Salt Pond Coalition on the Front Lines of Coastal Conservation

When it comes to the beautiful blue waters in the Ocean State, conservation efforts by the Salt Pond Coalition (SPC), the state-designated watershed group for salt ponds in the region, help maintain and preserve the health of Rhode Island’s salt ponds, benefiting wildlife and people. Established in 1985, the nearly 100 percent member-funded nonprofit supports six bodies of water – Point Judith, Potter, Green Hill, Ninigret, Quonochontaug, and Winnapaug ponds – with water-quality monitoring, environmental stewardship, advocacy, and educational events.

For those unfamiliar, these ponds are large bodies of saltwater that serve as a natural barrier against coastal storms. “They kind of look like overgrown ponds, but they serve a lot of different functions,” says Alicia Schaffner, SPC executive director of the nonprofit since 2014. The salt ponds also provide an excellent habitat for smaller species thanks to their shallow waters and reduced wave action. “Ecologically, they’re nurseries for a lot of different animals. So you might have flounder breeding grounds. Sometimes you see smaller schools of fish, seahorses, crabs, eel grasses, squid – sometimes you’ll see baby versions of those animals in salt ponds,” adds Schaffner.

With a variety of programming offered – from free, family-friendly Salt Pond Safaris from late-June to mid-August to volunteer opportunities to Birding on Quonnie – there is no shortage of exciting activities to support our local waters and gain knowledge of these unique ecosystems. These hands-on experiences help participants gain a deeper appreciation for the ponds while learning about the challenges they face.

The Salt Pond Coalition has one of the longest water-quality monitoring programs in the country, maintaining consistent oversight to assess the health and water quality of the ponds. Each Rhode Island salt pond “has its own personality and its own specific challenges that it faces,” says Schaffner. Efforts by the coalition to mitigate degradation caused by issues such as sea-level rise and climate change include partnerships and projects that support marsh restoration through thin-layer soil deposition.

The best way to support the Salt Pond Coalition’s mission is to attend events, volunteer, donate, or become a member. The nonprofit’s volunteer-driven Pond Watcher Program, which has been active since the coalition’s founding, is a critical undertaking to monitor pond ecosystems. Active from May through October, it gives volunteers the opportunity to assess the health of the ponds by measuring factors such as salinity, bacteria, and dissolved oxygen. The result is a powerful example of citizen science in action, helping ensure Rhode Island’s iconic salt ponds remain healthy and vibrant for generations to come.

July 9: Coastal Social

The annual summer fundraiser for the Salt Ponds Coalition promises an evening for a great cause. This year’s event will be held at Point Judith Country Club, Narragansett. Learn more at SaltPondsCoalition.org