The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Fogland Marsh Kayaker-Serenity © Nat Rea

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Come see the variety of plants and animals at the Fogland Marsh Preserve. View All

Plan Your Visit

Follow our preserve guidelines and your visit will be pleasurable. View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

Salt water flows into this beautiful tidal estuary, a place where the ocean water mixes with fresh water, creating a habitat for a great wealth of life, from algae to marsh birds. Nonquit Pond and the tides of the Sakonnet River course through the property and perpetuate the water cycles. Unlike other area marshes, Fogland remains primarily in its natural state because it was not drained for mosquito control.

Location

Tiverton, in southeastern Rhode Island

Size

50 acres

Why the Conservancy Selected this Site

Fogland Marsh complements the salt marshes at the State's Seapowet Marsh Wildlife Preserve and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, both a few miles to the north. Parts of the marsh are owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

The Conservancy was given 45 acres of the marsh and 3 acres of upland in 1967 by Earl Blough and Frani Muser, and in 1993 Elsie Carreiro donated a 2-acre parcel. In 1991, Hurricane Bob altered the landscape of the beach considerably, and its high storm tides floated two cottages into the marsh. The Conservancy removed one structure by burning it down with help from the Tiverton Fire Department.

There are no actual trails through Fogland Marsh, but you can walk along the beach for a quarter of a mile. If you venture deeper into the marsh, wear old shoes, and please step delicately. For your own safety, consult the daily tidal chart before venturing too far out into the salt marsh.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants
The ebb and flow of salt water creates a delicate salinity balance upon which the salt marsh's entire ecosystem depends. Frequency and duration of tidal flooding regulates vegetation. Salt-tolerant plants such as salt marsh hay and sea lavender (no collecting please) grow in the low areas; while shrubs such as marsh elder grade into the upland borders. Seaside goldenrod, beach pea, sea lavender and dune grass find their home on the narrow dune.

What to See: Animals

• Birds: An abundance of herons and egrets stalk the flats and creeks, and the northern harrier frequently forages here.
• Aquatic animals: The preserve is an extremely fragile nursery ground for fin- and shellfish. Alewives travel each year up Almy Brook to spawn above the dam at Nonquit Pond. Striped mummichogs, silversides and other minnows live in the marsh creeks throughout the year, while bluefish, flounder and scup feed in the waters adjacent to the marsh during summer months. In the spring, the three-spined stickleback lures mates with its bright red belly.

Plan Your Visit

We hope you enjoy visiting our preserves in any season. We ask that you please observe the following guidelines:

• Stay on the walking trails, using marked trails wherever they exist.
• Respect preserve open hours (one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset). Overnight camping is not allowed.
• Do not ride horses, bikes or any motorized vehicle through preserves or on the trails.
• Do not disturb bird nesting areas. Between April 15 and September 1, nesting areas may be off-limits to visitors. People or dogs can easily destroy a nest with one misstep.
• Leave your pets at home, for the safety of the fragile ecology of preserves and as a courtesy to other visitors.
• Contact our office in Providence to visit those preserves that have restricted public access because of their very sensitive flora and fauna. These places deserve special respect and are best visited only on guided field trips.
• Do not remove any living materials from a preserve or disturb any vegetation.
• Remove any trash you create and, if possible, any garbage that you see left by someone else.
• When visiting Block Island or Prudence Island in the spring, summer and fall, dress in long pants and socks to avoid deer ticks. After any walk on a preserve, it is a good idea to check for ticks when you return home.
• Be careful! Your safety is your responsibility.

Thank you for your help.
Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Directions

• From 195 east, take Route 24 south in Fall River.
• Exit at Tiverton/Little Compton, and at the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto Route 77 south.
• Travel approximately 1.5 miles beyond Tiverton Four Corners (a traffic light and stores) and turn right on Pond Bridge Road.
• Follow Pond Bridge to its end and turn left on Puncatest Neck Road.
• Follow to Fogland Road. Turn left at the end of Fogland Road onto High Hill Road (which becomes Shore Road).
• Continue to the end of High Hill, and you will see the entrance to Fogland Marsh.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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