Dear Friends,
As president of Rhode Island Mobile Sportfishermen (RIMS) I would like to thank you all for your offer to help RIMS with proposed
regulation 29.10 “no vehicles, vehicle access to state land on Quonochontaug Breachway”, (Quonnie).
The issue of vehicle access to the state land on Quonnie has been an on going fight between RIMS and Nopes Island Conservation
Association (NICA) a so called conservation group for over 40 years. Nopes Island Conservation Association has tried everything
over the years to stop vehicle access to this historically well known premier surf fishing spot. Blocking off the road with large boulders
fencing off the beach access road, funding a study at the University of Rhode Island to come out and look for endangered plants,
animal and insect life; Using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rope off access to areas that are not prime Piping Plover habitat;
Convincing a judge to sign over transfer of ownership of the “sand trail” or the road formerly known as Ninigret Ave.to Nopes Island
Conservation Association. Fortunately in the 11th hour RIMS got word of this and sent it’s lawyer to the hearing. The judge said he
was signing the transfer of ownership and that was that. Our lawyer was able to get the town to put in language that would allow for
vehicle access on the road. These are some examples of what has been going on in the past 40+ years.
Getting back to last summer proposed regulation 29.10 “No vehicles on state land”. RIMS notified other fishing clubs such as Rhode
Island Salt Water Anglers Association, Weekapaug Surf Casters, Naraganset Surf Casters and the general public to get involved
with a grass roots effort to be heard.
In the public comment phase of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) hearing, everyone
bombarded the RI DEM with phone calls, emails, numerous newspaper articles, attended public radio talk shows and heavily
attended 2 public hearings. All this was very successful and got the attention of RI DEM. RI DEM director Mike Lipisky said “Please
no more emails, we got the message loud and clear.” Then RI DEM suggested RIMS and Nopes Island Conservation Association
get together and come to an agreement. Long story short, those talks soon broke down. Our attorney notified the state and now the
state had to make the decision on 29.10. The State (meaning the public) decided it wanted to maintain its right to access its land
and let the proposed regulation die.
It cost RIMS over $14,000.00 in attorney fees to get to that point. The public won that one, but by no means is it over. Nopes Island
Conservation Association will regroup and come back with another angle of attack as they always do. This battle will never stop.
Again, thanks to all who helped and offered help.
RIMS President, Jim Milardo
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