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Rights-of-Way Monitoring Program: Help Protect Public Shoreline Access

Volunteer for Save The Bay's Rights-of-Way Monitoring Program and help keep Rhode Island’s shoreline open, safe and accessible to all! Every May and October, Save The Bay staff and volunteers will visit all 235 CRMC-designated Rights-of-Way in Rhode Island during a 10-da monitoring period. We will assess barriers to access, and identify sites in need of maintenance. ROW Monitoring is fast, simple, and powerful. Learn more about the impact of this project in this EcoRI article.

October 2026 monitoring dates are TBA. Please check this page for updates!

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.

Note: this volunteer opportunity is not eligible for court-ordered community service hours.