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The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography was recently awarded a grant to study how groundwater affects the amount of nutrients found in Rhode Island’s coastal waters, including in the salt ponds. They will be focusing their studies on Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds.
When: Monday July 8, at 7PM
Where: Charlestown Elementary School
What: Public hearing on the revised 2019/2020 budget
Town Council members noted that the most common statement from those who voted in the Financial Referendum on June 3 was that they wanted the one-time surplus back in the form of a tax reduction.
Update June 28 – According to staff at DEM, the camping platform on the north edge of Watchaug Pond was a “demonstration” campsite built by the concessionaire and was removed […]
The EFSB’s denial of the power plant is certainly a victory for Burrillville, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and others, but it is a victory for Charlestown too. The threat the power plant posed to our drinking water, roads, wetlands and other natural resources is now over and the opportunity to protect the wildlife corridor that connects the two towns is still a possibility.
Rhode Islanders’ rights to the shore are clear, but what is less clear is where exactly you get to enjoy those rights. Legislation that provides a clear and easily measurable line of where public access starts would help everyone. Just landward of the seaweed line might be a good place to start.
The property contains forested wetlands and some vernal pools. Along with tall white pines, the forest overstory is dominated by three species of oak: northern red oak, white oak, and scarlet oak; as well as American beech with some ash, red maple, black birch, tupelo, and big-toothed aspen.
When: Monday, June 3, 2019 from 8 am to 8 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
Why: No tax increase, a well-run town, and the start of a town-wide conversation regarding a possible Community Center
Learn more: In this post with questions and answers
Quonochontaug Breachway has been dredged! Phase two of this project is salt marsh planting. The Salt Pond’s Coalition’s project partner, Save the Bay, is coordinating the salt marsh planting effort. On Thursday, May 16, Bob Petrone created another informative video of the experts explaining Phase Two of the Quonnie Dredging project:
This past winter Robert Petrone created four educational videos to inform the viewer about the dredging process of Quonnie and Ningret Ponds. CCA shared all four videos. Bob has now […]
There is exceptionally good news for taxpayers in the Charlestown Town Budget. The Town Budget is projected to have no tax increase. In addition, there is $3,095,000 available for a […]
Even if bobcats are becoming more common in parts of Charlestown, they are still elusive. Bobcats seldom venture out during daylight hours. You are most likely to catch a glimpse of them at dusk and dawn when they are most active.
Now that the Chariho school budget is finalized, the Town Council has begun to review the entire 2020 municipal budget. The two most important facts are:
In late 2016 when CCA discovered the federal railroad proposal for the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” that threatened to bisect northern Charlestown, our first internet searches on the proposal […]
Walking the trails of our forested landscape, we see the skeletal remains of a once robust tree canopy, with dead and decaying remnants carpeting the forest floor. We are witnessing the extensive damage to our forest by successive invasions of gypsy moths in the summers of 2017 and 2018.
Wild And Scenic Rivers Legislation Is Now Law
President Trump today signed the Natural Resources Management Act which in part designates the rivers of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. This will provide federal protection to our rivers and allow for federal funding for projects that protect and promote the rivers. The Pawcatuck River forms the northern border of Charlestown.
The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act passes the U.S. House of Representatives. It passed the Senate last week. Next it goes to President Trump for his signature! Press release from U.S. Representative Jim Langevin.
Thanks to Leo Mainelli for this update on the Salt Pond dredging. The dredging operations in Quonochontaug and Ninigret Ponds have finished, but the work to restore the marshes hasn’t […]
The Town Council voted unanimously on February 11 to approve the Zoning Ordinance changes proposed by the Planning Commission that will make Charlestown less attractive to Box Stores. The Town Solicitor explained at the meeting that the Town cannot legally prohibit corporate chain and franchise stores or apply regulations differently to local applicants. The strategy taken by the Planning Commission is one that treats all applicants equally and will be able to withstand court challenges.
On Tuesday, February 11, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve legislation to designate rivers in the Wood Pawcaruck Watershed as Wild and Scenic. The designation will make the rivers eligible for up to $100,000 a year in federal funds for conservation purposes.
This excellent Rhode Island Monthly article by Todd McLeish explains that the harbor seals are only here in the winter months when water is cold. They head north to cooler waters in the summer. Story begins with a Blue Shutters seal release.
There has been much misinformation about Charlestown’s planning efforts for bike paths. We hope this post helps to answer citizen questions. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please post a question in the comment section for this post.
Thanks to Bob Petrone for this video. Dredge material from Quonochontaug Pond and Ninigret Pond is being distributed to Quonnie’s salt marshes and Charlestown Beach.
The feasibility study, is the first phase in fulling the state’s goal of a coastal bike route linking Westerly with Narragansett and points north. The result is a very professional examination of the potential for a coastal bike route.
Thanks to Bob Petrone for sharing another informative video! On Friday, December 14, J. F. Brennan Company gave Bob Petrone, and Art Ganz and Richard Sarter of the Salt Ponds […]
Thanks to Bob Petrone for this 4 minute video showing the launch of the second dredging machine at the Quonochontaug Breachway. Jeremy Walker of JF Brennan appears at the end of the video with a brief description of their work mission.
Charlestown has been given a holiday gift. A corporate giant, Dollar General, decided to withdraw its appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of their master plan for RT. 1A and Narrow Lane.
Dredging operations will occur 24 hours/day, 6 days/week. The crew has been instructed to maintain public access to the pond. The most significant interruptions to public access will likely occur when the cranes are on site deploying and removing the dredging equipment. It is anticipated that dredging operations will be completed by the end of January.
Thanks to Bob Petrone who compiled this video slide show of Quonnie over the last twelve months. Bob captures Quonnie’s character and charm during all four seasons. This year he […]
The first hearing in that appeal before the Zoning Board was scheduled for 7 p.m. November 20, but earlier today, the attorney for the developer sent a letter withdrawing their appeal. That means that this application is over, that the Planning Commission’s decision to deny will stand.
“Thank you, George, for being willing to step into an unexpected vacancy to make a complete five member Town Council so that we could effectively govern the Town of Charlestown for 2018. As the voter’s choice and Vice President of the prior Town Council, you had the unique ability to have the confidence of the citizens of the Town and to fully participate immediately with the work of the Town Council in a seamless transition. Your wisdom, humor, articulate communication and thoughtfulness were a valuable contribution to our deliberations and decisions.”