Our Places and Spaces: Providence Waterways
Historical ecology has always grabbed my attention by combining two of my favorite topics – history (the people, the places, the events) and ecology (the flora and fauna and their interaction with people and the physical surroundings). Understanding the history of a place is critical to its preservation or restoration. How do people use the place? Who (or what) lives there? What are the uses of the place going forward? These are important questions that may have complex answers. We are creating a series, “Places and Spaces of the Narragansett Bay Region,” to highlight environmental change at specific locations, and how our knowledge of the history of that place is important to understanding how to preserve and restore ecosystem functions.
Without further ado… our first installment of “Places and Spaces”:
Providence.
A city steeped in history. The land and waterways upon which the city was built have a fascinating history of their own. Doors Open RI is a local organization devoted to creating communities by opening doors to new learning and relationships. They host tours and events geared towards giving everyone a backstage pass to RI. As they say, “Behind every door is a story.” They are now telling the story of the Providence from its waterways. Here is one of my favorite stories from the map.
The area we know as WaterPlace Park was originally the Great Salt Cove.
The Great Salt Cove was a gathering place for those that lived and worked in the region long before it was known as Providence. Lobsters, quahogs, oysters, and salmon were all found in the waters. Roads converged here, bringing multiple tribes together for play and commerce. These roads were later adopted by the Europeans, giving us Routes 1, 6, and 44. So much changed, yet remains the same. The changes in the landscape of Great Salt Cove are detailed in Providence’s Waterways. The filling of the wetlands and the expanding of the shoreline fundamentally changed the way water flows through the area, and what fish and plants are found there. As a society, when we think about renewing and restoring this space, we must also think about the functions the space has now, and what new functions we want. Will we be able to return the shoreline to what it was two hundred years ago? Doubtful. But we can make sure that the space allows for increased fish passage, sediment flow, improved water quality for fish and shellfish production, and opportunities for recreation and public use.
Go explore Providence’s Waterways!
Written By: Courtney Schmidt, Staff Scientist, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program