Warwick Neck Cove Coastal Buffer and Marsh Restoration Project
Project Overview
Located along Warwick Neck Avenue, the Warwick Neck Cove Restoration site was selected as a location to restore marshland and create a coastal buffer to protect water quality and restore degraded wildlife habitat. A unique coastal site adjacent to a healthy marsh and a busy suburban road, the Warwick Neck Cove Restoration site was as a hurricane debris dump site. Subsequently, a large portion of the restoration work included removing debris and excavating the area to low marsh levels to encourage salt water inflow. Once excavation was completed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), native marsh grasses including Spartina alterniflora were planted by volunteers from the URI Master Gardener Program and Save the Bay. A planting plan for the native coastal buffer was completed by the URI Outreach Center, and buffer plantings were conducted in 2007 and 2008. Maintenance and monitoring of the site in cooperation with the Warwick Neck Improvement Association and the Warwick Neck Garden Club is ongoing.
Restoration Objectives
Excavate dump site and encourage salt water inflow to expanded marsh area
Restore coastal buffer of native vegetation
Limb large trees to improve site lines for vehicles on Warwick Neck Avenue
Establish a maintenance plan for the coastal buffer
Continue invasive species management within the coastal buffer
Project Partners
URI Outreach Center
Coastal Resources Management Council
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Warwick Neck Improvement Association
Warwick Neck Garden Club
URI Master Gardener Association
Save the Bay
Project Significance
Coastal Buffers are an integral part of Rhode Island coastal areas. Coastal Buffers:
Keep water clean by trapping sediments and pollutants and absorbing excess nutrients carried by stormwater runoff
Provide habitat for native plants and animals, including those that are uncommon, rare, threatened or endangered
Reduce erosion of our shores from concentrated flows of surface water and stabilize soils from storm erosion
Protect the scenic quality of our shorelines with visual diversity and character
