It’s not easy to miss Barrington’s coastlines. Prolific in natural marshes, wetlands and swamps, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust manages many of the properties.

The shores of the Palmer River are home to a variety of wetlands that are vital to the natural beauty of Barrington. From the top of Sowams Road, all along the coastline down to the bridge that spans from Barrington to Warren, the Trust oversees a network of vegetation and wildlife that is crucial to a healthy ecosystem.

“Our goal is to maintain conservation values,” said Peter Burke, the trust’s co-president in a recent interview.  “Like many of the properties owned or managed by the trust, we want the Palmer River parcels to be preserved in their natural state.”

It is for this very reason that the Trust works closely with both the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay.

Studies of Rising Sea Levels

One of the Trust’s largest properties is Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, located at the northern tip of Sowams Road adjacent to the Massachusetts border (in fact, four of the 32 acres are located within Swansea). 

Save the Bay conducted vegetation transect studies at the Preserve to determine how rising sea levels have affected the Barrington coastline. By monitoring changes in vegetation at Johannis Farm over a period of time, they were able to collect information regarding the health and volume of the salt marsh plant species.

They concluded that the marshes are not keeping up with rising sea levels. 

Marshes increase their elevation naturally when sediments that flow downstream deposit on the marsh, allowing plant roots to grow and add to the marsh surface. But when sea levels rise too fast, there is not enough sediment and plant roots start to die. Thus, the marshes are rising at a slower rate than the ocean.  

According to Rachel Calabro, Narragansett Bay Riverkeeper at Save the Bay, “The interior of the salt marsh at Johannis is beginning to sink. What you normally would see on the outside of a marsh is now on the inside, or in the middle, of the marsh.”

The whole ecosystem suffers. Vegetation changes from year to year, affecting the natural habitats of the animals and birds. As for humans, our properties are affected by flooding. The marshlands and wetlands protect our properties from storm surge. 

The Palmer River Parcels

Over the years, the Barrington Land Conservation Trust has acquired many parcels along the Palmer River.  Ranging from as small as one-quarter acre at the end of Belvedere Avenue, to the large preserve at Johannis, the tracts of land add up to create a continuous buffer between development and the water.  

Some properties are owned by the Audubon Society but are maintained by the Trust. Many of the property owners who donated their lands did so to keep the natural beauty of the Palmer River intact. In fact, the majority of these spaces are to be left undisturbed.

To witness evidence of the positive impact the Land Trust has on Barrington, take a walk to the end of Belevedere Avenue, Seaview Drive, River Oak Road, or behind Bullock Avenue. People can also view the coastline from a kayak, canoe or paddleboard.