Publications:
Fact Cards
Narragansett
Bay Estuary
Phone:
401.222.4700
Web: www.nbep.org
 Narragansett
Bay is perhaps best known
as a sailing destination
and boatbuilding center,
but to the people of Southern
New England, the estuary
is much more than a yachting
capital. Rhode Island was
literally built on the shores
of Narragansett Bay, and
in many ways the bay remains
the center of Rhode Island's
natural, historic and cultural
geography. From the 1800s
through the mid 1900s, Narragansett
Bay was a center of American
industry, maritime commerce,
and naval operations. Today,
the bay's most important
economic uses are recreation
and tourism-outdoor recreational
activities on the bay are
valued at $2 billion per
year.
Facts About the Estuary
- Narragansett
Bay's watershed encompasses
1600 square miles; 60
percent in Massachusetts
and 40 percent in Rhode
Island.
- There
are more than 3500 acres
of marshes and other
coastal wetlands on
Narragansett Bay and
about 100 acres of seagrass
beds.
- More
than 60 species of fish
and shellfish, and more
than 200 species of
birds, depend on the
bay's habitats.
- Narragansett
Bay produces about 8
million pounds of quahaugs
(hard clams) annually,
with a landed value
of $6 million.
- The
bay's recreational fishery
is valued at more than
$300 million per year.
- More
than 13,000 recreational
boats are berthed on
Narragansett Bay, while
tens of thousands more
are trailered to the
bay from neighboring
states.
Health
of the Estuary
- Toxic
metals levels in Narragansett
Bay have decreased by
90 percent over the
past
20 years.
- Nutrient
loadings to the bay
are at historically
high levels and as a
result there are intermittent
problems with dissolved
oxygen.
- Twenty
five percent of Rhode
Island's designated
shellfishing areas do
not meet shellfishing
area water quality standards.
- Although
the upper bay once supported
extensive seagrass beds,
they are now found only
in the southern half
of Narragansett Bay.
- Bay
scallops, once abundant
in the bay, declined
in the 1950s and have
not recovered.
- Ninety
three percent of Rhode
Island's assessed estuarine
waters support swimming.
Accomplishments
of the Estuary Program
- Undertook
the first definitive
mapping of the bay's
coastal habitats in
1996. Currently the
Bay Program is mapping
the habitats of Rhode
Island's South Shore.
- Formed
the interagency R.I.
Habitat Restoration
Team in 1998 which is
now developing a statewide
plan for coastal habitat
restoration.
- Developed
the first comprehensive,
ongoing survey of dissolved
oxygen in Narragansett
Bay.
- Partnered
on the first comprehensive
survey of invasive species
in Narragansett Bay.
- Organized
the 2000 Narragansett
Bay Summit Conference.
A key outcome from the
conference was the Partnership
for Narragansett Bay-an
interagency, interstate
group formed to improve
coordination, management
and planning on the
bay.
For
Viewing and Printing:
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Estuary Program files,
check out each of their text only versions for
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