Ninigret Pond
Encyclopedia
Ninigret is a coastal lagoon
in Charlestown
, Rhode Island
in the United States, located at 41.3792677°N 71.6453401°W. It is the largest of the nine lagoons, or "salt ponds", in southern Rhode Island. It is utilized for recreational actives, as well as oyster and quahog harvesting. Found along its shores are "extensive" archaeological remains. Ninigret Pond, like others in the region, was "formed after the recession of the glaciers 12,000 years ago". The pond is situated on low-lying ground, and as such, it is considered particularly vulnerable to storm surge
flooding. It is connected to Green Hill Pond via a small channel.
The pond is located within the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
.
by a constructed breachway.
As a result of heavy development along the eastern shore, there are indications that water quality is degrading; however, restoration efforts are in place. Eelgrass
population has also been significantly declining. Dredging and cleanup projects have additionally been established. In the past, breakwaters
were established, allowing an inflows of sand to "choke" the pond. The Coastal Resources Management Council and the Army Corps of Engineers spent in excess of $4.1 million to remove harmful sand accumulations. Despite this, Ninigret was assessed as being the cleanest of the nine salt ponds. In contrast, Winnapaug Pond
contains high levels of pollution. During the 1960s, Ninigret Pond was included as part of one of the first "integrated multidisciplinary studies of a coastal marine ecosystem".
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
in Charlestown
Charlestown, Rhode Island
Charlestown is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 7,827 at the 2010 census.-History:Charlestown is named after King Charles II, and was incorporated in 1738. The area was formerly part of the town of Westerly...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in the United States, located at 41.3792677°N 71.6453401°W. It is the largest of the nine lagoons, or "salt ponds", in southern Rhode Island. It is utilized for recreational actives, as well as oyster and quahog harvesting. Found along its shores are "extensive" archaeological remains. Ninigret Pond, like others in the region, was "formed after the recession of the glaciers 12,000 years ago". The pond is situated on low-lying ground, and as such, it is considered particularly vulnerable to storm surge
Storm surge
A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones. Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea...
flooding. It is connected to Green Hill Pond via a small channel.
The pond is located within the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
The Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge situated along the shore of Ninigret Pond. The refuge, characterized by saltmarshes, kettle ponds, freshwater wetlands, maritime shrublands and forests, is seasonally inhabited by over 250 species of birds...
.
Watershed and restoration
According to information compiled by the Rhode Island Sea Grant program, Ninigret Pond's watershed covers 7645.65 acre (3,094.1 ha), of which 5820.79 acre (2,355.6 ha) is occupied by water; Ninigret Pond itself has a surface area of 1580.38 acre (639.6 ha), while other, smaller bodies of water account for the other 244.48 acre (98.9 ha). Averaging 4.3 ft (1.3 m) deep, Ninigret Pond has a salinity level of 24 parts per thousand. The pond receives: about 1,927,399,642 gallons of precipitation per year; 8,974,614–12,376,282 gallons of groundwater flow per day; and 1,881,774–4,849,186 of river and stream flow per day. It is permanently connected to the Block Island SoundBlock Island Sound
Block Island Sound is a strait in the open Atlantic Ocean, approximately wide, separating Block Island from the coast of Rhode Island in the United States...
by a constructed breachway.
As a result of heavy development along the eastern shore, there are indications that water quality is degrading; however, restoration efforts are in place. Eelgrass
Zostera
Zostera is a small genus of widely distributed seagrass, commonly called marine eelgrass or simply eelgrass . The genus Zostera contains sixteen species.-Ecology:Zostera is found on sandy substrates or in estuaries submerged or partially floating...
population has also been significantly declining. Dredging and cleanup projects have additionally been established. In the past, breakwaters
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
were established, allowing an inflows of sand to "choke" the pond. The Coastal Resources Management Council and the Army Corps of Engineers spent in excess of $4.1 million to remove harmful sand accumulations. Despite this, Ninigret was assessed as being the cleanest of the nine salt ponds. In contrast, Winnapaug Pond
Winnapaug Pond
Winnapaug Pond is a breached saltwater pond in Westerly, Rhode Island, United States, connected to Block Island Sound by the Weekapaug Breachway, which was constructed during the mid-1950s. The lake is separated from the Atlantic by a large sandbar. In 2008, its overall water quality was assessed...
contains high levels of pollution. During the 1960s, Ninigret Pond was included as part of one of the first "integrated multidisciplinary studies of a coastal marine ecosystem".
See also
- List of lakes in Rhode Island
- Geography of Rhode Island
