What’s Happening at East Beach? Charlestown Habitat Restoration Project Underway

Visitors to Charlestown's East Beach may have noticed some changes to the landscape recently, including posted signs, marked work areas and the removal of trees and invasive plants.

The work is part of the Ninigret Barrier Beach Habitat Restoration Project, a partnership between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Save The Bay aimed at restoring dune and salt marsh habitat.

One of the most noticeable changes has been the removal of Japanese black pine trees. The trees were planted decades ago to help stabilize the dunes, but over time they crowded out native vegetation and changed the natural barrier beach environment.

The project also includes removing invasive plants, restoring tidal creeks in nearby salt marshes and creating better habitat for wildlife, including piping plovers, least terns and migratory birds.

The goal is to allow the dunes and marshes to function more naturally while improving the area's resilience to wind, waves and storms.

For those wondering whether the work will affect a trip to the beach, East Beach remains open to the public. Visitors are being asked to follow posted signs, stay on designated trails and keep vehicles in approved areas while restoration work continues.

The initial restoration work is nearing completion, although follow-up invasive plant treatments and monitoring are expected to continue through 2027.

More information about the project is available on RIDEM's Ninigret Barrier Beach Habitat Restoration Projectpage.