Town of South Kingstown, RI Harbor Management Plan November 1992 March 1994 (amended) September 2010 (Update) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1 A. Background …………………………………………………………………… 2 B. Harbor Management Issues ……………………………………………….. 2 C. Boats and Waterways Ordinance ……………………………………... 4 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 4 3. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS A. Boundaries …………………………………………………………………… 6 B. Water Bodies Size and Depth ……………………………………………….. 6 C. Navigation Channels and Breachways ……………………………………… 8 D. Hydrology …………………………………………………………………… 10 E. Surficial Geology........................................................................................... 11 F. Flood Zones …………………………………………………………................ 12 4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES A. Wetlands and Wetland Functions ……………………………………… 12 B. Wetland Types …………………………………………………………. 14 C. Vegetation …………………………………………………………………… 14 D. Fish …………………………………………………………………………….. 16 E. Rare and Endangered Species ……………………………………………….. 17 F. Wildlife and Conservation Areas ……………………………………… 20 G. Recreational/Commercial Fishing Areas ………………………………………. 22 5. CURRENT USES A. Harbor Structures ............................................................................... 23 B. Marinas and Private Facilities ……………………………………………….. 28 C. Public Facilities ………………………………………………………… 28 D. Shoreline Public Access ……………………………………………….. 29 E. Water Use (Type) Classification ……………………………………………….. 37 F. Water Quality Classification ……………………………………………….. 38 G. Coastal Zoning and Development ……………………………………… 41 H. Potential Future Development ....................................................................... 46 I. CRMC Land Classifications Within SAMPs ....................... …………………… 47 J. Ocean SAMP .................................................................................................. 50 6. ISSUES, GOALS, POLICIES, AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS A. Public Access ............................................................................................ 50 B. Water Quality ………………………………………...................................... 53 C. Mooring Management …………………………………………………………. 66 D. Storm Preparedness ………………………………………............ 68 E. Recreational and Commercial Fishing .............…………………………… 69 F. Recreational Facilities .....................................................................……… 71 G. Boating Safety …………………………………………………………………… 72 H. Finance and Enforcement ........................……………………………………. 73 I. Dredging ................................................……………………………………… 74 J. Dune Maintenance and Restoration ............................................................. 75 7. REFERENCES 8. APPENDICES Appendix A: Management Responsibilities Appendix B: Coastal Fish Inventory Appendix C: Public Access Inventory Appendix D: Mooring Fields in South Kingstown Appendix E: South Kingstown Wetlands Appendix F: Harbor Management Plan/Tidal Waters Appendix G: Boats and Waterways Ordinance Appendix H: Storm Preparedness Plan Appendix I: Zoning Maps Appendix J: Water Quality Certificate Appendix K: Town Council Adoption FIGURES Figure Page 1 South Kingstown Tidal Waters ……………………………………………………… 7 2 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Channels ……....……………….……… 9 3 Flood Zones …..…………………………………………………………………….. 13 4 Shellfish Areas .....................................................………………………………….. 18 5 Winter Flounder Spawning Grounds ……………………………………………. 19 6 John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge …………………………………............... 21 7A Upper Point Judith Pond Marinas……………………………………………………… 26 7B Snug Harbor Marinas ............................................................................................. 27 8A - 8G Coastal Public Access Points .................................................................................. 30-36 9 South Coast - CRMC Water Quality Classifications…………………………………. 39 10 Narrow River - CRMC Water Quality Classifications………….……………………… 40 11 South Coast - DEM Water Quality Classifications …………………………………… 42 12 Narrow River - DEM Water Quality Classifications ................................................ 43 13 DEM Shellfish Closure Areas: Point Judith Pond & Potter Pond…………………… 44 14 DEM Shellfish Closure Areas: Ninigret & Green Hill Ponds ................................. 45 15 RI CRMC Land Use Classification: Salt Ponds …….……………………………. 48 16 RI CRMC Land Use Classification: Narrow River ……….…………………………. 49 17 Watersheds: Salt Ponds and Narrow River ……...………………………………… 59 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This update to the Town of South Kingstown Harbor Management Plan was prepared by the South Kingstown Planning Department in concert with the South Kingstown Waterfront Advisory Committee (WAC), South Kingstown Harbormasters Office and South Kingstown Parks & Recreation Department. Planning Department Administrative Services L. Vincent Murray, Director Andrew E. Nota, Director Raymond T. Nickerson, Principal Planner Carol P. Baker, GIS Administrator Waterfront Advisory Committee Harbormaster's Office John W. Caron Barry Ennis, Town Harbormaster Nelson C. Crook Anne E. Heffron Leo Murphy Ronald J. Smith, Chair Glenn R. Windhurst The Town would like to thank Kevin Cute, CRMC Marine Resources Specialist, for his advice, guidance and assistance in reviewing the Harbor Management Plan update and working closely with the Town in its efforts to successfully complete this important management and policy document. 1. INTRODUCTION Rhode Island General Laws, Title 46, Section 4 (Harbors and Harborlines), enables the coastal municipalities with certain powers regarding the regulation of public waters within their jurisdiction so as to ensure orderly development and management of harbor areas. These powers include: management of vessel operations within harbors; management of anchorages and moorings; and, regulation of activities (i.e. water skiing, skin diving). Specifically, cities and towns have authority to enact, through ordinance and an appointed harbormaster, rules and regulations to control activities on or in the waters under their jurisdiction (see Appendix A for management responsibilities). It is important to note that RIGL, Title 46, Section 4 does not empower municipalities to consider environmental impacts of activities, prevention of conflicts with other water dependent uses, or to decide resource allocation questions. The purpose of the South Kingstown Harbor Management Plan is: 1) to identify issues associated with the tidal waters of the Town; 2) to identify goals, recommendations and policies for the public and private use of the tidal waters and their watersheds; 3) to assess the natural resources of the tidal waters; and, 4) to develop a program for implementing the recommendations for protecting and utilizing the coastal resources of the Town. About 150 million people in the United States presently live within less than fifty miles from the coastline. This represents approximately 53% of the total population. These figures show a notable increase from the 2000 census data that indicated a population of 137.5 million (48.9% of the total population). As a coastal community South Kingstown will continue to experience growth. According to the 2000 U. S. Census, the population of South Kingstown was 27,921 which is a 13.4 percent increase over the 1990 population and a 36.7 percent increase from the 1980 census figure of 20,414. The latter figures represent the largest population increase among all Rhode Island cities and towns during the past two decades. In addition to a continued year-round population growth, the Town experiences a significant increase in population during the summer months because of an active tourist industry. The Harbor Management Plan serves as a planning guide that enables the Town to manage and to utilize its many coastal resources. Such issues as water quality, moorings, commercial and residential development, commercial and recreational fishing, public access, boating safety, natural hazard mitigation/storm preparedness and enforcement are addressed in the Plan. The goal of the Plan is to provide a realistic balance between the diverse human impacts to coastal areas and the protection of the irreplaceable resources. A management strategy should reflect a commitment to protecting coastal areas through proactive planning. This will ensure sustained 1 economic and recreational opportunities for the residents and provide a healthy habitat for the many indigenous plants and animals. A. Background The Town Council appointed a fifteen member Harbor Management Advisory Committee (HMAC) in December of 1989 for the purpose of drafting a Harbor Management Plan for South Kingstown. The HMAC members included representatives from the following Town boards: the Conservation Commission, the Waterfront Advisory Committee, and the Planning Board. Other appointed members included marina owners, commercial fishermen, mooring association members, boat owners, coastal residents, and inland residents. The South Kingstown Harbor Management Plan received R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council (RICRMC) approval following a public hearing held on February 9, 1993. The related Boats and Waterways Ordinance had previously been approved by the South Kingstown Town Council at a public hearing held on March 9, 1992. The Ordinance has been periodically revised on an as needed basis. The Plan was revised in 1994 in response to RICRMC recommendations specifically pertaining to the Boats and Waterways Ordinance. The revised South Kingstown Harbor Management Plan received RICRMC approval following