View source for Point Judith Pond

{{Short description|Pond in Rhode Island, U.S.}}
{{more citations|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox lake
 | name = Point Judith Pond
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 | location = [[Washington County, Rhode Island|Washington County]],<br>[[Rhode Island]], [[United States]]
 | coordinates = {{coord|41.3998243|-71.5064463|region:US-RI|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 | type = 
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 | basin_countries = United States
 | length = {{convert|4|mi|abbr=on}}
 | width = {{convert|1|mi|abbr=on}}
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 | pushpin_map = Rhode Island
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}}
'''Point Judith Pond''' is a shallow, four-mile (6&nbsp;km)-long salt body of water lying behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that form [[Point Judith]] Harbor, which lies immediately west of Point Judith in [[Narragansett, Rhode Island]] at the southwestern tip of [[Narragansett Bay]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1996-01-23 |title=Oil spill threatens R.I.'s sea nursery |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-oil-spill-threatens-ri/140890481/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |work=The Boston Globe |pages=21}}</ref> Located about {{convert|14|mi|km}} southwest of [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport Harbor]], Point Judith Pond forms a partial border between the communities of Narragansett and [[South Kingstown, Rhode Island|South Kingstown]], and is connected to Point Judith Harbor by a narrow waterway that cuts through the beaches and sandy shoreline. This waterway is used by a large fishing fleet and local and transient recreational craft. The harbor handles a large amount of passenger traffic, primarily during the summer. Year-round ferry service is available between Point Judith and [[Block Island]].

Original work in Point Judith Harbor dates back to 1905. Work in the present project, completed in 1950 (except where noted), consists of:

*A {{convert|6970|ft|m|adj=on}}-long main stone [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] in Point Judith Harbor, situated about {{convert|0.5|mi|km|adj=on}} from shore. This breakwater, constructed roughly in a "V" shape, and the two others mentioned below were built in 1914.
*A {{convert|2240|ft|m|adj=on}}-long stone breakwater extending southwesterly from Point Judith. Between the breakwaters there is a gap of about {{convert|1200|ft|m}}, which allows boating craft to enter the harbor.
*A {{convert|3640|ft|m|adj=on}}-long stone breakwater extending southerly from the entrance to Point Judith Pond. Between this breakwater and the main breakwater there is a gap of about {{convert|1500|ft|m}}.
*A {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}}-deep channel, {{convert|150|ft|m}} wide, that runs along the east side of the west breakwater and extends past the entrance to Point Judith Pond and the state-built jetties at the ''Port of Galilee''. The channel ends on the west side of the pond at a point {{convert|100|ft|m}} north of the State Pier in Jerusalem.
*A {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}}-deep channel, {{convert|200|ft|m}} wide, that branches off from the aforementioned channel at a point past the state built jetties and extends up the east side of Point Judith Pond. When originally constructed in 1950, the channel ended about {{convert|100|ft|m}} north of the State Pier in Galilee. In 1977, the channel was lengthened by {{convert|1400|ft|m}} and widened to dimensions varying between 150–640 feet. This most recent work was completed as a small project under Section 107 of the Continuing Authorities Program.
*A {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=on}}-deep anchorage, {{convert|5|acre|m2}} in area, located on the pond's westerly side, immediately inside the pond's entrance.
*A {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}}-long channel, six feet deep and {{convert|100|ft|m}} wide, starting at a point {{convert|100|ft|m}} north of the State Pier in Jerusalem and running generally along the west side of the pond, ending in the [[Wakefield, Rhode Island|Wakefield]] village of South Kingstown.
*A six-foot-deep [[anchor]]age, {{convert|5|acre|m2}} in area, at the end of the {{convert|4.5|mi|km|adj=on}}-long channel in Wakefield. The removal of two shoals to a depth of {{convert|18|ft|m}}. One shoal was removed from the {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=on}}-deep anchorage area, and the second from the east side of the Point Judith Pond entrance. This work was completed in 1921.
*Various works to help trap and retain sand at the entrance to the pond.

==References==
*{{gnis|1219862}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rhode Island salt ponds}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091022134211/http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coasts/ptjudith/index.html Rhode Island South Shore Sea Grant Project: Point Judith Pond]

{{RI salt ponds}}
{{Waterbodies of Rhode Island}}

[[Category:Lagoons of Washington County, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:South Kingstown, Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Narragansett, Rhode Island]]