CO 



Q Rl 3. Great Swamp: Acreage: 3200. 



< 



—I Location: Washington County; Kingston Quadrangle; Great Swamp lies within 5 



— miles of the Atlantic Ocean and borders the North Shore of Wordens Pond, lar- 



LU gest body of fresh water in the state, into which it drains. Altitude: 33 meters 



q above sea level. 



I 



CC Description: Historically noted as the site of the decisive battle of the Indian 



Colonial Wars where the Narragansett Indians, the most powerful New England 

 tribe, were defeated in 1675. Swamp forest covers most of the area which is un- 

 derlain by shallow muck soils. Red maple, white cedar, black gum, black alder, 

 rhododendron, sweet pepperbush, and blueberry are among the dominant spe- 

 cies. Shrub swamp and marsh covers 1 0% of the wetland. Open areas support 

 cattail and sedge marsh. Excellent stands of American holly occur within the 

 area. Vertebrate fauna include the largest population of otter, mink, and 

 snowshoe hare found within the state. It is reported by USIBP-PF Task Force to 

 be the largest swamp in New England. The area is traversed by 9.7 kilometers of 

 brooks and streams. 



References: Wright, K. E. 1941. The great swamp, Torreya 41:145-150. Federal 

 survey report by the Federal Aid in Restoration Act, R.I. Project 17-B. 



Encroachments: Minimal, since state owns 2800 acres. 



Ownership: Acquired by state of Rhode Island in 1950 through participation in 

 Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act by the R.I. State Division of Fish and 

 Game. 



Data source: John M. Cronan, Division of Conservation, 83 Park St., 

 Providence, R.I. 02900. USIBP-PF Task Force for the Conservation of Aquatic 

 Ecosystems, International Scientific Areas-Description and Justification. 



