South Kingstown's loss could be Barrington's gain.

Just weeks ago, state environmental officials had hoped to dredge Potter's Pond in South Kingstown in an effort to restore the habitat that had been covered over the years by sand.

But about four weeks ago, the state Coastal Resources Management Council and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the agency that was to provide 65 percent of the $500,000 needed for the project, decided to pull back.

Now, it appears that South Kingstown's loss will be Barrington's gain.

Potter's Pond, while not as heavily used as South County's larger salt ponds, is nonetheless considered a good breeding ground for commercially viable fish such as winter flounder. The …