WESTERLY – A 6.2-acre tidal pond just east of Weekapaug Road, in the Winnapaug Pond area, will be closed to shellfishing as of sunrise tomorrow (Jan. 3), the R.I. Department of Environmental Management has announced.
Data collected during a shoreline survey of the pond showed fecal coliform bacteria levels there are higher than the safe standard set by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, the DEM said. The department said it will investigate possible sources of contamination.
The unnamed pond is surrounded by fields, the DEM said, and is not known to be a prime shellfishing area.
