What is Rhode Island Sea Grant?

Based at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Rhode Island Sea Grant is a partnership of the university, the National Sea Grant College Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the state of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Sea Grant supports research, outreach, and education programs designed to foster vibrant coastal communities and healthy marine environments.

Rhode Island Sea Grant is one of 33 programs in a national network, and includes a legal program located at Roger Williams University School of Law.

Why do you want my location?

Simply, to give you a better experience. Location information if used to find the nearest access point to you and to sort and results by distance from you. SeaGrant does not save your location or use it for any other purpose.

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What are CRMC Rights-of-Way?

The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is a management agency with regulatory functions. Its primary responsibility is for the preservation, protection, development and where possible the restoration of the coastal areas of the state via the issuance of permits for work with the coastal zone of the state.

As trustee of Rhode Island’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. CRMC maintains a rights-of-way designation program that discovers existing public access points to the shore based on evidence of historical use. These designated rights-of-way are listed in this website by their designation numbers. The CRMC may also require the inclusion of public access when issuing permits for development along the shoreline. For more information, visit the CRMC website at www.crmc.ri.gov.

How accurate are tides?

Tides are based upon predictions for Newport, RI. Tides throughout Narragansett Bay are generally + to -10 minutes from Newport. The exception to this is the southwestern corner of the state (Westerly) where tides are generally 45 minutes later than Newport.

Whoops, I found an error!

Please report any errors to rhodeislandseagrant@gmail.com. Please identify the name of the site and the municipality. Thank you!

I want something added…

To suggest additional sites, or to add information about a site, please email rhodeislandseagrant@gmail.com. Please include the name of the site, the municipality, and as much information as you can regarding the site, its location, and its amenities. Thank you!

Who built this site?

This site was developed by the afterpaper team at Meridian Printing, which is dedicated to accurately assessing clients' needs, developing interactive solutions, and creating exceptional designs that exceed our clients' expectations. For more information, visit www.after-paper.com.

Legal…

Copyright © 2016 University of Rhode Island. All rights reserved.

Shoreline-ri.com is offered to users upon the acceptance of the following conditions.

This site and the information it contains are provided solely for informational purposes as a public service. While Rhode Island Sea Grant attempts to keep this site current and accurate, it makes no express or implied warranties or representations, including about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the site or its information, or of the adequacy or suitability of any location identified for the purposes indicated.

Rhode Island Sea Grant expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the site, for any incidental or consequential damages suffered by users arising from or in connection with the use of this site or reliance on information provided on this site, and for any other loss or damage associated with the use of this site.

Activities for which information is provided on this site are inherently dangerous and may result in injury to persons or property, including death. Under the Rhode Island Recreational Use Statute, landowners who permit the public to access the shoreline for recreational purposes without charge do not thereby extend any assurance that premises are safe, owe a duty of care to users, or assume responsibility or liability for injury to persons or property. Users are solely responsible for voluntarily engaging in activities and assume all risk of any resulting injury.

About this app…

This app is a digital update to a 2004 publication, Public Access to the Rhode Island Coast, which was published by Rhode Island Sea Grant and the URI Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

Sites chosen for this guide are either (1) owned by federal, state, or municipal government and managed for the public, (2) owned by private organizations who welcome the public, or (3) rights-of-way that have been officially designated by the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) or by the municipalities and are suitable for public use.

This guide does not include every possible shoreline access point. If there is one missing you feel should be included, please email rhodeislandseagrant@gmail.com.

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