“Rhode Island considers 'managed retreat' as sea levels rise | Opinion“

Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Terri CortvriendGuest columnists

April 18, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ET

In 2023, our state took a big step to enshrine Rhode Islanders’ right to the shoreline: up to 10 feet above the last high tide line. But what happens as the sea level rise pushes the high tide line up to homeowners' and businesses’ sea walls?

Our beaches and shoreline are fragile ecosystems that naturally migrate upland as the sea levels rise. But as homeowners and businesses increasingly put up rock walls and fortify their property, the beach has nowhere to go. When that sandy beach disappears, there goes one of our greatest natural assets, and the tourism economy on which Rhode Island’s economy relies erodes along with it….