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Rights-of-Way Monitoring Program: Help Protect Public Shoreline Access
Saturday, May 2 - Monday, May 11
Volunteer for Save The Bay's Rights-of-Way Monitoring Program and help keep Rhode Island’s shoreline open, safe and accessible to all! From May 2 - May 11, Save The Bay staff and volunteers will visit all 235 CRMC-designated Rights-of-Way in Rhode Island! We will assess barriers to access, and identify sites in need of maintenance. ROW Monitoring is fast, simple, and powerful - here's how you can get involved!
- Register as a monitoring volunteer. REGISTER HERE!
- Receive your confirmation email and review the instructional video.
- Choose which Right(s)-of-Way you would like to monitor and claim them on the sign up sheet included in your confirmation email.
- Visit your Right(s)-of-Way once during the 10-day monitoring window, and fill out the Observations Form with your smartphone or tablet to report ROW conditions at each site.
This volunteer opportunity is open to ages 18+. Minors may participate if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Questions about this program, please contact Community Organizer Kate McCarthy.
Any difficulty registering? Contact Volunteer Manager July Lewis. We want you on our team!
Background:
Rhode Island’s Constitution provides the right to fish from the shore, access the sea for recreation, pass along the shore and gather seaweed; privileges of the shore which date back to the 17th century. This right has shaped the Ocean State’s culture. Perpendicular access points, access to the shoreline from upland areas, enable Rhode Islanders to reach the shoreline and exercise their constitutional right.
Rights-of-Way are public access points to the shore that are designated by the Coastal Resources Management Council. To date, the CRMC has designated 235 Rights-of-Way, enabling all Rhode Islanders to access the shore at access points throughout the state.
Despite Rights-of-Way being designated for public use, many are inaccessible. Public access is constantly threatened by increased demands for coastal development, poorly maintained public access sites, hardening of the shoreline, coastal erosion, and illegal obstruction. Volunteer ROW monitors can help keep Rhode Island’s shoreline open, safe and accessible to all.
Click here to view the ArcGIS map of CRMC-designated rights-of-way to the shore.
