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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

Coastal Erosion

RI Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook  RI Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook (PDF)

Property Guide Thumbnail  New guide helps RI homeowners, businesses protect property from flooding and erosion

Losing Ground: Coastal Erosion in Rhode Island (PDF) – Did you know that 50 percent of Rhode Island's shoreline sediments are susceptible to erosion? Or that with the increasing rainfall that comes with climate change, Block Island's bluffs will face more rapid erosion? This presentation by Janet Freedman, coastal geologist with the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, describes some of the erosion threats Rhode Island's coastal areas are facing, as well as efforts the state is undertaking to help municipalities and property owners address these problems.

Shoreline Change Maps

Show shoreline rates of change that will be applied to regulatory programs to address issues including setbacks of activities from coastal features.

Matunuck Erosion Report

Inter-Office Memorandum about the February 18, 2011 joint work session– February 25, 2011 (PDF)
CRMC to hold joint work session with Town of SK on erosion – May 31, 2011
Follow-up CRMC Report on Matunuck Erosion Issue – June 2011 (PDF)
South Kingstown petition to reclassify a portion of the Matunuck shoreline (PDF)
Notice of April 10, 2012 Public Hearing on Town of South Kingstown application 2011-09-005 (PDF) to construct a seawall
Town response for Special Exception regarding seawall application (PDF)
Notice of April 24, 2012 Public Hearing on Town of South Kingstown petition for Matunuck shoreline designation
CRMC Staff Report, April 20, 2011 (PDF)
CRMC Staff report for seawall - application 2011-09-005 (PDF)
CRMC Staff report for petition - application 2011-12-017 (PDF)
Matunuck Report and Budget Proposal 5/8/12 (PDF)
NY Times article about the Matunuck Erosion issue

Appendices (PDF):

Map depicting the eligible parcels in Matunuck for CRMC "Temporary Assents" (PDF)

Correspondence

Submerged Lands

Submerged Lands Survey – Updated 2000 (PDF)

Experimental Coastal Erosion Control — *Expired on Oct. 7, 2019*

Section 980 of the Salt Pond Region Special Area Management Plan was revised to address the allowance of alternative experimental erosion control methods as a temporary experimental use due to significant erosion of shoreline features in Matunuck and Misquamicut. Effective October 7, 2013 the policies and regulations in Section 980 enabled the CRMC to authorize alternative experimental erosion control methods as temporary uses in these two shoreline areas.

Experimental Coastal Erosion Control Application Guidance Document (PDF)

Salt Pond SAMP Section 980 – Experimental Coastal Erosion Control (PDF)

Stedman Government Center
Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-2069 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov

RI SealRI.gov
An Official Rhode Island State Website