Two years later: Quidnessett Country Club’s illegal rock wall still stands without enforcement action

Save the Bay demands the CRMC enforce its own order

In SteveAhlquist.news

From a Save The Bay press release:

Today marks two years since the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) issued a cease and desist order requiring Quidnessett Country Club to remove the illegal rock wall they erected without permission on Narragansett Bay. Since the issuance of that order, CRMC’s politically-appointed Council has allowed Quidnessett to retain the unlawful wall, allowing numerous extensions, at the cost of Rhode Islanders’ access to the natural shoreline and local habitats like the beach and salt marsh near the shores of the country club.

“CRMC’s Council is complicit in maintaining this illegal rock wall on the shores of Narragansett Bay,” said Jed Thorp, Director of Advocacy for Save The Bay. “First, the Council entertained a water-type change that would have allowed the Club to keep a massive structure built on the coast without any permits. Then, when that avenue failed, the Council gave the Club multiple extensions to deliver restoration plans that would properly restore the ecosystem to its previous state. Now, a recent appeal filed by Quidnessett in Superior Court will, in effect, grant the Club more time to keep the unpermitted and illegal rock wall. The wall has stood for over two years, constructed by the Club in violation of state and federal law, and to date, with no consequences. It’s time for the Council to stop protecting this private golf course and treat it like any other willful violator of the law–order the Club to rectify the violation, remove the wall, and fully restore the shoreline.”

Save The Bay staff recently visited the illegally erected rock wall site on Narragansett Bay. While there, staff observed local wildlife such as horseshoe crabs and birds that depend on the local habitat for survival, a habitat that has been partially buried under a 20-foot-tall pile of rocks on the shoreline. CRMC’s staff stated in its evaluation of the violation that the massive stone structure could also affect the nesting of the eastern diamondback terrapin, an endangered species. Additionally, the wall deflects wave energy along the wall to neighboring properties–in this case, the salt marsh and sandy beaches–which will increase erosion in those habitats.

Save The Bay continues to advocate for comprehensive CRMC reform, including removing the Council, leaving coastal decision-making to CRMC’s expert staff, and putting a full-time staff attorney in place to ensure that law and science, not politics, guide regulatory decisions.

“We need a coastal agency that will defend our local habitats and natural resources, not violators of the law,” Thorp said. “By maintaining this illegal wall in place, the Council is sending the wrong message to coastal developers that you can build without permits or impunity.”

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