by Mary Grady

This being Rhode Island, lots of folks seldom make it all the way down to Westerly -- but if you are one of them, you are missing out on enjoying a beautiful and interesting part of our state. Recently, the folks at Save The Bay decided our south shore needed more attention, and opened their first-ever branch office in one of downtown Westerly's old historic buildings along the Pawcatuck River. Coastkeeper David Prescott and outreach coordinator Rebekah Kepple keep an eye on our coastal waters along the salt ponds and Little Narragansett Bay, where the Pawcatuck empties into the Atlantic. They work nonstop to create awareness, build coalitions, protect ecosystems, and monitor the water quality.

Recently, David and Rebekah took me along one morning as they headed out in their small boat to collect water-quality data around the little Bay. It was a great chance to explore the area, learn more about what they are up to in South County, and see how it is similar to yet different from the issues we are more familiar with in the big Bay. Click on "More..." to join a photo tour of our Other Bay, learn more about David and Rebekah's work, and learn how you can help support them by having a great time and enjoying some delicious food, at an upcoming fund-raising event.

Click on "More..." for a photo tour of Little Narragansett Bay, and info about a great event coming up soon where you can enjoy local food and wine while supporting Save The Bay's work.

This Google satellite map shows Little Narragansett Bay. The Pawcatuck River flows southwestward through Westerly, and leads to this small sheltered Bay, bordered by Napatree Point to the south, and Sandy Point and Stonington to the west. The little Bay is popular with boaters and fishers, but most of it is closed to shellfishing due to water-quality concerns. Just like in our bigger Bay, local storm drains and wastewater treatment plants discharge into the water.

As we arrive at a sampling point, Rebekah lowers the anchor to the muddy bottom. Summer cabins and year-round homes are found along the shores of the Bay, along with a few farms, some preservation land, and a few former factories that once dumped toxic wastes into the water. Most of those old buildings now are abandoned or renovated into condos and shops.

Dave and Rebekah work together to thouroughly document the state of Little Narragansett Bay. They sample about seven sites, visiting each one about twice a month. Here Dave records the temperature of a surface sample. Other tests measure dissolved oxygen, the presence of microscopic plants and animals, and more. The data will provide a baseline picture of the health of the Bay. On this August day, the water was close to 80 degrees, enough to cause some concern but not alarm. As the water grows warmer, it holds less oxygen, stressing the marine organisms who live here. 

Rebekah is typical in many ways of many of our local young environmental workers. She started out in college as a pre-law major, but was drawn to environmental advocacy work by a love of the outdoors and a belief that her work could make a difference. She is an alumnus of AmeriCorps, a program that helps to staff many of our local eco-groups with young, dedicated workers.  

The Secchi disk is dropped over the side and lowered into the water until you can no longer see the white sections. That distance is recorded to provide a measure of the water's opacity. It's natural for the estuarine water to be somewhat murky, but by keeping careful records, any changes can be noticed quickly. As more people move into the area, keeping the water quality pure is a high priority, yet the increased development adds more pollutants to the system.

Dave's title of "Coastkeeper" describes his role as the visible on-the-water presence of the STB South County Office, just as we have John Torgan as Narragansett Baykeeper in Providence. Dave works in the community to protect, restore and promote stewardship of these unique and magnificent waterways. The South County Coastkeeper is affiliated with the global Waterkeeper Alliance. 

You can help support this important work and enjoy a great dinner out on Sunday, September 28, at the Up River Cafe in Westerly. This beautiful new restaurant overlooking the Pawcatuck will host a dinner prepared by chefs from around the state. You'll get four courses paired with local wines and beers, and commentary provided by local chefs and vintners. It should be a great time, and if $100 per person seems like a lot, just consider that a nice dinner out would likely run you $50 anyway, and the rest goes to support hardworking Bay advocates, who help ensure we have clean water and shoreline access to enjoy. Click here for more details or to sign up, RSVP asap!

Many thanks to David and Rebekah for taking me along on their Bay tour. Click here to learn more about the South County STB Office.