Charlestown Breachway

Ninigret Salt Pond has a permanent opening to Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean via a dredged channel called the Charlestown Breachway.

Prior to humans making the Charlestown Breachway permanent, East Beach was naturally breached an average of seven times a year.

During the 1600 and 1700s, humans manually opened a channel to the salt pond if it was not breached naturally (see history of breachway).

In 1952, the Charlestown Breachway was stabilized.

The breachway channel was dredged to a depth of 3 feet and a width of 120 feet and two stone jetties were extended into Rhode Island Sound.

By permanently opening the salt pond to the sea, the nature of the pond was forever changed.

What was once a seasonally brackish water body of water became a high salinity, tidally flushed estuary.

Oceanic animals and plants enter the salt pond via the breachway and the water in the pond is now more saline (salty).

While the breachway makes access to the ocean much easier for boaters, the increased salinity and sedimentation has changed the biology in the pond drastically.

The Pond is a very productive fishing ground. Winter flounder is the most popular finfish species caught by recreational and commercial fishermen.

The flounder lay their eggs in the fall and winter which hatch in two to three weeks.

Because tidal flushing is low, the flounder are able to remain sheltered in the ponds where food is plentiful throughout the summer.

The Ninigret Salt Pond region is used for a variety of recreational activities as well as oyster and quahog aquaculture.

This region contains natural and historical benefits which contribute to its uniqueness.

The Salt Pond region extends from the barrier beach that separates the ponds from the ocean to the inland boundary of the watershed of the pond.

The extraordinary landscape, the salt pond and ocean, the soft sandy beaches and the moderate climate contribute to the popularity of the region.

Miles of scenic shoreline, beaches, and seaside resorts attract many people to Southern Rhode Island.

In fact, it is the fastest growing area in the state.

On a peak summer day the population can swell to an additional 165,000 people!

But growth does have its consequences.

While people are attracted to the Salt Pond region, the natural beauty and preservation of the pond is being jeopardized.

Overdevelopment threatens the area's ability to absorb wastes and keep its waters unpolluted.

One-hundred-and-seventy-four acre East Beach State Park is a three-mile long barrier beach of white sand that faces Block Island Sound.

If you have a recreational vehicle you may try your luck at camping at one of 20 first come first serve overnight campsites located directly on the beach (no tents).

There are also an additional 30 day use sites located directly on the beach for swimming, sunbathing or just relaxing.

Access to either the campsites or day use areas requires the purchase of a $50 Barrier Beach Permit.

The beach has a lifeguard on duty during the summer months and is relatively private due to the small parking lot that accommodates less than 100 vehicles.

On the northern border of East Beach State Park sits Ninigret Pond, a large salt pond that is a popular location for both bird watching and wind surfing.

Salinity of Ninigret Pond has increased dramatically due to the installation of a permanent channel to Block Island Sound in 1952.

The brackish water has been replaced by a tidal estuary and now serves as a critical safe haven for a variety of marine life.

The northern shore of Ninigret Pond is a National Wildlife Refuge for hundreds of species of marine and bird life.

Further east of East Beach State Park sits tiny 62-acre Charlestown Breachway State Park.

It is here at the eastern end of Ninigret Pond that the channel to Block Island Sound sits.

The park has 75 cramped and open beachside campsites for recreational vehicles only on a first come first served basis.

There are no services of any kind and open fires are not allowed, but the cool breezes, panoramic 270-degree views of Block Island Sound, and if your lucky the ability to park almost at the waters edge help you forget about the close proximity of your neighbors.

The park also offers a boat ramp that provides access to Block Island Sound and Narragansett Bay.

Charlestown Breachway State Park is an outstanding location for saltwater fishing and for digging clams.

Both activities require a permit and you should check regulations and safety warnings, especially for red tide that can cause serious illness if infected shellfish are eaten.

Located southwest of Burlingame State Park is 152-acre Misquamicut State Beach.

This day use park is a barrier beach just east of Watch Hill, Rhode Island and was born after the state purchased the hurricane ravaged spit in 1954.

The popular park has undergone a series of forced renovations after almost being closed permanently in 1992.

Misquamicut's meteorological scars have long since healed and it is a popular beach for surfing and beachcombing. A lifeguard is on duty during the summer months.

Despite what the TV networks wants you to believe about Rhode Island through popular TV shows like Providence and Family Guy, outdoor adventure and scenic beauty can be found in this tiny state.

Burlingame State Park is an excellent starting point if your Rhode Island adventure includes hiking, boating, wind surfing, or walking on miles of available beaches.

Throw in some world class bird watching and the tepid New England weather, and the western shores of Rhode Island suddenly becomes an ideal choice for your next great adventure.

Ninigret National Wildlife Reserve is located in Charlestown almost 30 miles south of Providence.

The refuge, 407 acres, has experienced many "histories": created from run off from the glaciers of the last ice age 14,000 years ago through early Native American use and subsequent colonial period farming.

Refuge staff is attempting to restore the native coastal sand plain grasslands, a habitat in danger of completely disappearing from the southern New England coast.

Over 30% of the endangered and threatened species in Rhode Island can be found in this area.

There is an extensive trail system avilable to hikers that will provide beautiful views of wetlands, grasslands, forested and shrublands, wooded swamps and a stretch of barrier beach, as well as Ninigret Pond.

Ninigret Pond is Rhode Island's largest salt pond (at approximately 1700 acres) and is linked to the Block Island Sound via a man-made breachway.

Black ducks, Canada geese and diving ducks winter in large numbers on the pond. Osprey, harriers, kestrels and other migrating raptors frequent the refuge lands, too.

On the beach, the Refuge staff manages an extensive federally threatened piping plover nesting program.