Coastal Resources Management Council of Rhode Island

08/11/2026

Did you know?

CRMC has been documenting existing parking conditions near CRMC rows since the passing of Senate Bill 0716 and House Bill 6093 in 2025. Per the legislation, any group or municipality seeking to reduce or restrict parking near a designated coastal right-of-way must now provide detailed parking strategies and evaluate potential impacts on ADA accessibility for CRMC review. (Pictured here is CRMC ROW E-2 Scotch Beach Road, Block Island)

08/06/2026

Did you know?

CRMC has been documenting existing parking conditions near CRMC rows since the passing of Senate Bill 0716 and House Bill 6093 in 2025. Per the legislation, any group or municipality seeking to reduce or restrict parking near a designated coastal right-of-way must now provide detailed parking strategies and evaluate potential impacts on ADA accessibility for CRMC review. (Pictured: Y-6 Indian Terrace CRMC ROW, Middletown, RI)
Rhode Island Sea Grant

07/28/2026

We've seen businesses utilizing our lateral access signage graphics this summer and think it's great!
Find the images here - https://www.crmc.ri.gov/shorelineaccess/shoreandlateral.html
These signs were created by RI CRMC, RIDEM and the RI Attorney General's Office as a directive of the lateral access law passed in 2023. We encourage the use of these on sandwich board signs to provide guidance regarding the law and the 10-foot line wherever appropriate. This clearly shows the law allows the public to exercise its Constitutional right to utilize the shore and protects private property as well.
There's room for everyone!
Keep it up, RI!

Rhode Island’s shoreline access bill was signed into law on June 26, 2023, and clarifies the public’s right to laterally access the shore up to 10 feet landward of the visible high tide line – the line that is recognized by seaweed, shells, or other debris left by the tide. This new law identi...

07/27/2026

CRMC, DEM designate additional Westerly parcels for conservation and public space

WESTERLY – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Town of Westerly, have designated additional parcels in Westerly for conservation and coastal public access.

In April 2025, the partners announced that more than seven acres of land at the former Water Wizz site on Winnapaug Pond were placed under a conservation easement with designated public access. Two additional parcels have been purchased, bringing the total to about 10 acres of conservation land connecting to a contiguous 15-acre DEM-managed salt marsh. CRMC and DEM will jointly hold the conservation easement and manage the easement with the Town of Westerly.

Public access will include at least 10 designated parking spots for the public to access the site and Winnapaug Pond, and additional parking will be provided for those with kayaks or small watercraft. The Town will install signage to clearly mark the parking spaces as CRMC public access parking. Three-hour limits will be used during peak seasonal timeframes to make parking available to all.

In 2024, the CRMC and DEM secured a $2.6 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Program. The additional parcels were secured via an additional $1.5 million grant from the same funding source in 2025.

CRMC, the Town of Westerly, and DEM’s Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NBNERR), The Salt Ponds Coalition, and Save The Bay will continue to collaborate on restoration planning to include re-grading the site, removal of invasive plants, planting of native vegetation, and stormwater management.

The entire site has been named Winnapaug Pond Public Access and Conservation Area.

Read more about it here -

July 16, 2026, WESTERLY – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), along with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Town of Westerly, have designated additional parcels in Westerly for conservation and coastal public access.

07/24/2026

If you missed us earlier this week walking the Woonasquatucket with WRWC and Rhode Island Sea Grant, no worries! You can catch us on 9/23 when we walk the Newport Cliff Walk with RISG and Newport Restoration Foundation to talk about shoreline access, resilience, geological processes and more! Registration is free but required -

Learn about coastal access and resilience at Newport's Cliff Walk from Sea Grant, CRMC, and Newport Restoration Foundation experts

07/14/2026

JOIN US for a Woonasquatucket River Resilience and Access Walk on 7/22/26 along with Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council and Rhode Island Sea Grant. Find more details here and register -

Walk Olneyville's urban greenway and explore resilience and access along the Woonasquatucket

06/11/2026

NOTICE to those wanting Beach Vehicle Permits: CRMC is fully booked for appointments until mid-July, so please PLAN AHEAD and make your appointment here: https://ri-crmc.viewpointcloud.com/

For more information, go to https://www.crmc.ri.gov/beachvehicles/index.html

Beach Vehicle Permit stickers become available January 1 every year. A reservation is required, and you will not be allowed to get a sticker/permit without filling out the application and making an appointment!

*Please Note: Once you’ve finished completing your online Beach Vehicle/4x4 Permit application, the CRMC will contact you to make an appointment to visit CRMC offices for your Beach Vehicle/4x4 Permit sticker.

04/14/2026

For anyone who missed last night's CRMC ROW Subcommittee meeting on the Spring Ave. Extension matter, find the recording here -

ROW SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGIn the Matter of CRMC File 2020-11-084 Spring Avenue ExtensionApril 13, 20265:00 p.m.Westerly Senior Center39 State Street, Westerly ...