It was a rocky winter for Newport County beaches. What's been done to get ready for summer

NEWPORT – Snow plows were used quite a bit this winter in Newport but they were used more to relocate sands on Easton's Beach rather than snow off the ground, according to Communications Officer Thomas Shevlin.

Shevlin and other area officials have confirmed that the rainy and windy weather this spring and winter have pushed sand and rocks but local public works departments have been clearing them regularly.

Though spring and winter have been figuratively and literally rocky, beaches in Aquidneck Island and Tiverton should be ready for the public by Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer.

Shevlin also said that new dune grass has been planted at Easton's Beach but he says that – though more work was conducted – the costs have not risen for city taxpayers.

Tiverton, Middletown and Portsmouth have also said that their respective public works have found time to prepare the beaches during normal business hours and within their respective operating budgets.

Recently, Middletown rented a 35-yard articulated hauler as well as an excavator to scoop and move the rocks to a better location nearby, Middletown Public Affairs Officer Matt Sheley said.

“We get some movement of rocks every off-season, but this was much more noticeable than any time in recent memory,” said Will Cronin, who oversees Middletown's beaches as part of his duties with the town.

Sheley said rock relocation work was carried out in early May at Second Beach but no rock relocation was required at Third Beach.

Sheley said such work is conducted annually but luckily has not cost taxpayers any extra money.

He said equipment was rented through the town’s beach fund and the public works department staff handled the work “in house.”

At its May 6 meeting, the council considered a request for a hydrological study of Sachuest Bay to help determine what’s in store for the beach areas in the next 10 to 20 years and beyond, according to a written release from Sheley.

Town Administrator Shawn Brown said that report would build upon existing studies done under former Town Engineer Warren Hall, which found Second Beach was losing about an inch a year due to sea level rise. Funding for the hydrological report also comes from the town’s Beach Fund.

“(The rocks) are something we’re aware of and have been watching and discussing,” Cronin said, according to Sheley’s written release. “It’s one of those things that will eventually take care of itself like it always does, but this approach speeds up that timeline a bit.”

Portsmouth didn’t report any use of special equipment but, like other communities, leaned on its DPW. Recreation Director Wendy Bulk expressed confidence that Sandy Point Beach will be in good shape this summer.

“Sandy Point is looking much better after the long winter,” Bulk said recently. “Our (DPW) moved/relocated rocks and the initial raking will take place before Memorial Day weekend. We will continue raking throughout the season,” she said.

DPW Director Brian Woodhead said his department allocates hours throughout the year toward cleaning and clearing Sandy Point Beach.

“These responsibilities include relocating cobble, grading the parking lot, installing and removing the beach walkways, as well as winterizing and opening the bathhouse,” Woodhead said.

Tiverton Town Administrator Chris Cotta said officials started late with their cleanup efforts, as storms kept pounding the area. He said they waited for the water to subside before taking action.

“We did not seek any federal or state aid to clean up the beaches as we deferred clean ups until mid to late spring due to the number of storms,” Cotta said  “The only real work we completed at the time of the storms was clearing sand from the road at Fogland (Beach).

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“Because we opted to wait we were not eligible for other (state and federal) aid packages due to timing.  We normally handle storm debris and sand issues from within the DPW operational budget.”

Cotta said Tiverton did turn to some outside agencies this year working with the state Department of Environmental Management, Save the Bay and the state Coastal Resources Management Council.

“We found our costs to be negligible compared to coastal communities.  We did lose some sand dunes and have since replaced them at Fogland.  We did remove the debris from shore in the normal course of our annual clean-ups,”  Cotta said.

“We have lost the use of a bathhouse at Fogland for which we are in the midst of planning for a replacement.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport County beaches remove rocks, plant dune grass for summer prep