zoned as a beach conservation

district. Much of it is owned by the town and additional areas are

controlled by the Block Island Conservency. The town dump is behind

the beach off West Shore Road. There are several home s on high.,;round

near the breachway.

Storm History: The town master plan shows that this strip of

coastline is subject to hurricane flooding. No structures, however,

112

are exposed to storm damage.

COAST GUARD BEACH BARRIER

Natural Features and DeveZopment: The beach of this barrier is

a mixture of sand and cobble. A heavy growth of beachgrass begins on

the upper beach face and extends over three distinct and increas@ingly

elevated dune ridges. The highest ridge is 15.5 ft. above MSL.

Vigorous grass growth continues on the pond side of the access road.

Several homes are built along the road behind the crest of the

highest dune ridge. The y are several hundred feet from the beach and

appear well protected from, storm damage by the broad expanse of dune in

front of them.

Storm History: Comparison of 1938 and 1954 hurricane flood

levels with present dune heights indicate that the homes built on the

back dune are probably safe from hurricane damage or flooding. The

access road, however, is low enough to be flooded during severe storms.

Existing development does not appear to damage the dune.

RECOARENDATIONS:

1. If public use of the dune field on Sandy Point increases,

visitors should be restricted to stabilized footpaths.

2. The town should continue to manage the Sandy Point dune field

as a Wildlife Conservation Area.

3. Existing zoning restrictions on shoreline development should

remain in force.

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASTAL RESOUR(T 'S CENTEIR
t''NIVERSITY OF RHODE, ISLAND
J\\[ XR) 1973 &
SANDY POINT AND GREAT SALT POND BARRIERS

- UNVEGETATED SAND OR COBBLE

- BEACH GRASS

r77777777771
- SECOND GROWTH

MARSH

71719
@- J- - AGRICULTURAL

r17 7 7@11 T In
- RESIDENTIAL

- COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL

- INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

GREATSALTPOND

OINT

RHODE ISLAND BARRIER BEACH STUDY
COASIAL REISOURCE.S CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JANVARY 1973

SANDY POINT AND GREAT SALT POND BARRIERS
PU Private Undeveloped
PC Private Conservation
PB Private Beach (commercial or club)
PLD Private Limited Development
PUD Private Urban Development
TC Town Conservation
TB Town Beach
DC Special District Conservation
DB Special District Beach
SC State Conservation
SB State Beach
SUD State Urban Development
us Federal

S-4cly
PQIV@

,rc
GREAT SALT

13S TC
SA DV OINT

PLD (is P(j

us PLE

DATE DUE

GAYLORD No. 2333 PRINTED IN U.S.A.

3 6668 14 0 8257