2024 -- H 8003

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (CRMC)

     Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Caldwell, Handy, Finkelman, Casimiro,
Edwards, Fogarty, Tanzi, McGaw, and Spears

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2024

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is officially nicknamed the "Ocean State" and has a tidal

shoreline on Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean of approximately 420 miles and

approximately 50 miles of south facing coastlines and beaches; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has eight state beaches: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach

in Charlestown, East Matunuck in South Kingstown, Misquamicut in Westerly, Roger Wheeler,

Scarborough North and South, Salty Brine in Narragansett, and also includes several ocean-facing

municipal beaches; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's coastal zone management policies recognize that the south

facing ocean coastline is subjected to high energy coastal erosion processes, including storm

surge and large waves during tropical and extra-tropical storms (i.e., hurricanes and Nor'easters).

These processes erode the beaches, dunes and glacial headland bluffs along this shoreline. The

eroded sediment is transported along the shoreline into the coastal lagoons, across the shoreline

on to the back barrier and low-lying headland areas, and offshore where it may or may not return

to the shoreline; and

     WHEREAS, These natural processes are constantly rearranging and reforming these

familiar coastal features along this entire ocean facing coastline, yet as evidenced by the recent

storms of December 2023 and January 2024, erode in response to these storms; and

      WHEREAS, These coastlines and beaches are dynamic features that by nature erode

during storms and accrete during non-stormy periods. The glacial headland bluffs only erode. The

eroded sediment from these coastal bluffs is sediment that is available to nourish the beaches

along the littoral drift; and

      WHEREAS, The headlands, beaches, and barriers from Watch Hill in Westerly to Point

Judith in Narragansett are generally eroding at a higher rate than other shorelines along the Rhode

Island coast due to their exposure to ocean forces and geologic setting and composition; and

     WHEREAS, The harsh reality is that Rhode Island's beaches are in a sediment deficit and

are therefore eroding, requiring an urgent need of management opportunities that address

nourishment and restoration; and

     WHEREAS, Many activities proposed on shoreline features or in tidal waters directly

adjacent to these shoreline features must be tightly managed, controlled or prohibited to protect

the natural shoreline functions; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island coastline, particularly the beaches located on headlands

and barriers, provide substantial public recreational opportunities including sun-bathing,

beachcombing, exercising, etc. Many public recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing,

surfing, etc., include use of the beach area below the high-water mark. The State maintains title to

these submerged lands that are held in trust to benefit the public and protect the public's use and

interest in these lands; and

     WHEREAS, In 2023, the Rhode Island Legislature passed a bill that recognizes and

embodies the state's Constitutional privileges of the shore including and liberally construed to

mean that "…the people shall continue to enjoy and freely exercise all the rights of fishery, and

the privileges of the shore, to which they have been heretofore entitled under the charter and

usages of this state"; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders care deeply about the quality of life these beaches provide

as well as the income derived from our beautiful coastline; and

     WHEREAS, In 2022, visitor spending in Rhode Island totaled $5.3 billion and sustained

more than 80,000 jobs, a large portion of which is derived from and influenced by the State's

beaches and ocean facing coastline; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000)

to the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council to provide remedies, strategies, and

projects exclusively for Rhode Island's beach nourishment, restoration and recovery; and the state

controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the

payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of

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properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (CRMC)

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $10,000,000 to the

Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

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