CRMC, Save The Bay working on ROWs this summer

This summer, expect some visible improvements to rights-of-way to the shore. The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with Save The Bay, is conducting site visits to all of the CRMC-designated rights-of-way. Save The Bay, via a letter of permission, is manually clearing a number of sites all over the state that have become overgrown with brush over the years. The CRMC is also working with local DPWs to have posts and ROW signage installed at numerous locations, with the goal of having every CRMC ROW clearly identified.

In addition to the site work, the CRMC is also delivering rights-of-way files to all 21 coastal town governments in response to the newly passed legislation requiring all coastal cities and towns to include CRMC-designated ROWs on their plat maps. This effort is already underway.

Work is underway to clear a number of overgrown CRMC-designated ROWs this summer. Volunteers work to clear NK ROW F-7 in July.

The site work being done is on ROWs that have not been adopted by people or organizations under the CRMC's Adopt-an-Access Program. It does not include town rights-of-ways, which are maintained and governed by their resident municipal governments. To adopt a CRMC ROW, go to https://www.crmc.ri.gov/publicaccess.html. This work does not include resolution of possible issues of enforcement where abutting property owners or others have placed materials or impediments to coastal access. To report potential enforcement matters, email cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov and put ENFORCEMENT in the subject line, or call 401-783-3370.

For more information on CRMC rights-of-way and other public access issues, go to the link above.