Keep Colt State Park’s Shore Open and Natural
At Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island, the shoreline offers a view across Narragansett Bay. People come to walk, picnic, fish, and watch the water. The park is also a place where the land and bay meet: rain runs downhill toward the shore, waves touch the banks, and birds use the coastal landscape. That meeting place deserves more than a beautiful view. It deserves careful protection.
Rhode Island should protect Colt State Park’s shoreline by limiting new construction near the water, improving paths that are wearing away, and managing rainwater before it reaches the bay. These steps cost money and require planning, but they safeguard a public place that serves both people and wildlife. Waiting until erosion or flooding damages it badly is likely to make the work harder and more expensive.
The first reason to act is that a shoreline is not a fixed line. Wind and waves can move soil, while heavy rain can wash it downhill. Sea level rise adds to the pressure by allowing high water and storm surges to reach farther inland. A path that seems safely above the water today may become more vulnerable over time. If officials build permanent structures too close to the edge, the community may eventually face a choice between paying to defend them and losing them.
- erosion:
- The wearing away and movement of soil or rock by water, wind, or other forces.
- vulnerable:
- Likely to be harmed or damaged.
- permanent:
- Intended to last rather than be moved or removed soon.
- runoff:
- Water that flows over the ground instead of soaking into it.
- aquatic:
- Living or occurring in water.
- vegetation:
- Plants growing in an area.
- accessible:
- Designed so that people with different abilities can use it.
- conservation:
- The protection and careful management of natural places and resources.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the author's main claim about protecting Colt State Park’s shoreline?
- 2How does the comparison between a path and a large building support limiting construction near the water?
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About this opinion piece passage for Middle School
“Keep Colt State Park’s Shore Open and Natural” is a opinion piece reading passage about Coastal conservation, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (871 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.