RI Shoreline Access Article - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Crafty Angler · 07-23-2004, 07:30 AM

Don't know if any of you have seen it yet but I just picked up the latest copy of Newport This Week yesterday and they have a great article on shoreline access and public ROW's - it was the front page lead story with photos.

It was a well-written article by Brian Comfort of the NTW staff - apparently Brian really did his homework for it. I spoke to Brian on the phone as did DZ and found that he is also of the fishing persuasion.

For those of you who don't know, NTW is a free weekly newspaper and functions as Newport's other paper often with things that you won't see reported or covered in The Daily Snooze for a variety of reasons.

Thumbs up to Brian for a thorough treatment of a subject that really needs to be brought to the fore before it's too late.

Hope you all get a chance to read it whether you're Aquidneck Islanders or not - it thouroughly explains the basis of our shoreline rights going back to the King Charles Charter of 1663.

Try www.newportthisweek.net - the article may be there, haven't checked yet -

TBone · 07-23-2004, 07:38 AM

Great article...Thank you Crafty

Crafty Angler · 07-23-2004, 08:50 AM

You're welcome, TBone - the correct link for the article is:

http://www.eastbayri.com/story/281033744669348.php

Fishpart · 07-23-2004, 09:58 AM

I saw a short article in the RISSA newsletter and am slowly drafting a letter that we can post here. My goal is to provide the frame work for people who may not have the time to send a letter to their state legislators to rally support for more access.

We must communicate with a single clear voice that we expect access to the water as well as a small number of parking places available at each ROW.

Several years ago I visited Ponte' Vedra Beach in FL. There are beautiful well marked rights of way to the beach, but no place to put a car for miles in spite of the extremely wide shoulder on the beach side of the road

Fishpart · 07-23-2004, 11:51 AM

http://www.crmc.state.ri.us/pubs/bri...riefingROW.pdf

A little about Rights of Way

scoobe · 07-23-2004, 10:09 PM

Good stuff here. It makes me glad I don't live in Rhody. It also does remind me of one ROW that I know of here in MA. It's a tiny lil path with greenery on both sides and a canopy over the top. The property owners on either side seem to have encourage the growth of plants as much as possible. One of them even extended his/her small stone property border across the front of the entrance. You have to now step over these stones to get to the ROW. Driving by, it doesn't look like ROW at all, rather a path to someone's back yard. The first time I went looking for this place I must have walked a 1/2 mile stretch of road a dozen times. This is not fun in the summer heat in neoprene! Considering I knew of the place, I don't see how someone not actively looking for the ROW would ever find it.

Roseneath · 07-23-2004, 11:03 PM

Great read.

I'd like a nice colored map indicating all of the right-of-ways on the island and the associated parking. Access to the water is only as good as your access to a parking spot.

I fish Popponesett a lot when I go to the cape. There are four spots for cars, which restricts access to the beach without restricting the public right of way?

What can you do?

Crafty Angler · 07-24-2004, 07:51 AM

Roseneath -

If you do a Google search on URI Sea Grant you'll come to their site (I've forgotten the link) - go to the bookstore and you can order the guide - with map - to every public access point in RI - it was published in 1993 and it's very thorough.

The parking issue is perhaps as important as the ROW's - when Brian called me about the article, I was hoping he would include what I told him about parking restrictions - or denials - being a de facto closure of ROW's - that, I think, is the real flaw and the only way these property owners can shut a place down.

Roseneath, another fellow Fifth Warder, huh - we're an endangered species, ya know....

MikeTLive · 07-24-2004, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by scoobe
Considering I knew of the place, I don't see how someone not actively looking for the ROW would ever find it.

Is there a map of the ROWs?

I am sure some people would like to keep them hidden so they dont loose them" like they are with their private "spots" located on public waterways...

In scituate a number of groups have regularly walked the railroad ROW to ensure it stays an open ROW.

by blocking a ROW for a given time I believe they can make a successful arguement that it is nolonger a public ROW. Find out from the local conservation commission if you can take a hedge clipper to it. Or better yet, bring a mower!!!

While vacationing near OOB, I drove up and down the public beach coast passing entrance after entrance to the beach. But there is no parking for miles.

Same for much of WestPalmBeach FLA.
Richies bought up the property, built side by side and no way to get from street to shore.

... Sure, the beach is public.
... Sure, there is total Access.
... Look at all the Public Right of Ways.

But where the hell do I park?

scoobe · 07-24-2004, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeTLive

But where the hell do I park?

No parking at this spot I am speaking of either. It is near a spot popular with a certain crowd which has some parking. I parked there and made the walk. But parking there isn't even legal for me. You need a resident sticker so once in a while you will get a ticket. I think I got a ticket once out of 10 trips there so that's worth it to me.

Young Salt · 07-24-2004, 11:08 AM

Another related east bay times article...
interesting how the town wants to 'refine and educate' park users....meanwhile it's one of the biggest resons we fishermen are losing our access

www.eastbayri.com/story/294575678382392.php

Also, if you contact the CRMC, you can get the CRMC progress report, which lists all of the ROW in the state. I've got a copy, maybe i can post it...

basswipe · 07-25-2004, 07:26 AM

Good article.Glad to see Brian talked with a fisherman.Thanks for being our voice Crafty.

MikeTLive · 07-25-2004, 07:53 AM

would loveto see that list.

Crafty Angler · 07-25-2004, 11:54 AM

Hey, Young Salt - if ya find a link to that info, please post it here for us to see - thanks -

Basswipe - DZ passed Brian along to me because he had to leave for his daughter's softball tourney in VA, so I piped up - I just said what I felt in regards to the issue.

It's nice to get publicity about the ROW problems that seem to be popping up more frequently these days as more of the waterfront is sold

Let's hope the article brings some attention to the matter for all of us -

Young Salt · 07-28-2004, 04:51 PM

Ask and Ye shall reciveith....

Enjoy
www.crmc.state.ri.us/pubs/pdfs/row2003.pdf

BTW I am on the RISSA public access committee, if you know of any ROW's that are being blocked, bogus-non municipal parking signs...things of that nature, let the committee and the CRMC know about it.

basswipe · 07-28-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crafty Angler

Basswipe - DZ passed Brian along to me because he had to leave for his daughter's softball tourney in VA, so I piped up - I just said what I felt in regards to the issue.

It's nice to get publicity about the ROW problems that seem to be popping up more frequently these days as more of the waterfront is sold

Let's hope the article brings some attention to the matter for all of us -

You said it what we all feel and know.See you on the water.

basswipe · 07-28-2004, 05:13 PM

Hey .223 is 5.56!What a great post!