Quicksand Pond
Encyclopedia
Quicksand Pond is a pond
in Little Compton, Rhode Island
.
It is a Major Winter Flounder Spawning Area, has Rare Species Habitat and Significant Natural Communities designation, and is part of a proposed natural greenway
corridor. Quicksand Pond is also entirely surrounded by critical habitats, and there are a number of protected areas adjacent to Quicksand Pond. It is part of the Southeastern Coastal Watershed Basin.
It is part of one of the most scenic and undisturbed coastal areas in Rhode Island
, and its protection is of high priority. Approximately half of the shorelines on Quicksand Pond are undeveloped, the remainder are developed as private residences.
s are responsible for the large number of shorebirds that gather on Quicksand Pond during the spring and fall migrations. When the breachway
that usually separates Quicksand Pond from Rhode Island Sound has recently opened, large tracts of fresh wet mud will attract most of the shorebird species in Rhode Island. Quicksand Pond was named number one of the The Top Five Must-See Migrations for Rhode Island.
There are a number of birds that spend time at Quicksand Pond. On September 2, 1882, a symphemia semipalmata was seen on Quicksand Pond. There are swan
s in Quicksand Pond. The Quicksand Pond area provides an excellent breeding habitat for the Least Tern, a rare shorebird, which arrives in May. Other shorebirds, including sanderling
s, great and snowy egret
s, dunlin
, greater and lesser yellowlegs rest on the mudflats and the shoreline. A black rail is a rare sight at Quicksand Pond.
The barrier beach habitat of Quicksand Pond is a potential suitable nesting site for the American Oystercatcher
. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows have also been seen. Waterfowl residents and migrants include Canada geese, canvasback
, American black duck
and scaup
. It has been called one of the most significant migratory waterfowl concentration sites of New England. There are also historical records of sea-beach pigweed and sandplain gerardia.
, Rhode Island’s rarest shorebird, comes to Quicksand Pond each April. The plovers arrive from the Gulf Coast and Bahamas.
Quicksand Pond is one of only five known breeding sites in Rhode Island for the piping plover.
It contains one of the largest population of this species in Rhode Island, and has fledged an average of 11.3 young per year over the last 6 years.
at the southern end of Quicksand Pond. Its dunes are dominated by beachgrass and seaside goldenrod.
s, is considered one of Rhode Island's most scenic places. It is overseen by The Nature Conservancy
.
Working with the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Goosewing Beach Preserve was purchased in 1989 by The Nature Conservancy and its partners. Conservancy staff have actively managed breeding populations of Piping Plover and Least Tern since then.
Goosewing Beach Preserve was listed as one world's best eco-friendly beaches by CNN
, as a “Don’t Miss" by the Boston Globe., and as one of the 500 places to see before they disappear by Frommer’s.
The Nature Conservancy hires a Plover Warden and a Goosewing Beach Preserve Manager during nesting season (mid-April to early-September) to monitor and protect the species and to help educate beach-goers about the sensitive wildlife that inhabit the area.
A study at Goosewing beached provided evidence that mudflats are preferred brood-rearing habitat for Piping Plovers.
, perch
, American eel
, soft-shelled clam, hard-shelled clam or quahog, and American oyster.
Herring
have been caught in Quicksand Pond.
In June, 1853 the General Assembly of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, amended the “An Act for the preservation of Oysters and other Shell Fish within this State" as follows:
In 1965, “[l]ittle change was noted in the supply of wild oysters from" Quicksand Pond. In 1968, the Shellfish survey of Quicksand Pond, Little Compton, R.I. was published.
On May 17, 2007, the FDA reported signs of norovirus in oysters distributed by Bridgeport Seafood in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Department of Health
investigation determined the oysters were collected by a single fisherman from Quicksand Pond. As the Health Department continued to investigate the Quicksand Pond case, it found no evidence to support the initial FDA alarm. There were no reports of anyone getting sick, and further testing failed to show any significant signs of bacteria from human waste in the pond. 50 bushels of oysters were embargoed and destroyed. Quicksand Pond is currently listed as Un-assessed - Shellfishing Prohibited.
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
in Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton, Rhode Island
Little Compton is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. Its population was 3,492 at the time of the 2010 census. Little Compton is located in southeastern Rhode Island, between the Sakonnet River and the Massachusetts state border...
.
It is a Major Winter Flounder Spawning Area, has Rare Species Habitat and Significant Natural Communities designation, and is part of a proposed natural greenway
Greenway
-People:* Barney Greenway , British death metal vocalist* Brian Greenway , Canadian guitarist and vocalist* Chad Greenway , American football player* Francis Greenway , Australian architect...
corridor. Quicksand Pond is also entirely surrounded by critical habitats, and there are a number of protected areas adjacent to Quicksand Pond. It is part of the Southeastern Coastal Watershed Basin.
It is part of one of the most scenic and undisturbed coastal areas in 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...
, and its protection is of high priority. Approximately half of the shorelines on Quicksand Pond are undeveloped, the remainder are developed as private residences.
Birding
Large, often exposed, mudflatMudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
s are responsible for the large number of shorebirds that gather on Quicksand Pond during the spring and fall migrations. When the breachway
Breachway
A breachway is defined as the shore along a channel. Today the term is used to describe the whole area around where a channel meets the ocean. The Rhode Island coastline has many breachways on its map. Today's permanent breachways have rock jetties that line the sides of the channel to protect...
that usually separates Quicksand Pond from Rhode Island Sound has recently opened, large tracts of fresh wet mud will attract most of the shorebird species in Rhode Island. Quicksand Pond was named number one of the The Top Five Must-See Migrations for Rhode Island.
There are a number of birds that spend time at Quicksand Pond. On September 2, 1882, a symphemia semipalmata was seen on Quicksand Pond. There are swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s in Quicksand Pond. The Quicksand Pond area provides an excellent breeding habitat for the Least Tern, a rare shorebird, which arrives in May. Other shorebirds, including sanderling
Sanderling
The Sanderling is a small wader. It is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to South America, South Europe, Africa, and Australia...
s, great and snowy egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s, dunlin
Dunlin
The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East...
, greater and lesser yellowlegs rest on the mudflats and the shoreline. A black rail is a rare sight at Quicksand Pond.
The barrier beach habitat of Quicksand Pond is a potential suitable nesting site for the American Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher
The American Oystercatcher , occasionally called the American Pied Oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak...
. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows have also been seen. Waterfowl residents and migrants include Canada geese, canvasback
Canvasback
The Canvasback is the largest of the North American diving ducks, that ranges from between long and weighs approximately , with a wingspan of . The canvasback has a distinctive wedge-shaped head and long graceful neck. The adult male has a black bill, a chestnut red head and neck, a black...
, American black duck
American Black Duck
The American Black Duck is a large dabbling duck. American Black Ducks are similar to Mallards in size, and resemble the female Mallard in coloration, although the Black Duck's plumage is darker...
and scaup
Scaup
Scaup may refer to:* Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, a political party in Scotland* One of three species of diving duck:** Greater Scaup or just Scaup, Aythya marila** Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis...
. It has been called one of the most significant migratory waterfowl concentration sites of New England. There are also historical records of sea-beach pigweed and sandplain gerardia.
Piping Plover
Piping PloverPiping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
, Rhode Island’s rarest shorebird, comes to Quicksand Pond each April. The plovers arrive from the Gulf Coast and Bahamas.
Quicksand Pond is one of only five known breeding sites in Rhode Island for the piping plover.
It contains one of the largest population of this species in Rhode Island, and has fledged an average of 11.3 young per year over the last 6 years.
Goosewing Beach
Goosewing Beach is a 1.4 kilometre (0.869921831309729 mi) long cobbly barrier beachat the southern end of Quicksand Pond. Its dunes are dominated by beachgrass and seaside goldenrod.
Goosewing Beach Preserve
The Goosewing Beach Preserve, a 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) preserve consisting of shore, ponds and dunes created 12,000 years ago by retreating glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s, is considered one of Rhode Island's most scenic places. It is overseen by The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
.
Working with the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Goosewing Beach Preserve was purchased in 1989 by The Nature Conservancy and its partners. Conservancy staff have actively managed breeding populations of Piping Plover and Least Tern since then.
Goosewing Beach Preserve was listed as one world's best eco-friendly beaches by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, as a “Don’t Miss" by the Boston Globe., and as one of the 500 places to see before they disappear by Frommer’s.
The Benjamin Family Environmental Center
The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island opened The Benjamin Family Environmental Center on July 11, 2010. The Benjamin Family Environmental Center has programs and exhibits about the many types of habitats that make up the Quicksand Pond and Goosewing Beach Preserve areas.The Nature Conservancy hires a Plover Warden and a Goosewing Beach Preserve Manager during nesting season (mid-April to early-September) to monitor and protect the species and to help educate beach-goers about the sensitive wildlife that inhabit the area.
A study at Goosewing beached provided evidence that mudflats are preferred brood-rearing habitat for Piping Plovers.
Fishing
Fish species include winter flounderWinter flounder
The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, is a right-eyed flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is native to coastal waters of the western north Atlantic coast, from Labrador, Canada to Georgia, United States...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, American eel
American eel
The American eel, Anguilla rostrata, is a catadromous fish found on the eastern coast of North America. It has a snake-like body with a small sharp pointed head. It is brown on top and a tan-yellow color on the bottom. It has sharp pointed teeth but no pelvic fins...
, soft-shelled clam, hard-shelled clam or quahog, and American oyster.
Herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
have been caught in Quicksand Pond.
Shellfishing
In 1965, “[l]ittle change was noted in the supply of wild oysters from" Quicksand Pond. In 1968, the Shellfish survey of Quicksand Pond, Little Compton, R.I. was published.
Norovirus scare
Rhode Island Department of Health
The Rhode Island Department of Health is a state government agency located in Providence, Rhode Island. The Director of Health is David R. Gifford, MD, MPH.- Mission :- Divisions and Centers :...
investigation determined the oysters were collected by a single fisherman from Quicksand Pond. As the Health Department continued to investigate the Quicksand Pond case, it found no evidence to support the initial FDA alarm. There were no reports of anyone getting sick, and further testing failed to show any significant signs of bacteria from human waste in the pond. 50 bushels of oysters were embargoed and destroyed. Quicksand Pond is currently listed as Un-assessed - Shellfishing Prohibited.