The Watch Hill Conservancy membership drive is now underway. You can join or renew your membership online by clicking on the Join or Donate Button in the upper right corner of this screen. Continue Reading
The Watch Hill Conservancy's mission is to conserve, enhance, and maintain the natural, scenic, and historic values of Watch Hill and Little Narragansett Bay.
Stay Informed
Dr. Peter W. C. Paton was awarded the RI Natural History Survey’s highest honor, the 2023 Distinguished Naturalist Award (DNA). Dr. Paton, an avian ecologist and Chairman of the Department of Natural Resources Science at URI, has served as a Napatree Point Conservation Area Science Advisor for over a decade. The DNA celebrates exceptional achievement in scholarship, mentoring, and service in the advancement of the conservation of biodiversity. Congratulations Peter! We are grateful for all you do for the Conservancy to protect the wildlife on Napatree. Photo: Dr. Peter W.C. Paton (L) with Dr. Marc Parlange, URI President (R). Continue Reading
Recent Initiatives
Bay Street Improvement
The Conservancy undertook a major project to remove the 73 unsightly utility poles located in and around the Village of Watch Hill, along the loop of Bay Street, Fort Road, Larkin Road, Bluff Avenue and Plimpton Road. This ambitious endeavor included burying electrical lines, water lines, storm drainage and relocating the electrical transformers.
Planning for Resilience
Watch Hill, by nature of its low elevation and proximity to the sea, is extremely vulnerable to inundation from sea level rise and storm surge. Nuisance tides now flood many streets in the community and access to some local destinations such as the Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Beach Cabanas is already difficult. Conditions will only get worse as sea levels rise.
Informing Community
A common theme that ripples through many of The Watch Hill Conservancy’s programs is informing our community. Young, old, residents, or visitors, we strive to make our community better aware of environmental, social, technical, political, and literary issues. We do this in many ways.