Charlestown Beach Survey Site - Located in Charlestown, RI (see map), the town beach has been monitored by the University of Rhode Island since 1975. Historically, the beach was used by the Niantic and Narragansett indigenous peoples for fishing and shellfishing. Today, the beach is primarily used by residents and visitors along with Charlestown Breachway State Beach which lies further to the west.
Since the beginning of the survey period, the beach has changed in overall shape over time but little net loss of beach area has occurred. It experienced significant elevation loss in its upper portions following Hurricane Sandy, taking nearly a decade to fully rebound. Since 2022, there has been some further elevation loss across the whole beach, though conditions have remained mostly consistent.
Hurricane Sandy & Charlestown Beach
Explore Beach Profiles at Charlestown Beach