Nearly 60 volunteers participated in the beachgrass planting event, held on March 27. The coastal program worked with the Watch Hill Fire District (property owners) and the Habitat Restoration Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to plan and implement the project. Funds were provided through Rhode Island's Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund.*

Napatree Point is an important recreational area, with beach access, fishing, and bird watching. Due to its popularity and high visitation, the dune system at Napatree Point is severely fragmented with excessive footpaths. This project is restoring vegetation to some of the paths, thereby reducing erosion and habitat fragmentation.

More than 35,000 American beachgrass plugs were planted. It is expected that these plants will fill in approximately one half acre of trails that currently fragment this valuable dune ecosystem. The coastal program contributed in-kind services in the form of project coordination and implementation.

The project also aims to promote environmentally-sound stewardship of the fragile dune system through signs that encourage the public to stay on existing paths and not create new trails. _________________________________

* Legislation for the Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration and Trust Fund was passed in 2002. It allocates $250,000 of the fees collected under the Oil Spill Response and Prevention statute to potential habitat restoration projects, pursuant to the bill's criteria. The money is made available through a grant application process administered by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council for projects aimed at improving coastal habitats. On November 26, 2002, the council unanimously approved funding for the Napatree Point Dune Restoration Project as well as to other coastal habitat restoration projects pursuant to the legislation. The projects are a result of the efforts of the Rhode Island Habitat Restoration Team which presented to the council a proposed list of funding needs for habitat restoration projects within Rhode Island. The coastal program plays an active role in the habitat restoration team.

Partners in the restoration project were the Watch Hill Fire District (property owners), NOAA Restoration Center, The Nature Conservancy, Misquamicut Beach Club, South County Conservancy, Westerly Conservation Commission, Watch Hill Conservancy, Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, University of Rhode Island, Sierra Club and local citizens.