Moonstone Beach

The Moonstone Beach Survey Site is located within Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown, Rhode Island (see map).  Moonstone gets it name from the moon-like quartz cobbles that can be found on the beach (see photo at left).   Moonstone Beach is one of the most eroding sites over the last 60+ years.  Note in the graph below how the beach face (<6 ft elevation) has moved over 100 feet landward since surveying began in 1963!  Also, you can see how the dune (>8 ft) has been dramatically eroded over time.