East Beach/Ninigret Conservation Area Sand Trail Temporary Closure notice

July 1, 2013 – The RI Department of Environmental Management has advised of the temporary closure of the East Beach Sand Trail due to the need to protect the endangered piping plover. The East Beach sand trail is a very popular location for 4 x 4 barrier beach users and this restriction will adversely affect their use in this area. RIDEM will be notifying the patrons who visit the Burlingame Campground office to purchase the CRMC barrier beach permits of this restriction.

East Beach/Ninigret Conservation Area Sand Trail Temporary Closure

June 28, 2013 – As of 5:00pm on Monday, July 1, 2013, public access to the East Beach Sand Trail will be restricted to pedestrian traffic only until on/about August 1st, if not sooner, to provide protection for the Piping Plover, a small shorebird that is listed as threatened on the Federal and State endangered species lists. The closure will include all vehicles from accessing the areas beyond the main parking area. The pedestrian day use beach and parking lot will remain open to permitted vehicles. All alternatives to avoid a closure were reviewed and discussed between USFWS and DEM staff and the difficult decision was made to close the trail to avoid further conflicts between wildlife and off-road vehicles.

Hurricane Sandy changed the face of the Rhode Island coastline and beaches for the public as well as for piping plovers. On east beach there are many overwash areas that provide access for young birds and piping plover chicks have been feeding and taking refuge along the sand trail. Through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, service staff and volunteers monitor the nests and broods on a daily basis and are looking forward to the time when the young birds are ready to fly and the trails can be re-opened and protective roping can be removed. Throughout this summer and into the fall- DEM, USFWS and CRMC will work together to plan restoration of these dunes in order to restore vegetation between the beach and the sand trail which will reduce the likelihood of plovers utilizing the sand trail.

"With the changes in beach habitat and populations, we especially need the help of beach-goers to protect piping plovers and respect sand trail closures"- says DEM Division of Parks and Recreation Chief Robert Paquette. "We are confident that with proper monitoring and management, the sand trail will be open to vehicles as soon as possible."

Sections of East Beach off road vehicle corridor may be reopened on/about August 1st, if not sooner. The entire East Beach is monitored on a daily basis and will be re-opened, either in part or in whole, to recreational uses and off road "permitted" vehicular traffic as soon as possible. As partial beach access is granted, restrictions may be in place that impact Off Road Vehicle limits.

Robert J. Paquette
Chief

DEM Division of Parks & Recreation
2321 Hartford Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919

Tel# 401-222-2632 (w)
Tel# 401-934-0610 (f)