Resources.
Maps & Town GIS
A collection of comprehensive and interactive map tools, including links to relevant coastal town official geographic survey maps, which show public / private parcel boundaries, and public roads including paper roads that may be undeveloped but still remain town property. See DEM and CRMC sections for more.
A community driven project to create a comprehensive map of coastal public access across the state, this Google map showcases the locations of over 300+ points across Rhode Island.
Mapping project as part of University of Rhode Island’s Sea Grant program, with an easy-to-use online tool combining an interactive map with access point information, searchable by desired activity or municipality.
Statewide searchable blueways directory for boat ramps and launches, by the Rhode Island Land Trust Council.
Town of Charlestown interactive survey map.
Charlestown Open Space Parking and Access. Map markers are located at parking lots or drives that lead to parking, usually located at trail heads with access to hiking trails.
Official GIS maps for the Town of South Kingstown.
Town of North Kingstown interactive survey map.
North Kingstown inventory list of town ROWs, from 1994 Harbor Management Report
Westerly list of town ROWs, plus Comment Submission form.
Town of Jamestown shoreline access points with island map and access point summaries.
Town of Narragansett interactive survey map.
Annotated Google Map, detailing public parking and footpaths to Gaspee Point public access beach in Warwick
High resolution topographical chart of the Bay as part of the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection — original map from 1777 by Charles Blaskowitz
Illustrated and annotated poster of the Newport Harbor Walk and Waterfront
The Division of Statewide Planning maintains a series of aerial photographs which are available to the general public for the purpose of viewing and/or reproducing. The current inventory includes statewide series for 1939, 1952, 1962, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1981, 1988, and 1992.
Climate Central interactive map for land projected ot be below annual flood level any year from 2030-2100.
RI Dept of Environmental Management
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) oversees the management of state parks and beaches, and is responsible for maintaining boat ramps for fishing access to salt and fresh waters statewide. Some map links included at top of page.
Information and purchasing for State Beach parking, including Season Passes and Daily Flex Passes.
Dedicated website for all Rhode Island state beaches, parks, and campgrounds.
RI DEM’s Arc GIS based Outdoor Recreation Atlas interactive map, outlining outdoor opportunities and public shoreline access points.
RIDEM page including links to Interactive Water Mapper, Water Trails Map pdfs, and Boat Ramp list.
RI DEM ArcGIS map & Aerial Photos interactive map
RI Coastal Resources Management Council
Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) is a critical department of our government for overseeing utilization of Rhode Island shores. As trustee of RI’s coastal resources and in accordance with state and federal statutory mandates, CRMC has a responsibility to ensure that public access to the shore is protected, maintained, and, where possible, enhanced for the benefit of all. Some map links included at top of page.
Report a potential ROW violation or encroachment directly to CRMC staff, or call (401) 222-2476
CRMC dedicated Rights-of-Way and Public Access page with all relevant CRMC material
Official CRMC brochure intended to be distributed to the general public, “The Public Trust: Public Access — Your Rights to the Coastal Lands and Waters of Rhode Island”
CRMC issued guidelines last updated 2009, for coastal town Harbor Management Commissions and Plans (HMP) to act as local advisory boards to municipal town councils. Several towns developed such boards and plans, but more public encouragement for follow-thru is needed.
In-depth CRMC access guide including access point maps, breakdowns by geographic region, and activities, “Public Access to the Rhode Island Coast”
Official CRMC PDF document, “A Citizen’s Guide to Assisting in the Right-of-Way Designation Process”
2018-2019 annual progress report of officially designated CRMC Rights-of-Way, broken down by municipality, and status updates on ROWs pending CRMC approval as submitted by each town.
2019-2020 annual progress report of officially designated CRMC Rights-of-Way, broken down by municipality, and status updates on ROWs pending CRMC approval as submitted by each town.
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director of the CRMC hosts “Shoreline Access 101: What You Need to Know,” the first in a 2021 summer series of educational webinars focused on public shoreline access in RI
CRMC issued PDF guide to Greenwich Bay designated Rights-of-Way.
CRMC pdf regulations & info pamphlet for beach sand trails of Southern RI, in a joint effort with RIDEM.
Summer Webinar Series 2022 #1: Public Shoreline Access in Narragansett with speakers Jesse Pugh (Town Council), Cinna Zerquera-Martin (CAIC committee chairman), and Leah Feldman (CRMC).
While not entirely comprehensive of all Rhode Island ROWs, view the ArcGIS map of CRMC designated coastal access points.
Summer Webinar Series 2023: informational discussion regarding 2023 shoreline access law, with speakers Leah Feldman (CRMC), Michael Woods (BHA), Monica Allard Cox (RI Sea Grant), State Rep Mark McKenney & Terri Cortvriend.
Litigation & Court Cases
Litigation and court cases related to shoreline access & privileges, listed from oldest to newest.
1785 case of Nicholas Easton v City of Newport, in which Easton attempted to claim exclusive ownership of the beach. The city won.
Supreme Court of Rhode Island decision, holding that the State Constitution prohibits the state from permitting sections of the shore to be fenced off barring public access. Jul 22, 1941
A pivotal case in the interpretation of the State Constitution that impacted RI shoreline access, the 1982 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision resulted in the mean high tide line being calculated by an 18.6 year lunar cycle.
Supreme Court of New Hampshire Opinions of the Justices on Public Use of Coastal Beaches, that general public may acquire easement by prescription to coastal beach land. Oct 27, 1994
Legal case that confirmed CRMC designation of Tuckerman Ave, Middletown, as a public ROW.
US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision Aug 2021, affirming district court’s decision. The Zito’s were denied permission to rebuild their vacation home due to environmental regulations after it was lost to fire on a barrier island in North Carolina.
Evidence document submitted to CRMC by the Weekapaug Fire District Attorney, Thomas Liguori, relating to Spring Ave ROW in Westerly.
Jul 21, 2021
Attorney Michael Rubin rebuttal to Weekapaug Fire District Spring Ave ROW claims. Documents Submitted for CRMC Review Case 2020-11-084.
Legislation & Government
Law, affairs of the RI General Assembly House & Senate, town ordinances, and elected officials’ proposed new legislation relating to RI shoreline access.
Enter an address to lookup elected Congressional and State Representatives, via the RI Secretary of State website.
Directory of Government Officials listed by cities and towns, via the RI Secretary of State website.
Search for government meetings open to the public including upcoming schedule, agenda, and past minutes. Searchable by municipality, date, or governing body name.
Direct link to the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island, hosted on the RI General Assembly website.
State of Rhode Island Campaign Finance Electronic Reporting & Tracking System — lookup donors & campaign contributions to RI candidates
RI Gen Assembly Report of the Special Commission to discover Public Rights-of-Way to water areas of the state, Governor Dennis Roberts, 1958
RI Commission on Discovery and Utilization of Public ROW, an expansion 1958 Special Report. Part One summarizes case law, legislation and definitions. Part Two includes inventory & analysis for each municipality. Part Three contains recommendations for legislation. Appendix maps, aerial photos and descriptions of each right-of-way.
Analysis and justification for repairing the Newport Cliff Walk done by Army Corps of Engineers, including involvement of private land and a long tradition of public access. Funding was to be obtained through the Rivers and Harbors Act.
CRMC commissioned Westerly-specific title search report, performed by Jon Lallo of the Westerly Tax Assessor's Office, 1978. Plus, unsigned Addendum which appears to be the CMRC ROW subcommittee's report after reviewing Lallo's work and holding two hearings in Westerly.
Ch. 1054, § 1, 8-20-2018 — Sec. 82-177. - Rights-of-way to the water. (a) No person shall block barricade or in any way impede the public use of or access to designated public rights-of-way to the water as defined by the coastal resources management council or the town.
Introduced Feb 2020 by bipartisan Rep Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D) and Rep Blake Filippi (R), sought to prevent prosecution of passage along the shore within 10’ of most recent high tide line. While the bill died in committee, link to bill details and any subsequent updates. Also see Allies
Introduced Mar 2021 by Senators DiMario, Euer, Valverde, DiPalma, Seveney, Bell, Kallman, Anderson, and Coyne. To redefine coastal access from the Mean High Tide Line to the most recent High Tide.
Introduced April 2021 by Senators DiMario, Kallman, Valverde, Cano, Raptakis, Goodwin, Mack, Mendes, Anderson, and Acosta, that would give a free state beach parking pass to any family that qualifies for free/reduced lunch, SNAP benefits, RI Works benefits, or Head Start. Also see Allies
Passed partisan bill (Dem 8-0), June 2021, to Study And Provide Recommendations On The Issues Relating To Lateral Access Along The Rhode Island Shoreline (prevents A Person From Being Prosecuted For Fishing, Gathering Seaweed, Swimming Or Passage Along The Sandy Or Rocky Shoreline Within Ten Feet (10') Of The Most Recent High Tide Line.
VIDEO 23 Sept 2021 Shoreline Access Commission MHW Line exchange. Marine Affairs expert Dennis Nixon and survey expert Mark Boyer explain to Judge Flaherty that the MHW Line changes daily
Full timeline and text of S0417 Sub A — signed into law on June 26, 2023. Provides the public’s rights on wet / dry sand or rocky beach, up to ten feet (10’) landward of the recognizable high tide line.
2022 Annual Report of Narragansett Coastal Access Improvement Committee outlining members, accomplishments, and ongoing projects.
2023 Annual Report of Narragansett Coastal Access Improvement Committee outlining members, accomplishments, and ongoing projects.
2023 Resolution of the Westerly Town Council declaring its intent on behalf of the Town of Westerly to request ownership of the Watch Hill Lighthouse Federal Land to thereby protect public access to the shore in perpetuity
Academia & Presentations
Collection of research, studies, and informational presentations relevant to coastal access.
Robert W. Fairbanks & Richard N. St. Jean, slide presentation during BeachSAMP Stakeholder Meeting, December 2013
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers presentation with Dennis Nixon, Prof Emeritus of Marine Affairs and Coastal Zone Law, and RI Rep Terri Cortvriend (District 72, Portsmouth). Video also on Youtube
PDF Hosted by NOAA, the application of the public trust doctrine to the management of lands, waters and living resources of the coastal states, June 1997
University of North Carolina, “The Use and Legal Significance of the Mean High Water Line in Coastal Boundary Mapping” by Frank E. Maloney & Richard C. Ausness, 53 N.C. L. Rev. 185 (1974).
CRMC presentation outlining legislative impacts on defining Mean High Tide, problems with these applications, and possible solutions.
PDF presentation by Save the Bay, Nov 2016, “Championing the Public’s Right to Access the Shore" where they identified on the ground and collected data for over 200+ State-designated rights-of-way.
URI Coastal Resource Center guide to “What Coastal Property Owners, Renters, Builders and Buyers Should Know About Rhode Island’s Shoreline”, prepared in conjunction with CRMC and Sea Grant RI, 2014.
Pictorial compilation supporting Spring Ave as public ROW, submitted to CRMC by Ben Weber of Westerly (2020)
“The Public Trust Doctrine and Private Property: The Accommodation Principle” by Michael C Blumm of the Lewis and Clark Law School, published Pace Environmental Law Review, Vol 27, Issue 3, July 2010
“Lateral Access to the Rhode Island Shore: Introductory Report” by Amanda Argentieri, Sea Grant Law Fellow, Roger Williams University School of Law
University of RI CAIC page, including information and resources to public access factsheet and tidal infographics.
2021 Surfrider Foundation State of the Beach nationwide report, including Rhode Island on page 29.
Stephens, Susan P. (2018) "Access to the Shore: A Coast to Coast Problem," Florida State University Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law: Vol. 3 : No. 1 , Article 5.
A “must read” article by Michael Rubin and Dennis Nixon, focusing specifically on Black Point in Narragansett, while providing historical background on RI shore rights in general and even the Narragansett Cliff Walk. The article is publicly available thanks to it being posted by the Special Commission on Lateral Access to the Shore.
Printed at Providence for Title Guarantee Company of RI, “…published in the hope that it will aid present and future Rhode Island land holders to understand more fully … those conditions in the past that have made ‘title flaws’ an actual menace to the owner of real estate”… “Every foot of land in Rhode Island was once Indian land, owned by the Wampanoag, Narragansett or other Indian tribes…”
By Sidney S Rider, “As they were known to Caunounicus and Miantunnomu when Roger Williams Came in 1636 : An Indian Map of the Principal Locations Known to the Nahigansets and Elaborate Historical Notes”. Page 76 beginning “The Acquisition of the Indian Lands 1636-1672”
Scientific report: “Beaches are critical ecosystems1, storm buffers2, an essential cultural setting3, and an attraction for tourists4. However, poor management of shoreline hardening, the construction of hard structures such as seawalls along the shore, has led to beach narrowing and loss around the world5,6,7,8 (Fig. 1).” Sci Rep 10, 13633 (2020)
URI Coastal Institute report provides an overview of major projects, partnerships, and investments the Coastal Institute has developed and supported from June 2020 through June 2022. Given the state fiscal year cycle, this period best captures an overview of the return on investment of CI-initiated or supported activities in tandem with its 150+ Senior Fellows as well as local, state, regional, and federal agencies, NGOs, and other partner academic institutions, elected officials, and municipalities.
