Journal photo / Steve Szydlowski
This December photograph shows tons of sand being stockpiled after Sandy in the Misquamicut State Beach parking lot in Westerly.
WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island and local officials are working toward an April 1 deadline to restore dunes and replace sand in the Misquamicut beach area of Westerly, which was hard hit by Superstorm Sandy.
The Westerly Sun reports that officials are set to meet Thursday to focus on requirements and permits. Town Manager Steven Hartford says the deadline was set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because of the annual arrival of the federally threatened piping plover.
The town is developing a plan to redistribute 67,000 cubic yards of sand stockpiled in the Misquamicut State Beach parking lot.
Hartford says the state could take about 30,000 cubic yards and the town would use 15,000 cubic yards.
The rest would be distributed to fire district beaches and private property owners.
CORRECTION: The previous version of this story, published at 8:54 a.m., filed by the Associated Press incorrectly described the beach area to be restored.