WETLANDS OF DISTINCTION

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Sachuest Point

Conservation Status and Threats

Public Access: Yes

Current and Future Threats: Coastal erosion and sea level rise.

Conservation status: National Government Protection

Adjacent Land Use: Residential - medium density

Approximate natural buffer width:

> 100 ft

Other information:

High value birding location.

Contact Information

Applicant First Name: Antonio

Applicant Last Name: Federici

Applicant E-mail Address: fedmail2@yahoo.com

General Information

Criteria:

Listed on more than one “valuable wetland” list by natural resource agencies or nongovernment organizations.
Protects biological diverse wetland flora, fauna and/or their habitat
Supports significant numbers of wetland-dependent fauna, such as water birds or fish

This refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island. In 1970, a 70 acre donation from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island led to the establishment of Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. Today, with the land transfers from the Navy, the Refuge totals 242 acres that provide an important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds.

Shrubland, cobble beach, and salt marsh habitats provide valuable habitat for numerous species of flora and fauna including New England cottontail, harlequin duck, saltmarsh sparrow, and endangered migratory birds. Other highlights the USFWS identify include: visitor interpretive center with classroom available, 200 species of birds that utilize the refuge, and excellent surf fishing.

Exemplary Ecosystem Services:

Aesthetic/cultural heritage value/ provisioning
Recreation (birdwatching, ecotourism)
Education

Ecology

Approximate size: 242 acres

General wetland characterization:

Coastal Salt Meadow
Coastal Regularly Flooded Salt Marsh
Coastal Saline Sound/Bay

Adjacent Water Bod(ies):

Pond
Tidal Systems

Name of body of water: Sachuest Bay and Sakonnet River

Surficial Geology:

Shallow to bedrock area. Interior marshes have surficial peat.

Bedrock Geology of Rhode Island (Geological Survey Bulletin 1295, US Department of the Interior 1975) excerpts:
1. "The shores of Newport Neck expose a considerable mass of volcanic tuff, conglomerate, and quartzite. Other exposures of these rocks are on the southeastern part of Conanicut Island, Cliff Walk of Newport, the outer shore of Sachuest Point..."
2. Pennsylvanian rocks of Narragansett basin, described as "...clastic sedimentary rocks of continental origin, more or less metamorphosed."

Soils:

Peat within salt marsh, otherwise shallow to bedrock

Flora and Fauna

Dominant flora: Shrubland habitat: native grasses such as little bluestem and flowers like goldenrods, asters and wild radish as well as native shrubs (northern bayberry, arrowwood, shadbush and high-bush blueberry). Saltmarsh grasses.

Dominant fauna: Migratory and song birds, pollinator species. Audubon "Important Bird Area" (>200 species)

Rare fauna: New England cottontail rabbit, salt marsh sparrow, and critical breeding habitat for the threatened piping plover. Wintering habitat for Short-eared Owls, Northern Harrier, Horned Lark, and other grassland species.

Additional Information

Please upload your first piece of evidence: Wildlife-Habitat-Sachuest-Point-U.S.-Fish-and-Wildlife-Service.pdf

Please upload your second piece of evidence: Sachuest-Point-3rd-Beach-_-Audubon-Important-Bird-Areas.pdf

Please upload your third piece of evidence: ARS_NECrabbit.pdf

Please upload your first piece of evidence: rhode-island-geological-map.pdf

Address:

769 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, RI 02842

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769 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, RI 02842

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