F i s h e r m a n ’ s M e m o r i a l C a m p g r o u n d

C o a s t a l D e s i g n : A n A r t f u l E c o l o g i c a l M o d e l

B e n j a m i n M o r t o n

Image Credit : Michael

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Opposite: Phragmites! This invasive species is

a dominant player within the coastal buffer at

the site. While it projects a certain beauty, even

more so as it forms dominant monocultures,

it is really a symbol of the follies of human

intervention in the larger processes of the natural

world. Nevertheless, and no matter our deepest

wishes, humanity will continue to impact the

nature with which we are one. Phragmites and

other scourges of human interference should

be rectified, but we must not lose our humanity

by ignoring opportunities to shape the land for

our progeny.

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t sThe author would like to thank: the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for its substantial

support throughout this project, the College of Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island,

Professor Richard Sheridan for his guidance, creativity and unique motivational powers, and finally his classmates,

for their work on the site analysis, permission to share photographs, and camaraderie throughout production and

critiques.

Project Description Site Location / Aerial View

Concept StatementThoughts on Tourism + Humanity and Ecology

Analysis / Sea Level Rise / Concept + / Storm Surge / ConceptRelated Images

Analysis / Wetlands and Hydric Soils / ConceptWetlands and Hydric Soils / On the Site

Analysis / Tourism / Carbon FootprintThoughts on Development and Habitat

LID / Best Practices Reality / On the Site

Master Planning / Total SiteMaster Planning / Expansion Area

Art, Beauty, Ecology / Human NatureWetland Boardwalk

Art, Beauty, Ecology / Human NatureThe Turret Walk

P h o t o C r e d i t sImages marked with a * are all rights reserved by the person credited. Images marked with a W are some

rights reserved under versions of the Creative Commons and are found at commons.wikimedia.org, with specific

attribution, sharing and remixing requirements noted. Any images without a credit were created by the author

of this document and are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United

States License (See Back Cover).

On the Cover: Human artifice and ecological

restoration merge in a profound reference to

both the natural and human. An extant, WWII

bunker, located on the site will be transformed

into a lookout post that is, itself, something to

behold. The surrounding areas, much of which

are currently paved or otherwise cleared, will be

restored with native, coastal buffer vegetation.

Here human needs are second to ecological

function, but human desires remain realized.

P r o j e c t D e s c r i p t i o nThe project resulting in this document involved the planning of an expansion to, and possible

redevelopment of, the Fisherman’s Memorial Campground operated by the Rhode Island

Department of Environmental Management, located in the Town of Narragansett. It could have

been a simple plan of new RV pad sites with inconsequential greening. Instead, the project has

become an opportunity to dispense with ‘development’ that results from the trendlines of the

status quo and to engage the potentials and challenges of the future that result from the nexus

of Climate Change and Peak Oil. Thus a new vision has been crafted that incorporates Low

Impact Design (LID) methods, transcends the current desire to maximize RV sites, and adds

humanistic beauty, all while adding value to this state asset.

The site includes an existing campground and an 8.5 acre area, known as Salty Acres, which

has been proposed as a site for new campground development and which was cleared of most

vegetation by RIDEM this past winter.

My colleagues and I toured the site numerous times, ultimately seeking to understand its true

nature. We investigated sea level rise, soil conditions, history of the site, extant vegetation

and many other factors. The Rhode Island Coast Resources Management Council (CRMC),

which has jurisdiction over coastal features and the freshwater wetlands on the site provided

information about best practices in developing coastal zones and familiarized participants with

relevant regulations.

The project began with the simple mission to develop plans for an expansion area and for

future redevelopment of the existing campground. With this document, the project has

morphed into something greater. Here, the Fisherman’s Memorial Campground will be

used to illustrate contemporary sustainability issues, LID principles, and a new call for

an artistic and awe-inspiring human imprint upon our habitat and, even more so, upon

our ecological restoration efforts. The plan will be shown as a model to be emulated in a

variety of coastal settings that must be confronted the near future.

S i t e L o c a t i o n / A e r i a l V i e wThe project site is located in the Town of Narragansett in southern Rhode Island. The map at left

shows the location of the campground within the statewide context. The aerial photograph below,

provided by Google Maps, shows the site itself and surrounding neighborhoods and habitat. The

Fisherman’s Memorial Campground and the Salty Acres Parcel are demarcated by the region of

brighter color.

Opposite (top to bottom): View of cleared Salty

Acres Parcel, another view of cleared Salty

Acres Parcel, View of Existing Campground

near salt pond as view from the extant bunker.

New RV spaces are in great demand, however this site does not provide any opportunity

to develop such spaces in either a financially or ecologically sound manner. Sea level

rise will undermine the infrastructure required to support RV sites.

Ecological best practices form the backbone of this chronologically dynamic proposal

with the human experience accentuated through a unique ‘back to the wilderness’

approach to camping.

Opportunities to be in contact with pristine coastline and uplands are rare, especially

for those without waterfront property. Therefore a restored campground will provide

a unique attraction.

Based on these concepts the model for tourist attraction to the site must be

rehabilitated. In addition the site itself must be restored to a more perfect vision of

its ecological roots. Human use of the site should be maintained, but the impact that

such users make upon the planet will be drastically reduced and their experience of

the site will be altered.

Left: Beauty found at the mud flat edge.

C o n c e p t S t a t e m e n t

T h o u g h t s o n To u r i s m

D e v e l o p m e n t a n d H a b i t a t

The tourist economy is quite important to the State of Rhode Island. This site is part of a strategy to gain greater direct income for the state from this engine. Currently

this tourism consists primarily of families in RVs. While the state has an understandable interest, based on past experience, in increasing the number of spaces available

for such vehicles, this strategy will run into a number of constraints in the near future. First, the increasing cost of fuel makes driving RVs long distances impractical. In

fact, in response to fuel cost concerns, the Winnebago company has seen significant declines in its stock value in the last few months as sales have declined dramatically.

Second, coming regulation of carbon footprints and emissions will lead the state to focus on developing carbon neutral industries. The tourist industry is inherently energy

intensive when it relies upon people living far from the point of recreation. Thus there is a priority in developing alternatives to high impact modes of tourism, of which the

RV must be the poster child. In contrast, the tent and the cottage, nestled into a coastal wilderness rarely witnessed by those other than the superrich, are natural forms

of Low Impact Development. They can easily capture the low fees now asked of RV owners.

While proximity to a tourist attraction, in this case Galilee, is enough to justify a high-intensity tourist destination, the creation of a low impact program for a site such as

Fisherman’s Memorial Campground will become its own draw. By combining a low impact aesthetic with a reputation of ecological restoration and respect the campground

will gain an invaluable attraction: uniqueness.

While beyond the scope of this publication, the author would be remiss without mentioning the role of State Parks and questioning their use as a revenue stream for larger

state purposes. State Parks are meant to provide residents with access to open space and natural areas. In Rhode Island there are no admittance fees to parks or beaches

(although beaches do charge a parking fee). Campgrounds do charge fees to those who stay overnight. When these fees are used to recover the costs of maintaining

such an environment they are quite justified. When these fees are envisioned as part of the solution to the State’s budget crises, the public trust is being violated.

The history of a site is always important, especially when determining what level of ecological restoration juxtaposed with new types of human use are appropriate. In the

case of this site, it had already been extensively developed, first as a military base and then as a campground subservient to the needs of campers and RVs. A helpful

reference in determining an appropriate response is the Smartcode, developed by DPZ Inc. This method of ‘Zoning’ is based upon a transect system from the Rural

Preserve to the Urban Center.

At Fisherman’s Memorial Campground, nature has already been significantly altered by humans. However the site is not directly adjacent to any village/town/city center

that would suggest its evolution into a more urbanized and human dominated landscape. Its location adjacent to sensitive land and marine ecosystems suggests that the

site should undergo a significant level of ecological restoration. Given the discussion of tourism and subsequent investigation it is clear that the intensity of human use

of the site should be reduced while nature is allowed to heal old wounds.

A n a l y s i s / S e a L e v e l R i s e / C o n c e p tSea level rise is no longer a theoretical phenomenon or threat; it is real and

measurable. The height of the Narragansett Bay has risen by over 14” since the

1930s. Recent reports in the media have highlighted the potential for sea level

rise, documented in IPCC reports. The Rhode Island CRMC has now included

3’-5’ sea level rise in its basic planning documents and will be utilizing these

figures as they revisit plans around the state.

The images along the top of this page show 3D models of the Fisherman’s

Memorial Campground site with current sea level, 5’ sea level rise, and 20’ sea

level rise.

Recent media reports clarify that 3’ of sea level rise will be the result of ocean

expansion due to increased temperatures. In other words, this rise does not

consider the profound impacts of melting glaciers, the Greenland Ice Cap, or

Antarctica. The results of those studies was suppressed in the most recent

IPCC report by the Executive Branch of the United States Government.

In the April 7, 2008 issue of The Guardian, Dr. James Hansen, head of the

Goddard Institute for Space Studies, called for a sharp reduction in atmospheric

CO2 concentration targets. He suggested that levels well below those set by

the European Union would still result in sea level rise of over 250’. Such an

enormous rise truly suggests the urgency of breaking with past trends to develop

a sustainable future that does not require the abandonment of our traditional

settlements.

A n a l y s i s / S t o r m S u r g e / C o n c e p tConcern about storm surge follows that of sea level rise. Little consensus has

been reached about the potential for climate change to increase or diminish

Atlantic hurricanes. The bottom row of diagrams illustrate current 100 year

storm surges atop future potential sea levels.

Current Sea Level

Current Sea Level / Storm Surge

5’ Rise

5’ Rise / Storm Surge

20’ Rise

20’ Rise / Storm Surge

A n a l y s i s / W e t l a n d s a n d H y d r i c S o i l s / C o n c e p tWetlands provide important stormwater management in natural ecosystems, delaying water movement, reducing erosion downstream

and improving water quality by impeding sediment and nutrient flows. Wetlands naturally occur within watersheds in areas featuring

minimal slopes and soils that do not efficiently infiltrate water or otherwise become easily saturated. These areas are currently

protected by setback requirements for any alterations or development. Below is an example of a rehabilitated wetland.

Hydric soil conditions often surround or otherwise accompany wetland areas. While they are not as wet, the watertable is near the

surface for much of the year. The result is that these soils do not support construction of buildings or pavement systems expected

to carry heavy loads, an example of which would be RVs.

Photo Credit : Lloyd rozW

W e t l a n d s a n d H y d r i c S o i l s / O n t h e S i t eMajor systems of wetlands and hydric soils traverse the site. Some of these were

recently cleared of all vegetation as shown in the photo to the left. Others are in better

condition. In such close proximity to the coast, these habitats are the linchpins in

a natural system that filters out human introduced toxins such as fertilizers, sewage

waste, and excess sediment that harm coastal and marine life. Below is a map noting

the location of wetlands and hydric soils, both in the darker blue and, for reference, in

green the 200’ coastal buffer setback. Due to the sea level rise, shown on the previous

pages, the coastal buffer will be moving inland, and the wetland and hydric soil areas

can be expected to expand.

Photo Credit : Michael Viola*

L I D / B e s t P r a c t i c e sThis is a design methodology that seeks to minimize the the negative impacts

of human activities upon ecological systems, often by mimicking ecological

functions or by modifying conventional materials so that typical impacts are

minimized in expanse and severity. This includes the restoration of coastal

buffers to function as habitat and shoreline protection systems, the use of

bioswales to slowly purify and infiltrate stormwater runoff instead of using

expensive and harmful pipe systems, and the installation of low cost, low

inherent energy, pervious paving systems such as crushed gravel.

Photo Credit : Immanuel GielW

Below is an example of permeable pavement. Other affordable options include

gravel based systems. Left Above is recovering buffer area where plant life is

reclaiming a roadbed. Right Below is a heavily vegetated bioswale.

R e a l i t y / O n t h e S i t e

Photo Credit : Michael Viola*

Current site conditions on the Salty Acres

expansion parcel, and the larger Fisherman’

Memorial Campground, are inferior to the

best practices of Low Impact Development,

presenting an opportunity to develop a model

to educate to the larger community.

Left Top is a cleared coastal buffer and wetland

setback area.

Left Bottom is an area of extensive pavement.

Bottom Middle is a view of a typical camper

area showing the vast lawn and pavement.

Bottom Right shows a typical stormwater drain ,

promoting erosion and poor water quality.

M a s t e r P l a n n i n g / To t a l S i t e

0’ 150’ 300’ 600’

SCALE 1” = 300’-0”

This master plan is intended to provide a radical departure from the status quo

to illuminate new options. It includes the ultimate conversion of all existing RV

and camper spaces to new Cottage units, reducing energy consumption and

opening opportunities for those who cannot afford luxurious RVs. A Park and

Camp minimizes chronic vehicular circulation and removes vehicles from areas

that are rightfully dominated by nature or children. The upland core will include

an improved Farmer’s Market providing an amenity to neighbors as well as

those planning to prepare a campfire outside of a tent or cottage. The extant

wetlands and a substantial coastal buffer will both be restored, thus giving

structure to the larger site. Finally the existing, western bunker will become a

unique symbol of the campground.

M a s t e r P l a n n i n g / E x p a n s i o n A r e a

5’ Sea Level Rise Impact on the Expansion Area

20’ Sea Level Rise Impact on the Expansion Area Current Sea Level Proposal

0’ 100 200’ 400’

SCALE 1” = 200’-0”

0’ 100 200’ 400’

SCALE 1” = 200’-0”

0’ 100 200’ 400’

SCALE 1” = 200’-0”

The Salty Acres Parcel initially prompted this study. It is the least suitable portion of the

Fisherman’s Memorial Campground for new development, particularly the development of

RV spaces. In addition to wetland constraints, this portion of the site is quite vulnerable

to storm surges and future sea level rise. On this page, a series of plans emerge that

document such sea level rise and the changes that will be required in this area. By minimizing

infrastructure investment and habitat disruption, this area can be abandoned in the future

without great loss to the state and without hardship to the larger ecosystem.

The merger of human and natural

elements in a synergistic and

transformative manner is displayed in

the wetland traverse shown opposite.

This boardwalk is to be installed in

accordance with LID practices; that is,

it will traverse a wetland that is currently

in severe need of rehabilitation so

disruption due to construction will be

minimal.

What is most important though, is

the impact of this pathway on the

sequence of spaces developed in the

Master Plan. This space is evocative

of the experience that lies between the

upland, cottage, and more urban site

and the secluded coastal buffer to be

found in its natural glory.

This wetland cuts the site in two and its

magnitude should not be diminished.

Alternatively this plan reveals a past

human presence while allowing both

the beauty and the function of the

ecosystem to become whole again. The

ecological and the eventful will speak

to their respective audiences.

A r t , B e a u t y , E c o l o g y / H u m a n N a t u r e

How can the human and the natural be intertwined? While many recent approaches to ecological

restoration view as the ultimate goal the expunction of human impacts, values, and uses, an alternative

must be explored. As described earlier in this document, decisions as to the nature of ecological

restoration relative to past and future human uses are paramount in forging a relevant strategy for

human intervention.

In this case the site has been previously disturbed and developed, quite intensively. The ecological

importance of the site is such that real efforts towards remediation are beyond reproach. Future

trends suggest that responsible human use of the site will be of a lesser intensity than at present.

These conditions present a rare nexus of potential ecological restoration combining with the sublime

artifice of humanity that dazzles and delights. In such a restored arena the only interventions one

should make will carry that sublime quality. Designers should not shy away from such opportunities

but must resist impulses for cavalier and egotistical proposals.

Offered here are two intersections of Art, Beauty, Ecology or as it could alternately be termed, Human

Nature. On the opposite page, a boardwalk through impenetrable restored wetland. On the following

pages, a Turret Walk that provides views and is itself something to behold.

A r t , B e a u t y , E c o l o g y / H u m a n N a t u r e

The Turret Walk is an exemplar of the design referenced throughout

this text. It provides a meaningful experience for visitors while

nestling, without new disturbance, amongst nature’s rehabilitation.

Rather than being an arbitrary feature of a designer’s imagination,

this intervention on the rehabilitating landscape utilizes the historical

landforms, created by people with no knowledge of this ultimate

state. The allee along the bunker points to its human roots while

the surroundings remind visitors of the overwhelming power of the

nature that surrounds us. As sea levels rise, this bunker will be one

of the last portions of lower site to recede beneath the tides. With

minor improvements to boardwalks access can be maintained well

into the future. As the site recedes, the Turret Walk will become a

memorial to ideals that we can scarcely recognize in the present; a

remembrance of a time being eroded and sunken.

This work is l icensed under the Creative Commons Attr ibution-Noncommercial-Share Al ike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this l icense, visit http://creativecommons.org/l icenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, Cali fornia, 94105, USA.

This document presents a model, a warning and a really cool opportunity.