Save The Bay Backs CRMC Decision to “Enforce Removal of Quidnessett Country Club’s Illegal Wall”

Save The Bay Backs CRMC Decision to “Enforce Removal of Quidnessett Country Club’s Illegal Wall”

Save the Bay said that it supports the CRMC vote on the Quidnessett Enforcement Order - and its decision to "remove the unauthorized" wall at the location in Rhode Island. 

“We support the staff’s recommendation and the council’s decision to remove the unauthorized wall, restore the function of the coastal feature, and undo the harm caused,” stated Topher Hamblett, Executive Director of Save The Bay. 

“Quidnessett has fully admitted to violating state and federal law by initiating construction of the wall in January of 2023 without a permit," Hamblett continued. "However, by entertaining the water-type change petition in the first place, the politically-appointed Council has aided Quidnessett Country Club’s efforts to circumvent the law.” 

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Save the Bay's Concerns

Save The Bay said it is "concerned that if a reviewing court later determines that this was, in fact, a contested case requiring it to be heard by a Hearing Officer, a remand to the Council will not only cause another delay that perpetuates the loss of public access along the shoreline and harm to the coastal ecosystem, it will prove to be yet another example of the Council not following its own rules."

They continue: 

Enforcing Rhode Island’s coastal laws should not be complicated, and certainly not for such a blatant and admitted violation as Quidnessett Country Club’s illegal wall. 

Removing the agency’s redundant layer of the politically-appointed Council will streamline coastal enforcement cases like these and move our state forward in efficiently and effectively managing and protecting our coastal resources.

 

About Save The Bay

Founded in 1970, the Rhode Island-based nonprofit Save The Bay "seeks to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its 1,705-square-mile watershed. The organization works to achieve its vision of a fully swimmable, fishable Narragansett Bay, accessible to all, through its advocacy, education, and habitat restoration and adaptation work. Learn more about Save The Bay at www.savebay.org."