Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Existing Conditions | Page 143

10 Natural Resources
Newport’s natural resources are inextricably tied to the natural beauty and sustenance of
Aquidneck Island and Narragansett Bay. Narragansett Bay is often noted as Rhode Island’s
greatest natural resource, as it has provided a way of life for generations of Newporters. The City
of Newport is also noted as one of Rhode Island’s foremost tourist attractions. Therefore,
protection of the city’s natural resources and Narragansett Bay is of paramount ecological and
economic importance.
However, Newport’s natural resources are not limited to its extraordinary coastline, and its
harbor. In light of the city’s unique role in the state’s economy, it is both prudent and necessary
to take a more holistic approach to the protection, assessment and enhancement of Newport’s
natural resources. This broader view includes the city’s inventory, assessment of the city’s
mature trees, and protection of Newport’s of iconic views. This chapter hopes to not just catalog
and map Newport’s natural assets, but to articulate the role these must play in the future health
of the city.

10.1 Existing Conditions
Location

Aquidneck Island is located in the ‘Seaboard Lowland’ or ‘Coastal Lowland’ in the south and
eastern portion Rhode Island. (Lemons, J. Stanley. "Rhode Island." The New Book of Knowledge. Grolier
Online, 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.)

Situated on the southern end of Aquidneck Island, Newport is bordered by Narragansett Bay on
the west, Easton Bay on the east and Rhode Island Sound on the south. Middletown borders
Newport to the northeast, forming the immediate land connection to the rest of Aquidneck
Island. The city’s location along the southern New England coast moderates extreme summer
heat, as well as winter temperatures, however its location also exposes the city to almost
constant wind and at times, severe coastal storms. The region enjoys four distinct seasons, with
generally pleasant temperatures and conditions from mid-April through mid-November.

Geology & Topography

Geologically, Newport’s rocky terrain resulted from a glacier that once covered the land. As the
ice sheet melted, vast amounts of sand and gravel were deposited. Much of the Seaboard
Lowland is now under Narragansett Bay. (Lemons, J. Stanley. "Rhode Island." The New Book of
Knowledge. Grolier Online, 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2016.) Newport’s bedrock is a base consisting of
shale, sandstone and conglomerate rock. Some outcroppings along the shore (particularly along
Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive) have geological, historical, ecological, and scenic significance.
In general, Newport’s topography consists of moderate sloped hills extending downward east
and west from a central “spine.” Elevations range from sea level to a high point of
approximately 160 feet in the city’s northern portion. Southerly sections of the city are
relatively flat open coastal plains, interspersed with a variety of bedrock outcrops, salt and
freshwater ponds and coastal escarpments. Newport’s geology, combined with the rise in sea
level following the retreat of glaciers 10,000 years ago, created deep water harbors, directly
accessible to the Atlantic Ocean. These natural conditions have played a significant part in
Newport’s development.

Draft Existing Conditions (March 2016)

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