SLAMM Municipal Workshops October 28th and 30th, 2014 Caitlin Chaffee Wenley Ferguson

1. Coastal Wetland Adaptation Strategies
SLAMM Municipal Workshops
October 28th and 30th, 2014
Caitlin Chaffee
Wenley Ferguson

2. Adaptation Strategies
• Upland
– Adopt activities that facilitate marsh migration
– Change/move land use activities that inhibit marsh
migration
– Remove physical barriers
• In-Marsh
– Drainage improvements (small creek excavation)
– Elevation enhancement
– Erosion control along marsh edge

3. Winnapaug Pond Marsh, Westerly
Marsh migration occurring yet impounded
water creating mosquito breeding habitat

4. Palmer River Marsh, Barrington

5. Round Marsh, Jamestown
Old farm path impediment to marsh
migration into red maple swamp
Marsh migrating into field

7. Bike path in marsh area
Colt State Park, Bristol
Mowed marsh area
1995

8. Colt State Park, Bristol
Marsh after path moved
1996: marsh mowed
Bike path relocated in late 1990s
and “mow line” moved inland

9. 1
2
Opportunity to move mow line inland to allow wetland
forming behind beach to migrate inland
Seapowet Point, Tiverton
1
2

10. Allins Cove, Barrington
Marsh restoration area
Eroded bank at base of Byway Rd

11. Coir envelope installation

12. Stillhouse Cove, Cranston

13. Mill Cove Road, Warwick

14. Mill Cove Road, Warwick

15. Clark Road, Kickemuit River, Warren
Marsh at end of road
Road removal area

16. Clark Road, Warren

17. Clark Road, Warren

18. Kickemuit Avenue, Bristol

19. Kickemuit Ave., Bristol

22. Atlantic Ave., Westerly,
Winnapaug Pond
Proposed sediment
forebay, filter strip and
check dams

23. Barrington Community Garden
Marsh migration occurring

24. Jamiel Park, Warren
Tidal creek under Market St
Potential area for marsh
migration if vehicular access
changed to Wood Street

25. Kickemuit River adaptation opportunities
Kickemuit Reservoir Dam: vulnerable to
storm surge; future site for marsh
migration

26. 1
Potential area to limit
vehicular access
2
Edgewater Drive, Apponaug
Cove, Warwick
Flooding during a moon tide
1
Ponded water at low tide
2

27. Coldwell Street, Warwick
Land protection of small lots
required for low lying road to
be closed to vehicle access

28. In marsh adaptation
• Small creeks and runnels excavation
– Partners include: municipalities, land trusts, Save The
Bay and RIDEM Mosquito Abatement Program
– STB provides project design development, permit
preparation, organization of volunteers for “dig days”,
and restoration monitoring
– RIDEM provides low ground pressure equipment and
operator if necessary
– CRMC Habitat Fund and NRCS has provided funding
– Projects range from $5,000 to $15,000

29. Gooseneck
Cove adaptive
management
Small creeks dug to drain
impounded water
2010
2012

30. 2007
Round Marsh, Jamestown

31. Round Marsh, Jamestown
2012

32. Winnapaug Marsh adaptation project

33. Thank You