Save The Break: Clean Ocean Access Position on Cliff Walk Repairs

The following release is from Clean Ocean Access in response to the the Rhode Island Department of Transportation proposal to repair the damage done to the Cliff Walk by Tropical Storm Sandy.  There is a petition on change.org to reject the proposal as it might destroy the surf break at Ruggles, which one of the favorite breaks for local surfers.  

Please respect the coastline. The right of way at Easton’s Point is for foot traffic, please do not drive on it. We try very hard to protect that right of way, and the cars and trucks tearing up the ground and soil will only lead to erosion and unhappy neighbors. At the right of way at Ruggles some of it is open and some of it is closed. We need to respect the cliff walk closures signs, don’t remove them, no stickers. Showing this respect will help.

Clean Ocean Access adopted the Public Right of Way at Ochre Point in the spring of 2008 via the memorandum of understanding with the Coastal Resources Management Council and the City of Newport. This effort itself took 18 months by a small group of volunteers who remained dedicated to the cause. Since that the time the group performs weekly water samples as part of working towards permanent clean water and surveys of the area to monitor the safety and overall health of the area, working with the City of Newport to address any issues such as fence stabilization, graffiti and sidewalk discontinuities. The group also performs at least 2 coastal cleanups in this area. All of this effort is part of making sure that we work together today, so that future generations can continue to enjoy ocean activities tomorrow.

We fully support the cliff walk repairs in making sure it is accessible and safe for the public and preserves the coastal characteristics such that there are no adverse impacts to coastal resources, water dependent uses, or the public’s use and enjoyment of the shoreline and waters. Wave riding has an amazing effect on human life. we go to the ocean for the peacefulness, beauty and strength that nourishes our soul. The breaking of the waves has a power to transform the spirit.

The impact of tropical storm Sandy on the Cliff Walk is quite significant and the current plans for restoration and fortification from Bailey’s Beach to Ruggles Avenue are split into 27 zones (locations). The project timeline is to start the work in May and finish a substantial portion of it by November.

For a location that has a fixed shape with very limited apparent rock movement and virtually no sediment in the near shore zone, the idea of introducing any change to the coastline could have an impact on the surf, whether it helps or hurts is an entirely different question.  We don’t think that we should be using federal disaster relief money as a project to tamper with the coastal characteristics of this area, in all fairness, no one is trying to disrupt the surf, DOT just wants to use this opportunity to make sure the cliff walk stays in good shape for as long as possible.

Right now at Ruggles there is no rock buffer. If 5-10 feet or armor stone were installed, it would stay well within the MHTW and from our perspective it would have no to small impact. Once it gets into the water below MHTW then we can get some backwash (wave-wave interaction) and eventually it will introduce enough energy into the water column that some of the surf zone dynamics will change. (again, whether it is good or bad is to be determined).

The group right now is taking action on many fronts and one the things in its very initial stages is to present some options for consideration.   There are other ways to fix the problem at Ruggles:  1. Fix the 30 foot section with a mono-fill resin injection, which will prevent erosion, attach the concrete side walk to it, done.  2. If armor stone is truly required, then create a temporary sidewalk expansion and deliver the materials via the sidewalk.  A temporary sidewalk expansion sounds better than a temporary jetty.

Dave McLaughlin, an active member of the group attended a meeting on the topic on March 20th “When I reviewed these plans on March 20th I questioned the rectangles offshore and was told they were the “access points” for the barge to offload the material on the shoreline, there was no talk of jetties. If the concept of a jetty was known, that issue would have surfaced that night. On the plans I saw it called for 5-10 feet of armor stone, maybe we spaced it in terms of looking at the chart, but the CRMC permit request disclosed the information more explicitly by indicating the rock will extend to 2.43 feet below mean high tide water mark. If you ever walked out at Ruggles at low tide (which is about -0.5 on average), to get to -2.43 feet is about 10 feet passed the natural rock”.

On March 31st the group mobilized and developed an initial position and communications for state senators, state representatives, CRMC, DOT and the City of Newport. April 1st the communications and request for hearing to the CRMC were transmitted, of specific request was to ask the Council to put it on the docket for April 10th. April 2nd the group organized an online petition and brought together numerous folks to work on a common strategy as listed above. The Council meeting includes this topic on the docket, we are thankful for the City Council for acting so quickly to get it in place. The council supported us in January 2007 which is how this all started for this generation. April 3rd the group continue to organize the positive energy of the community so that we can achieve the best outcome for accessibility, safety and preserving coastal characteristics.

Clean Ocean Access is a 100% volunteer grass roots organization, a community of like-minded folks who think that working together to take care of the environment is the right thing to do. Wave riding is a big part of our roots, but our group is much more than that. If you live in the local area, think about how you can find 1 hour per week to get actively involved in taking good care of the environment. Not just when times are bad, but also when times are good so that we can make things better. Get involved with our water testing program, improving ocean health, banning plastic bags, marine debris legislation, public access, education and partnership programs, helping with the final stages of the memorial bench, organizing the annual cookout, and being a part of the scholarship program.

We will do our best to keep this page updated one-time per day….

Thank you and have a great day!