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TexasTowelie

(117,227 posts)
Thu Jun 24, 2021, 05:33 PM Jun 2021

Rhode Island House to study public access to the coastline

For years, advocates for shoreline access have clashed with coastal homeowners over where the public has the right to be along the waterfront, and fighting has only increased during the pandemic. On Wednesday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation to initiate a study of shoreline access in the Ocean State.

The bill creates a 12-member commission to study lateral access to the Rhode Island shoreline in hopes of eventually addressing ongoing disputes.

Advocates say using a multi-year high tide line as the boundary is insufficient because it’s nearly impossible to identify. Shoreline property owners say changes would be unfair to them and could create liability issues should someone be injured on their land.

The proposal was put forward by state Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Portsmouth, Middletown).

“While there have been efforts to clarify the public’s rights over the years, rising sea levels and erosion are changing the coast, and creating more conflicts along the way,” Cortvriend said in a press release. “There are many questions about how Rhode Island is supposed to determine and protect access rights, and we need to identify some clearer answers.”

Read more: https://thepublicsradio.org/article/house-commission-will-study-shoreline-access-in-rhode-island

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Rhode Island House to study public access to the coastline (Original Post) TexasTowelie Jun 2021 OP
In Oregon, Governor Oswald West condemned beaches as state highways 100 years ago. Thunderbeast Jun 2021 #1
Thanks for posting this. Update here. JudyM Sep 2021 #2

Thunderbeast

(3,541 posts)
1. In Oregon, Governor Oswald West condemned beaches as state highways 100 years ago.
Thu Jun 24, 2021, 11:43 PM
Jun 2021

To this day, the public has access to beaches as far as the "mean high tide line".

The ruling has been challenged over the years, but public access has survived.

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