Projects at Charlestown Breachway and East Beach in Charlestown

Charlestown Breachway

Boaters Advised to Use Caution Traveling through Charlestown Breachway

Find updates on Restructuring Development

Ninigret Barrier Beach Restoration Project Overview

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in partnership with Save The Bay, is conducting a coastal habitat restoration project at the Ninigret Barrier Beach located at East Beach in Charlestown. Invasive plants such as Japanese black pine, Asiatic sand sedge, and knotweed have changed natural sand movement during storms, reducing open sand areas that birds need for nesting and beach space for the public.

Upcoming Work

• Late September 2025: Licensed contractors will begin herbicide treatment of Asiatic sand sedge and Japanese knotweed in dune areas near the East Beach parking lot and Ninigret sand trail. All treatment areas will be clearly posted.
• Winter 2025–26: Contractors will cut and mulch Japanese black pine and other woody invasive plants, including beach rose, bush honeysuckle, and bittersweet. Follow-up treatments are planned in 2026 and 2027.
• Late Winter & Spring 2026: Save the Bay will restore salt marsh hydrology by digging shallow creeks with low-ground pressure equipment and by hand. This work will drain standing water that kills marsh plants and creates mosquito habitat.

During the removal of the Japanese black pine this Winter, CRMC beach permit holders should expect to see portions of the trail closed and new traffic patterns in place.

This work aims to restore natural barrier beach processes, improve nesting areas for the federally threatened piping plover, support healthier salt marshes, which provide vital habitat for fish, shellfish, and diverse bird species, and enhance the resilience and recreational value of East Beach for the public.