The Maidford River Saltmarsh of Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, Rhode Island was degraded as a result of sea level rise and powerful storm surges, particularly during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. This project was designed to improve the marsh’s resiliency against sea level rise, which involved a thin layer deposition and invasive plant species management.

Marsh along the Narrow River had been suffering from extended periods of water inundation from sea level rise, as well as erosion from boat wakes, resulting in the die-off of lower marsh species and the shrinking of high marsh habitat.

Tidal marsh in the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge was degraded from sea-level rise and storm impacts from Hurricane Sandy. This prolonged inundation led to vegetation stress and death, and the expansion of bare areas and mudflats. This project will restore 14 acres of tidal marsh to improve habitat and increase resiliency.

This particular case study focuses on the bird restoration project to restore loons, sea ducks, and piping plover populations after the 1996 North Cape oil spill, under the provision of the Oil Pollution Act. This was attempted by replacing the quantity of bird-years lost (estimated 2,000 birds) due to the spill.

This particular case study focuses on the shellfish restoration project to restore quahog, bay scallop and oyster populations in the coastal Rhode Island salt ponds following injuries caused by the North Cape oil spill. This was attempted by replacing the quantity of biomass (direct mortality plus forgone production, estimated 1.0 million kilograms) lost due to the spill.

The goal for restoration of the marsh located on the campus of the Rocky Hill School along the Potowomut River in East Greenwich, RI is to improve habitat for a recently discovered population of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). The project assembled a dataset and developed a plan to restore the marsh to increase diamondback terrapin nesting habitat.

The Maidford River Saltmarsh Restoration Project in the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island spans 11 acres of degraded saltmarsh. The marsh is degraded by storm surges, development, redirection of riverine input, and sea-level rise. This project restored marsh habitat and elevation through thin-layer placement of dredged material. 

The Ten Mile River restoration project restores diadromous fish migration to the lower part of the Ten Mile River in East Providence, RI. This project’s main goal is to provide fish passage over the first three downstream dams on the river: Omega Pond Dam, Hunts Mill Dam and Turner Reservoir Dam.

Country Acres Road- Richmond, Rhode Island, was once home to mixed temperate forest with seasonal freshwater wetlands before degraded by mining of sand and gravel and dominated by invasive plants. The goal was to restore the non-forested formerly mined acreage to native grass and wildflower meadow.