Green Hill Pond

Bird Watchers’ Paradise

Green Hill Pond is primarily located in South Kingstown, with 20% of the pond in Charlestown. Green Hill Pond has no direct connection to the ocean. Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds are connected by a tidal inlet. Given this topography, Green Hill has a slightly lower salinity, which encourages the growth of a unique plant called widgeon grass.

Green Hill Pond is a densely developed residential watershed. It is bordered on the south by a barrier beach and fringed by salt marshes which provide a great opportunity for birding. Green Hill is shallow in many parts and features small islands, rocky outcroppings, and creeks. Factory Brook is a major source of fresh water flowing into the pond that originates at Factory Pond, a former stream that was dammed more than a century ago to provide waterpower for local mills.

With no direct tidal flush to the ocean and dense residential development, Green Hill suffers from high pollution rates. The channel that connects Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds is narrow and located at Creek Bridge in Charlestown. The pond has been closed to shellfishing for over 25 years due to high bacteria counts. SPC continues to work with the Town of Charlestown on ways to remediate this issue by focusing on reducing the bacteria and nutrient runoff from substandard and failing septic systems around the pond.