Repairs Begin At RI’s Charlestown Breachway

Charlestown Breachway photo courtesy CharlestownRI.Gov

This Charlestown Breachway map shows the warning areas for boaters.

Repairs have begun on Rhode Island’s troubled Charlestown Breachway.

Work recently started on the breachway to improve safe navigation, stabilize the coastline, and preserve water flow. The project is expected to be completed by April 2026, ahead of the camping and beach seasons.

Last year, Rhode Island officials warned boaters to use extra caution when navigating the Charlestown Breachway or avoid it completely.

Due to years of storm damage—most recently a succession of strong winter storms in 2023—one of the breachways rock walls had deteriorated, allowing water to pull sand in front of the breachway and into the channel.

The sediment buildup raised the channel’s floor, leaving it just two to three feet deep at low tide and making it difficult for boaters to avoid getting beached or hitting rocks.

The deterioration of the Charlestown Breachway has been a significant problem for boaters. The breachway leads to Ninigret Pond, which is home to the Charlestown Breachway boat ramp and three marinas: Ocean House Marina, Shelter Cove Marina, and Ninigret Landing.

State officials said the repair project will add granite boulders to raise the western wall, while dredging in Ninigret pond will remove storm-deposited sand to rebuild the beach and dunes.

Learn more and find updates on the Charlestown Breachway project.