Published on Tuesday, March 03, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has conserved 70 acres of land at Gull Cove in Portsmouth with $880,000 in Bouchard B120 Oil Spill settlement funding.
The property contains significant salt marsh habitat and coastal uplands along the northwestern shoreline of Gull Cove, an intertidal estuary adjacent to the Sakonnet River. DEM now manages the entire north shore of the cove, including a 16.75-acre parcel recently transferred from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). The conservation of the north shore will preserve the existing wetland and an upland coastal buffer that supports inland coastal habitat migration as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change impacts. This land provides foraging, roosting, and breeding habitat for a variety of salt-marsh dependent birds.
“Gull Cove is a true state treasure; a thriving coastal ecosystem that provides critical bird habitat while offering opportunities for shellfishing, paddling, and birdwatching,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “The conservation of this parcel provided a unique opportunity to add to the smaller DEM property already at Gull Cove, allowing for even better coastal access opportunities in Portsmouth while further enhancing the area’s wildlife habitat. Preserving this extraordinary stretch of coastline with Bouchard B-120 funds marks a significant conservation milestone and a lasting victory for the people of Rhode Island.”
In 2003, the Bouchard B-120 oil tank barge spilled 98,000 gallons of fuel oil in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The oil washed up on 100 miles of shoreline in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, affecting wildlife, shellfish beds, recreational activities and habitat. Natural resource agencies secured a settlement to restore wildlife, shoreline, and aquatic resources and lost recreational uses. Together with DEM, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EEA), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) served on the Natural Resource Trustee Council, which administered the settlement fund.
The acquisition jumpstarts efforts to restore the marshland in the Cove and enhance the surrounding uplands to facilitate marsh migration and improve marsh health. Design work for this restoration is already underway, with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The property will be managed by DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife for habitat management and outdoor recreation.
DEM’s Land Conservation Program purchases ecologically valuable land to enhance DEM’s management areas, parks, and forest lands. Funding for these acquisitions is made possible by State Open Space Bonds, with contributions from municipalities, land trusts, and from various federal programs. The program works to acquire land to add to DEM’s conservation holdings – to protect state forests and open spaces for public recreational use and habitat conservation. Rhode Island’s wealth of historic parks, bikeways, and green spaces provide for public enjoyment, along with improving the health of the environment, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting the economy. Since 1985, over 20,000 acres of land have been protected.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.
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