Misquamicut Beach Survey Site is located in Westerly, RI (see map). The University of Rhode Island has been conducting surveys at Misquamicut State Beach since 1978. In the early 20th century, this mile-long stretch was known as Pleasant View, and was dotted with beach cottages and hotels. The name Pleasant View Beach was changed to Misquamicut by the U.S. Postal Service in 1929. This coastline has had a tough history — three separate hurricanes dramatically damaged the area in 1938, 1954 and 2012, destroying the private development that once stood there. Rather than rebuild all the homes and hotels, some of the land was condemned and converted into state property, giving rise to the public beach known today. While storms have reshaped the shoreline over the decades, the beach position and morphology has remained relatively stable since surveying was initiated. However, Hurricanes Sandy and winter storms in 2022-2024 have caused erosion of beaches and dunes that has created significant challenges for property owners and managers.
Hurricane Sandy & Misquamicut Beach
Hurricane Sandy left its mark on Misquamicut State Beach, eroding dunes as a result of storm surge and wave runup (see Impact of Storms to learn more). In the months that followed, sand accretion helped restore much of the lost beach, allowing Misquamicut to return close to its pre-storm shoreline position. However, the dunes visible in the October 2012 surveys (>12 feet prior to Sandy) have not returned to their previous elevations.
Explore Beach Profiles at Misquamicut Beach
Since 2022, Misquamicut State Beach has seen only a slight decline in cross-shore width. However, winter storms in 2022-2024 caused significant beach and dune erosion. About 20 feet of dune have eroded over this recent period.