{{Short description|Canal from ocean to a lagoon}} A '''breachway''' is a small canal that connects two bodies of water across a thin piece of land, such as a barrier beach,<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Book (650-RICR-20-00-1) - Rhode Island State Law |url=https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/Part/650-20-00-1 |website=Rhode Island Secretary of State |access-date=7 June 2025 |page=8 |quote=1.1.2.A.19: Breachway means a connecting channel, usually between a coastal pond and the ocean, which permits water exchange between the two}}</ref> or the shoreline along such a canal.<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |last1=Federal Geographic Data Committee |title=Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (FGDC-STD-018-2012) |url=https://coast.noaa.gov/data/digitalcoast/pdf/cmecs.pdf |website=Marine and Coastal Spatial Data Subcommittee Federal Geographic Data Committee |publisher=NOAA |access-date=7 June 2025 |page=92 |date=June 2012 |quote=Geoform: Breachway (Level 2) – The shoreline that is created along the channel formed by jetties}}</ref>
thumb|300px|right|A breachway in Charlestown, RI thumb|300px|right| A breachway in Weekapaug, RI
Rhode Island's coastline has multiple breachways, including the Charlestown Breachway<ref name=Charlestown>{{cite web |title=Charlestown Breachway History (1952) {{!}} Rhode Island State Parks |url=https://riparks.ri.gov/History-CharlestownBreachway |website=riparks.ri.gov |publisher=Rhode Island State Parks |access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref> and Weekapaug Breachway.<ref>{{cite web |title=State ex rel. Town of Westerly v. Charles M. Bradley (2005) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/rhode-island/supreme-court/2005/04-197.html |website=Justia Law |access-date=7 June 2025 |language=en |date=2005}}</ref> The breachways may be used to replicate the transient natural channels that form between barrier islands, connecting lagoons or salt water ponds to the ocean. Such channels can be useful both for improving navigation and the water quality of the lagoon.<ref name=Charlestown/>
Permanent breachways use rock jetties that line the sides of the channel to protect against erosion or closing of the waterway.<ref name=NOAA/>
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==External links== *{{Commonscat-inline}}
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Category:Coastal construction Category:Coastal engineering {{topography-stub}}