Some time between late 2022 and early 2023 the Quidnessett Country Club (QCC), located near the northern end of North Kingstown RI, built a sea wall near one of the holes of their golf course. Had they applied for a permit to construct a 600 foot long, 20 foot tall rock revetment from RI’s Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), which is tasked to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, restore the coastal resources of the state”, there is little doubt that they would have been denied. Under current regulations the waters adjacent to QCC’s property are designated “Type 1” conservation waters, and subsequently structures like the one that was illegally constructed are strictly prohibited.
In March, when state regulators learned of the illegal development, CRMC served QCC with a notice of violation and fines. Rather than simply adjudicating the issue through the enforcement process, which may very well have resulted in an order to remove the structure, QCC went on the offensive and petitioned CRMC to changes its rules defining water types. In doing so, they clearly stated that their intent to both lessen enforcement, and to alter the legal landscape such that their wall would no longer be expressly prohibited, and they might be able to keep it after paying a “cost of doing business” fine.
In a move that was somewhat surprising, CRMC’s Planning & Procedures Subcommittee seemed amenable to actually entertaining the request, and approved a preliminary notice for proposed rulemaking to appease QCC at a meeting on May 14, 2024.
Subsequent to their May 14 meeting, CRMC published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking for public comment in late May.
“The New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers respectfully urges CRMC to reject QCC’s petition and not proceed with rulemaking. QCC has demonstrated utter disregard for the laws and regulations of the State of Rhode Island by undertaking a major unpermitted development in defiance of CRMC’s clear prohibition, and rather than correcting the situation when caught they are now attempting to re-write the rules to legitimize their illegal activity.” wrote New England BHA Chapter Chair Michael Woods in a June 28th, 2024 letter to CRMC Executive Director Jeffrey Willis. “This behavior should not be entertained or tolerated, and CRMC should pursue all legal avenues to compel the removal of the illegal structure, and the restoration of the area to its natural state.”
Read BHA’s full letter to CRMC on the Quidnessett Country Club Advance Notice here
It remains to be seen whether CRMC will actually initiate formal rulemaking following their consideration of feedback received during the advance notice – but Backcountry Hunters & Anglers will continue to monitor the issue and work to protect RI’s public lands, water and wildlife when situations like this one arise.
More Press on the Quidnessett Country Club’s Illegal Seawall:
R.I. environmental group to country club: Tear down this seawall - Boston Globe
A RI country club wants the state to bend the rules for their seawall - Providence Journal
R.I. attorney general blasts coastal council for its handling of golf course seawall - Boston Globe
Time to Strip CRMC’s Politically Appointed Council of Its Powers - ecoRI News
About New England BHA Chapter
New England BHA is a voice for the sporting community in New England that values solitude, silence, clean and free flowing rivers, and habitat for large, wide-ranging wildlife.