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Committee to evaluate tier‑1 marsh migration parcels; recommends land‑trust outreach and owner easements
Summary
Members reported receipt of a Rhode Island–wide marsh migration report and said the next step is parcel-level evaluation on Block Island. The committee discussed contacting Save The Bay and engaging the Block Island Land Trust to pursue easements for marsh migration corridors.
The Coastal Resilience Committee reviewed a statewide marsh migration study and identified next steps to protect local marsh migration pathways. Committee members said the study’s author, Michael Bradley, provided a final report that includes New Shoreham and that the next step is evaluating 11 tier‑1 parcels on the island for potential protection.
Anne (committee member) said Michael Bradley recommended a follow-up evaluation of the island’s tier‑1 parcels and suggested contacting Wenley Ferguson at Save The Bay to help with parcel-level assessments. Committee members agreed that, if parcels are prioritized, the next phase would involve outreach to landowners and potential easement arrangements, which the Block Island Land Trust or the town could administer.
Why it matters: protecting marsh migration corridors helps maintain coastal habitat and reduces future flood risk by allowing marshes to move landward as sea levels rise. Committee members emphasized that securing easements involves legal steps and landowner engagement and that conservation partners are likely to be needed to implement protections.
Next steps: Anne said she will reach out to Save The Bay contacts and coordinate with the Block Island Land Trust. The committee plans to display marsh migration maps at the public meeting and to consult land trust staff before approaching private landowners.
