Attorney General Neronha sues Quidnessett Country Club for construction of illegal seawall

Attorney General Neronha sues Quidnessett Country Club for construction of illegal seawall

Published on Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced his office has filed a lawsuit against Quidnessett Country Club for constructing an unpermitted seawall in violation of state law, and defying state regulators by refusing to remove the seawall and restore the coastline to its prior condition. The complaint follows numerous unsuccessful administrative attempts by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) since 2023 to remedy this illegal construction.

The complaint, filed in Providence County Superior Court, alleges that Quidnessett Country Club, in constructing the seawall:

• violated the Environmental Rights Act by polluting, impairing, or destroying the State's "water, land, and other natural resources" and failed to comply with multiple promulgated environmental quality standards;
• impaired the public trust natural resources of the State, which include lands below the high-water mark, including the public's right of way and access to the tidal areas; and
• trespassed, and continues to trespass, on tidal lands to which the State holds the title.

The Attorney General is seeking (1) the removal of the illegal seawall and (2) the restoration and stabilization of the site and coastline affected.

"Quidnessett County Club has engaged in actions that not only erode our shorelines, but also erode the rule of law," said Attorney General Neronha. "Companies prioritizing profits over the public good is nothing new, and unfortunately, Rhode Island has seen its fair share of business decisions being made at the expense of our natural resources. When some actors violate environmental law, as we allege here and elsewhere, they harm delicate ecosystems, disrupt habitats, and ultimately jeopardize the health and existence one of Rhode Island's most cherished and protected resources. Rhode Islanders rely on access to our shoreline, and we will fight to ensure that Quidnessett Country Club removes its illegal seawall once and for all.

"In 2022, my Office successfully stopped an attempt by Champlin's Marina to unlawfully expand its footprint into Block Island's Great Salt Pond and circumvent the public regulatory process in doing so. Today, this Office is once again taking action to protect our environment and the interests of Rhode Islanders. This saga has gone on far too long, and this Office will not stand idle while our coastline falls prey to whims of actors who pick and choose which regulations they want to abide by, and which they choose to ignore. It should go without saying, but adherence to the law is not optional. And companies that believe they are above the law should not be surprised to find out that they are not."

Background

Quidnessett Country Club sits on the Narragansett Bay on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. The bay provides spawning ground, nursery, and habitat for more than 60 species of fish and shellfish, more than 200 bird species, and many marine mammals. Given the importance of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island and beyond, careful management and conservation policies-and compliance with those measures-is essential to protect the bay, wildlife, adjacent and surrounding properties, and the environment generally.

As alleged in the complaint, on or about August 18, 2023, CRMC staff conducted an inspection of the Quidnessett Country Club's property in response to a complaint it received about the construction and installation of an unauthorized seawall located along the 14th hole of the Club's golf course. Upon inspection, CRMC staff discovered that a seawall had indeed been wrongfully constructed along the bay shore, that vegetation had been destroyed and cut along the shore, and that tidal waters had been filled with stone and fill material. Shortly thereafter, CRMC issued multiple Notices of Administrative Fine and a Cease and Desist Order against the Club for these violations.

As further alleged, between October 2023 and May 2024, CRMC and Quidnessett Country Club engaged in ongoing correspondence about potential resolutions, but were ultimately unsuccessful in reaching an agreement. During this time period, Quidnessett Country Club petitioned CRMC to retroactively re-classify the abutting waters from Type 1 conservation waters, which require stringent protection and would prohibit such a wall from being built, to Type 2 waters, a less stringent water classification that would still require any proposed use to be approved by CRMC. The CRMC denied the club's reclassification request in January 2025.

As alleged, on or about June 10, 2025, CRMC conducted an enforcement hearing and ordered Quidnessett Country Club to: (1) remove all unauthorized riprap and fill within 60 days; (2) submit a complete, acceptable restoration plan within 30 days; and (3) restore the site in conformance with the approved restoration plan within 90 days. Quidnessett has since challenged CRMC's decisions and enforcement order in three pending Rhode Island Superior Court matters. To this day, the illegal seawall remains.

Special Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Vaz, Chief of the Energy and Environmental Unit, and Special Assistant Attorneys General Richard Gemma and Michael Collins are handling the matter on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.

Environmental Enforcement

Enforcement of Rhode Island's environmental protection laws has always been a top priority for Attorney General Neronha. Today's lawsuit follows a similar, earlier action by the Office which stopped an unlawful Block Island marina expansion, as well as other environmental efforts, including: protecting Providence's Mashapaug Watershed from stormwater runoff; taking on PFAS manufacturers; defending South Providence residents from Rhode Island Recycled Metals mismanagement; suing the City of Woonsocket to stop sewer discharge from entering the Blackstone River; imposing the largest penalty ever assessed for violations of the Clean Air Act; reaching settlements worth nearly $20 million with major gas companies for chemical contamination; and, most recently, announcing an $11 million settlement with Barletta Heavy Construction for dumping contaminated fill in violation of state environmental laws, among others.

Additionally, alongside attorneys general across the country, Attorney General Neronha has sued the Trump Administration to protect wind energy, including Revolution Wind, solar energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and energy and related infrastructure funding, among other actions.

For more information on the Office's environmental advocacy work, please visit our website.

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