Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

4.1 Physical Setting4.0 Natural ResourcesThe meandering Pawcatuck River separates Westerly from Hopkinton, and North Stonington,Connecticut, to the north, and Stonington, Connecticut, to the west. Westerly’s eastern border withCharlestown is a straight line running north/south five miles or so. To the south, the town bordersthe Atlantic Ocean (Block Island Sound) for approximately eight miles between Napatree Point (thewesternmost place in Rhode Island) and the Charlestown border. The town’s size is 31.2 squaremiles.The topography rises from sea level along the beaches to the town’s highest elevation, Mt. Moriah,at 249 feet, in the northwestern corner of the town. On the west side of the town, the elevation ofdowntown Westerly rises from approximately 10 feet along the river to 150 feet near Westerly HighSchool. At the center of the town is a large wetland complex, including the Crandall Swamp andChapman Pond, which are between 30-40 feet above sea level. Woody Hill, in the east-central partof town, rises to 200 feet.4.2 Hydrology4.2.1 WatershedsBecause water is not confined to political boundaries, it is important to consider water resources andmanagement from a wider perspective, often the watershed level. The majority of Westerly’s watersupply comes from the Pawcatuck Watershed. The Salt Pond Region in the southern section ofWesterly contains three additional watersheds, one for each of the three salt ponds in Westerly. SeeFigure 4-1, Watershed Boundaries.The Pawcatuck Watershed encompasses approximately 300 square miles in southeasternConnecticut and southwestern Rhode Island. (See note.) 8 Within the watershed, seven major riversand their tributaries drain to a common outlet: the Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay.These rivers, along with lakes, ponds, wetlands and streams, serve as important wildlife habitat,recreational resources, and water supply for agricultural production. Significant groundwaterresources underlie the watershed and are the sole source of drinking water for people within thewatershed. Groundwater and surface waters are interconnected and the watershed is noted forhaving some of the highest quality groundwater and surface water in the area. 9 Several organizationsare active in the stewardship of the Pawcatuck Watershed. These include the Pawcatuck WatershedPartnership, the University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch Program, the Wood-PawcatuckWatershed Association, and the Nature Conservancy.8 NOTE: The Pawcatuck Watershed encompasses approximately 300 square miles in southeastern Connecticut and southwestern Rhode Island. Theportion of the watershed solely within Rhode Island is referred to, in Rhode Island state policy documents, as the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed.9 …Pawcatuck Watershed Partnership, 1998, The Pawcatuck Watershed Report, p. 1Westerly, Rhode Island 39