Author: nrpa@narrowriver.org

Willet

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The Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

By Craig Wood

The featured bird for the 2017 Narrow River Road Race T-shirt is the Willet (Tringa semipalmata). The Willet is one of our most conspicuous breeding species in the Narrow River estuary. They are large, stocky shorebirds (pigeon-sized body on long legs) with distinctive black-and-white wing markings. Willets have a thick, straight bill considerably longer than the head. Willet plumage is mottled brown during breeding and plain gray in winter. When startled, they take flight with a piercing “pill-will-willet” call that gives them their name. Willets are often seen alone. They walk deliberately, pausing to probe for crabs, worms and other prey in sand and mudflats, or to pick at insects and mollusks.

There are two nesting populations (subspecies) of Willet in North America; the Eastern Willet nests in salt marshes, barrier beaches, and mangroves along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from Newfoundland to northeastern Mexico. The Western Willet breeds in interior prairies from Alberta to Colorado. Eastern Willets winter in coastal eastern South America, whereas Western Willets winter on both coasts of North America south to Peru.

Interestingly, the Willet is a southern species that has extended its breeding range north in recent decades. Willets were first documented nesting in Rhode Island during 1987 and are now a locally common breeding species throughout the state. With an expanded breeding range, Willets are now also a common sight in Rhode Island during mitigation periods, especially during fall migration which occurs locally throughout July. Western Willets are sometimes observed in Rhode Island with flocks of Eastern Willets during fall migration.

Willets, along with the salt marsh sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), nest in the higher portions of salt marsh bordering Narrow River. This “high marsh” habitat has been disappearing in salt marshes throughout the region. This phenomenon is thought to be the result of accelerated sea level rise. Restoring high marsh is a major objective of the on-going dredging and marsh building project which is placing dredged material on the surface of the marsh to raise the elevation combating drowning and loss of habitat.

Cool Facts

  • Although both parents incubate the eggs, only the male Willet spends the night on the nest.
  • Willets and other shorebirds were once a popular food. By the early 1900s, Willets had almost vanished north of Virginia. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 banned market hunting and marked the start of the Willet’s comeback to present numbers.
  • Like Killdeer, Willets will pretend to be disabled by a broken wing in order to draw attention to themselves and lure predators away from their eggs or chicks.
  • Because they find prey using the sensitive tips of their bills, and not just eyesight, Willets can feed both during the day and at night.
  • Willet pairs often remain together for several years and return to the same nest sites.

Sources:

Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan Species Profiles, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, accessed at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/swap/SGCNBirds.pdf.

All About Birds, The Cornel Lab of Ornithology, accessed at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Willet

Willet in Flight over Winnapaug Pond by David Uliss

W.E.R. La Farge

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W.E.R. LaFarge, poet, playwright, and environmentalist, was born in New York City on June 24, 1930. In 1978, he began to live year round at the River Farm, owned by his family since 1908.

W.E.R. was a founding and active member of the Narrow River Preservation Association that, over the years has preserved so much of the river we all enjoy. W.E.R. believed in preserving watersheds, farmland and public access to recreational and scenic areas. He believed that we are all stewards of the land, inextricably bound to it and to each other.

LaFarge Point Park and the U.R.I. Rowing Center were once part of the River Farm. W.E.R. donated these parcels and permanently restricted development on his land through conservation easements. The value of the gift was used as matching funds, allowing the Narrow River Land Trust with the assistance of the The Champlin Foundations and the Nature Conservancy, to preserve additional land on the upper pond.

Each year, NRPA honors someone who has made a large, positive impact on the Narrow River Watershed by awarding them the W.E.R. La Farge Friend of the River Award in W.E.R.’s honor.

Through the efforts of Senator John Chafee, the lower end of the estuary has been designated as the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge.

W.E.R. died at home in October 27, 1994 and is buried at the River Farm. His poem reprinted here was inspired by the glacial estuary we call “Narrow River”.

Earth’s Song

by W.E.R. LaFarge (1974)

I lie alone

remembering changes

how sudden crystals grew

from water falling

in a cup in a rock

surprising forms

acids in a cup in a rock

receiving lightning

a cup in a rock receiving

lightning

I am here

I lie alone

no one completes me

after lightning

I bide my time

I hold my forms beyond

surprising islands

I lie alone

remembering changes

how grinding ice came down

the slide of earth

rub of rivers

knuckles of trees cracking rocks

receiving ice surprising

cracking rocks receiving ice

a tree of rivers sprang inside

me

I am here

I lie alone

no one completes me

after water

I bide my time

I hold my face beyond

surprising rains

URI Rowing and Coach Shelagh Donohoe

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by Alison Kates, Fall 2016

With a warm smile and friendly greeting, Head Coach Shelagh Donohoe welcomes me at the Middlebridge dock one chilly November morning as the URI Women’s Rowing Team is finishing up practice. Student athletes are coming in from the river. They row to the platform, lift their boat out of the water and walk it to an area for rinsing before storing it until tomorrow. All of this is fun to watch – each boat (skull) is carried by all of the rowers who fit inside and directions are coordinated by the coxswain. The students smile and seem to know exactly what they are doing.

The URI Rowing Team’s 50 members, Novice and Varsity, arrive at practice at the Middlebridge site daily by 5:45 am to practice until 8:00am. They row on Narrow River and in the Fall and Spring, and train indoors during the winter months. They consistently achieve one of the highest combined GPAs of all URI sports teams.

The Rowing team takes community service and local stewardship very seriously. They spent Sunday, November 13 improving trails at Canonchet Farm. Visit the Canonchet Farm website for great photographs of their efforts. http://canonchet.org/trails.php

The same day that the team was doing the heavy lifting at Canonchet Farm, the finishing touches were put on their new boathouse, which the team affectionately calls ‘the structure’. A sturdy steel frame covered in strong polyethylene will provide the team’s skulls with protection from the weather over the winter months. A strip of clear polyethylene along the highest point on the roof lets light into the vast space. Set back from the waterfront just past the parking area, the structure was deliberately placed out of the sightline of the scenic riverfront. The design is meant to blend in with the surrounding area, not to disturb it.

Likewise, the boat dock, installed in Spring 2016, was specifically designed and installed so as to not disturb the eelgrass and other life along the river’s edge.

The team uses one of the cottages on the Middlebridge property for storage, bathroom facilities and electric service. Even though it is filled to the gills with equipment and supplies, it’s clean, well organized and has a welcoming feel.

Lily Herberger, originally from California, walked on to the rowing team as a Freshman at URI and quickly fell in love with Rhode Island, the University and Narrow River. She rowed for four years while earning her Bachelor’s Degree, working her way up to the Varsity level. Now that she is working toward her Master’s Degree in Environmental Science, she’s helping coach the team.

Lily remembers when the team moved to the Middlebridge site from the Boathouse further up the river. She described how one day in September 2015, the team boarded the boats at the old site and rowed down to their new home at Middlebridge. Since then the team has embraced the Middlebridge site as their home.

Shelagh was delighted to talk about the Narrow River and the watershed. She has been coaching rowing at URI for 10 years. Shelagh has been involved with Rowing for decades. Her accomplishments as an athlete include winning a silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 in the women’s straight 4. As a coach, she has guided many teams to victory, most recently the US Paralympic Team to silver at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics this summer.

Shelagh has high hopes for the future. She would love to work with the town and interested partners in the future to offer a rowing program to high school students and the general public. Shelagh loves the fact that NRPA, the Town and the team all have the same goal: protecting and helping people enjoy Narrow River.

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On Pettaquamscutt 2018

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2018 Winter Speaker Series “On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed”

The Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, South County Museum and the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library along with generous support from Trio Restaurant, are collaborating for the seventh year to sponsor the Winter Speaker Series On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed.

The presentations will take place on selected Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett. After each event, participants are encouraged to continue the conversation at Trio Restaurant, 15 Kingstown Road, Narragansett.

January: South County Museum Associate Director Blaire O. Gagnon started things off with “The Sampler – A Young Lady’s Education in the 18th & 19th Centuries.” Blaire explained how young girls learned to cross-stitch and demonstrate their proficiency with letters, numbers and even poetry with traditional “samplers.” Blaire brought several 200 year-old examples of the art work, as did Peggy O’Connor from the holdings at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum.

Visit the Sampler Archive for more information on samplers, including examples from the Rhode Island Historical Society collection. See also the Sampler Consortium.

Read Phil Cozzolino’s review in the January 31 Narragansett Times.

February: Gary Casabona, the R.I. State Biologist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, presented “Habitat Management for Pollinators.” Gary talked about the importance of planting a wide variety of species that support wildlife to ensure that there are pollen and nectar resources available for all seasons. Download a pamphlet describing the work of NRCS with the Xerces Society to protect native pollinators.

March: URI Watershed Watch Program Director Linda Green explained the work of some 250 volunteer monitors who test water in the lakes, rivers and estuaries throughout Rhode Island, and then focused on conditions and trends in Narrow River based on 25 years of testing by the NRPA River Watch program.
View Linda’s slide presentation.

Read Phil Cozzolino’s review in the March 28 Narragansett Times.

These events are free and open to the public. Participants must register at OnPettaquamscutt.org or at the calendar page of the library website (http://www.narlib.org/) to reserve a seat as the capacity of the room is 90 guests. For more information, call 401-783-5344 or email info@onpettaquamscutt.org.

Blue Crab

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North Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

Color: Olive green carapace, with brilliant blue claws. Females have red-tipped claws.

Size: Up to nine inches long from point to point, and four inches from head to tail.

Habitat: Shallow and brackish waters, eelgrass beds, muddy bottoms.

Seasonal appearance: Early spring to late fall. Description Blue crabs belong to the family of swimming crabs that also includes the lady crab.

This crab has a characteristic sharp spine projecting outward from each side of its carapace. The rear pair of legs acts as paddles, making these crabs excellent and rapid swimmers. The blue crab has two, stalked, compound eyes, which are controlled separately and can lay back into sockets in the shell.

Life History and Behavior: Blue crabs, like all crustaceans, grow by molting, or shedding their shell. Blue crabs molt every few weeks when they are young, but only once a year when they are older. Molting begins when a thin line appears down their backs. For adult crabs, molting occurs in the summer months, leaving them soft and defenseless for several days. At this point, they are known as “peelers.”

Blue crabs are commonly found in Rhode Island waters, although the largest population is found in the Chesapeake Bay.

The name Callinectes sapidus comes from the Latin “beautiful, savory swimmer.” As a predator, they burrow in mud with only eyes and antennae showing. Even the slightest shadow can trigger a reaction from the blue crab.

Blue crabs aggressively take on any opponent by raising claws toward their enemies while scuttling sideways to escape. They eat bivalves, crustaceans, fish, snails, live plants, dead animal matter, and even other blue crabs. Through their voracious feeding habits, they help regulate the populations of benthic organisms on which they feed.

Blue crabs are preyed upon by skates, striped bass, coastal birds, oyster toadfish, bluefish, and even sea stars during the crabs’ dormant winter months. While soft-shelled, crabs are easy prey for wading birds, other crabs, and mammals.

Special Notes

Prized seafood in their soft-shell state, blue crabs can be cooked and eaten whole, shell and all. They are harvested using dredges, crab pots, hand lines, and dip nets. Once plentiful in Rhode Island, the number of blue crabs has significantly reduced because of the pollution and the destruction of their nursery, molting, and foraging habitats.

Blue crabs need highly oxygenated water to survive. Nutrient pollution, including phosphorous and nitrogen from sewage plants, farm fields, and lawns, causes algal blooms. When the free-floating algae die and decompose, large quantities of dissolved oxygen are consumed. Under these low oxygen conditions, blue crabs will emerge from the water in large numbers to escape the deadly, deoxygenated water.

Adapted from The Uncommon Guide to Common Life on Narragansett Bay. Save The Bay, 1998.

NRPA featured the Blue Crab in the logo for our 11th Annual Turnaround Swim in 2016.

Learn more about Blue Crabs from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Department.

Biodiversity in the Pettaquamscutt River Estuary

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Sunshine Menezes, PhD candidate, Graduate School of Oceanography

The Pettaquamscutt River Estuary, or the Narrow River, is a small estuary in southern Rhode Island, fed at its headwaters by Gilbert Stuart Stream and at its mouth by Rhode Island Sound. For the past year, I have been conducting a biodiversity survey of a particularly small component of the phytoplankton (microscopic, single-celled, floating protists) in the Pettaquamscutt. This is an exciting location for my research because of the peculiarities of the environment.

The Pettaquamscutt River was carved by retreating glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago. During this process, two kettle lakes were formed in the northern portion of the river. These lakes, the Lower Pond and Upper Pond, have depths of approximately 19 and 15 meters, respectively. Relatively deep, these lakes are a sharp contrast to the rest of the river, which is only 2 meters deep, on average. This morphology creates what is called a fjord-type estuary: incoming tidal waters sink to intermediate depths in the lakes, resulting in a zonation of the water. There is a well-oxygenated surface layer, an intermediate layer of low oxygen (a hypoxic zone), and a bottom layer that is very rarely mixed, and therefore, remains anoxic (without oxygen) for long periods of time.

The Pettaquamscutt River is also subject to nutrient inputs, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, from the activities of people along the river. These nutrients fuel the growth of phytoplankton, and given the right conditions, blooms (a period of very high growth by a single species) may occur.

For all of these reasons, the Pettaquamscutt estuary is an interesting place to study biodiversity. My research focuses on nanoplankton, which have been studied very little, primarily due to their small size (Figure 1). It is useful to survey the diversity of species in this group for several reasons. First, previously undiscovered species will most likely be identified by this work. Second, it is useful for scientists and managers to understand the composition of the species for a particular ecosystem so that we have a means of gauging changes in biodiversity. If we don’t know what lives in the river, we can’t possibly know if it has been invaded by exotic species. This is especially important with phytoplankton, since certain species are often used as indicator species to give a rough assessment of the status of an ecosystem (an indication of human-mediated nutrient inputs, for example). Without a survey that has recorded which species are present, we might not be able to detect change. Of course we can record the invasions by larger organisms such as the green crab (Carcinus maenas) and periwinkles (Littorina littorea) rather easily, but that doesn’t tell us anything about the changes that we cannot see with the naked eye. Thus the phytoplankton can yield valuable information about changes in an ecosystem; biodiversity surveys are the most thorough means of recording these changes.

The Pettaquamscutt River is home to several novel phytoplankton species and interactions. One of these species, Hermesinum adriaticum, is a heterotrophic protist (a non-photosynthetic protist that gets energy by consuming other small protists or bacteria), which has only been found in a handful of locations around the world, including the Adriatic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Chesapeake Bay, and the Pettaquamscutt River Estuary. Considering that many phytoplankton species are cosmopolitan (found throughout the world), the scarcity of Hermesinum, and its presence in the Pettaquamscutt River, is noteworthy. (For more details on the interesting life history of Hermesinum in the Pettaquamscutt, see Maritimes, Vol. 35, No. 2.)

Another way of determining (very) long-term changes in phytoplankton diversity is to look at sediment cores. In anoxic basins, such as the Lower Pond, the sediments are well preserved due to the absence of burrowing benthic animals such as worms and clams. This enables us to look at different layers of the sediments (varves) that represent several time periods, many hundreds to thousands of years old. Since some types of phytoplankton are encased in silicon walls, and others have scales that resist decomposition, we can look through the sediment cores for these mementos of past phytoplankton communities. Thus, we can get an idea of the species (among those groups that have these preservable structures) that were present hundreds of years ago. Hargraves and Miller looked for Hermesinum adriaticum in cores from the Lower Pond and found that this species has been present for approximately the last 300 years. This roughly corresponds to the time of European settlement in this region. While this is not proof of an invasion by Hermesinum, it does make one wonder how many phytoplankton species may have hitched a ride with the Europeans.

Although previous surveys have found low species diversity in the Narrow River among the larger (net) phytoplankton, this is only now being resolved for the smaller nanoplankton. Some ecologists argue that communities with low diversity may be more susceptible to biological invasion, so the significance of this diversity issue is clear. Through the intensive field surveys of the nanoplankton in the Pettaquamscutt River Estuary and an analysis of sediment cores from the Lower Pond, I will provide a database against which future changes in species composition can be compared. By measuring how species diversity changes in response to changes in nutrient concentrations, we may get a better picture of possible future scenarios for the phytoplankton in the Narrow River.

Sunshine Menezes, PhD candidate, Graduate School of Oceanography

Sunshine Menezes earned a BS in zoology from Michigan State University. The Great Lakes were not big enough, however, and she made the jump to the East Coast in 1996. Her major professor is Paul Hargraves.

2017 NRPA Lesa Meng Scholarship Recipients

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For the 25th year, the Narrow River Preservation Association (NRPA) has awarded scholarships to seniors graduating from high schools in the Narrow (Pettaquamscutt) River Watershed. The scholarship honors the late Lesa Meng, an NRPA Board member, whose husband, Rick Moffitt, established the scholarship fund, enabling NRPA to provide $1000.00 scholarships to seniors graduating from high schools located in the Narrow River watershed. The 2017 Lesa Meng/Narrow River Preservation Association scholarships were awarded to Rosalind Lucier and Kate DeBoer (South Kingstown High School), Wyndom Chace (North Kingstown High School) and Danielle Donadio (Narragansett High School).

Rosalind Lucier, of South Kingstown High School, will be attending Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA in the fall, where she plans to study biochemistry. She has been a top performer in her SKHS classes and was ranked number 1 in her class. Rosalind was awarded Excellence in AP Biology and Excellence in AP Physics, as well as the Baush and Lomb Honorary Science Award. She is a recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award. For her project, she created a children’s picture book, featuring Mark a talking quahog, who goes on adventures to educate the reader about the factors of climate change in Rhode Island.

Kate DeBoer is also a graduate of South Kingstown High School. Kate is planning on attending the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. She has been accepted into the 6-year pharmacy program (PharmD). Kate was also a past NRPA Science Fair winner for her work studying water quality. She has organized beach clean-ups at the Narragansett Town Beach. Kate has also earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. Her project focused on encouraging children to eat healthier in order to improve their mental and physical health.

Wyndom Chace, graduated from North Kingstown with the highest ranking in her class and has chosen Williams College in Williamston, MA. She plans to pursue environmental science and chemistry. She was a member of the summer marine research team in the Biology Department at Salve Regina University. She has had an opportunity to present posters at two conferences detailing her work on sea level rise in North Kingstown and a second poster on changes in land use and vegetation in NK. She was a nominee for Save the Bay’s 2016 Walsh Award for Outstanding Environmental Advocacy. Wyndom is also quite an accomplished pianist.

Danielle Donadio, a graduate of Narragansett High School, plans to attend the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH, where she is considering majoring in wildlife biology and conservation. Danielle is an honor student, a varsity athlete and a talented musician. She is a member of the RI Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble. In addition, Danielle is also a Level I Rehabilitator and volunteer at the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of RI. She helps with feeding and rehabilitation of animals ranging from turtles to opossum and seagulls.

Salt Marsh Restoration Enters Planting Phase

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April 2017

saltgrass (Disticis spicata)

cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Narrow River Preservation Association is working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the next phase of the Narrow River salt marsh restoration project.

While the marsh has historically been underwater only at “spring” (new and full moon) tides, in recent years, due to sea level rise, the majority of the marsh is being flooded too frequently for the marsh grasses to thrive.

This winter, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy and the Coastal Resource Management Council, US Fish and Wildlife completed the dredging phase of the restoration project.

During this phase, using a method called thin layer deposition, crews dredged specific areas of the lower Narrow River and then dispersed the dredged material onto the surface of the marsh to raise the elevation. In areas where the elevation has been raised 3 inches or more, volunteers will soon plant marsh grass seedlings (plugs).

Marsh areas at the increased elevation will flood less frequently, which will hopefully increase the lifespan and resilience of the marsh to future sea level rise and other stressors.

Last fall, US Fish and Wildlife collected local seeds from three different types of salt marsh grasses along Narrow River. Since then, a nursery has been growing the seedlings (plugs).

Around the first of May, 35,000 plugs will be ready to plant.

The salt marsh grasses to be planted are cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), saltmarsh hay (Spartina patens), and saltgrass (Disticis spicata).

The planting will occur over two or three days, with a morning and an afternoon shift each day. Volunteers will be able to choose which shifts they would like to work.

Volunteers are advised to dress for the weather. The work will be messy and rubber boots are encouraged. Helpers of all ages are welcome and NRPA is working with school groups who plan to volunteer. USF&WS will provide all of the needed tools and supplies as well as water and snacks.

The volunteer response at press time has been outstanding. Nearly 200 individuals and several groups have signed up to volunteer.

Many hands will make quick work of the 35,000 plugs.

Salt Marsh Restoration Project Update – January 2017

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Work has been ongoing since December 1, 2016 along the Narrow River as part of the salt marsh restoration and elevation pilot project, intended to combat drowning and increase the lifespan and resilience of the marsh to future sea level rise and other stressors. Contractor Patriot Marine has been dredging near Sedge Island under the supervision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Coastal Resources Management Council.

Crews are using a restoration method called thin layer deposition to place dredged material on the surface of the marsh to raise the elevation so that plants can thrive. Material is dredged from select locations to create depths where eelgrass can grow, creating an important habitat. The dredged materials are then dispersed on the adjacent marsh surface to slightly increase the marsh’s elevation, primarily in areas where the vegetation has died off or become stressed from prolonged flooding. These areas will be replanted with marsh grasses.

From Narrow River Kayaks south to Sedge Island, the dredge footprint creates an approximately 65-foot wide channel in the river. Sand from the river is being used to elevate the marshes on the eastern side and on Sedge Island.

This photograph (taken December 13, 2016) showing an astronomically high tide, gives a good sense of what the project is trying to accomplish. The entire marsh is under water with the exception of the mound of material being pumped onto the marsh. While the marsh should be underwater during “spring” (new and full moon) tides, the majority of the marsh is being flooded too frequently. The mound of material will be graded with low ground pressure equipment to raise the marsh plain. Increasing marsh elevation will also benefit the Saltmarsh Sparrow, a species of concern, which nests in the marsh grass.

NRPA is organizing volunteers to plant salt marsh grass plugs early in the spring under the supervision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the restoration efforts.

This aerial video by East Greenwich Resident Ray Stachelek clearly shows the phases of the dredging and salt marsh restoration project that took place in November and December 2016. New phases of work will continue through 2017.