500 pounds of trash removed from Newport Harbor

By Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

While Newport is one of the most scenic spots in Rhode Island, what's under the water is upsetting many.

Clean Ocean Access, The Newport Maritime Alliance, and the Newport Waterfront Commission teamed up to comb the Newport Harbor sea floor, in an effort to start removing trash that has been building up for years.

500 pounds of waste was collected off the bottom in 400 square feet of water.  The harbor master, divers, an underwater robot, and support crew dove right into the trash at Ann Street Pier in Newport Harbor.

"As a diver, I dive all over the place. I see garbage all over the place,” said Anthony Miller, an advanced certified diver in Newport.

In total, 91 objects were dragged off the floor, and onto the surface in just 90 minutes. Crews found a number of items, ranging from glass bottles and silverware to more obscure objects.

"I found an artillery shell from a long time ago. It’s years of stuff that just collects there and was thrown there from careless people,” said Miller.

"Over time it creates kind of a catch basin and other things stick themselves to it essentially,” added Fred Roy, a member of the Newport Waterfront Commission. 

The project vision is of a healthy harbor, free of debris and safe for swimming. So far, efforts are all volunteer–based.  But they are hoping to receive federal funding.

"It will probably take years. I would estimate in reality, something like 7 to 10 years,” said Roy.