CHAPTER 10: NATURAL RESOURCES
From an East Providence Resident: “Among the best things about East Providence are our parks, the bike path, and our location along the waterfront.”
2017 East Providence Comprehensive Plan- Natural Resources Element
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10.2 FINDINGS AND CHALLENGES ……………………………………………………………………………………. 10.3 WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID …………………………………………………………………………………. 10.4 GEOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10.4 NATURAL RESOURCES PROFILE ………………………………………………………………………………… 10.4 SOILS AND GROUNDWATER …………………………………………………………………………. 10.4 INLAND WATERS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10.6 COASTAL WATERS AND COASTAL FEATURES ………………………………………………… 10.9 FORESTED AREAS AND “URBAN FOREST” …………………………………………………….. 10.10 AGRICULTURAL LAND …………………………………………………………………………………… 10.11 WILDLIFE HABITAT ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 10.13 SURFACE WATER QUALITY AND STORMATER RUNOFF …………………………………………….. 10.14 LOCAL AND REGIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS ………………………………… 10.16 RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10.18
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Chapter 10- Natural Resources
INTRODUCTION
Natural resources are a crucial ingredient in the well-being of the community and should be perpetuated for their visual, passive recreational and aesthetic qualities; as habitat for local wildlife, and for their natural hazard mitigation function. These resources are finite and irreplaceable. Our natural resources have an impact that extends beyond the bounds of the City and should be viewed in their local and regional context.
Vision Statement
East Providence’s natural resources are preserved and enhanced for their aesthetic and passive recreational qualities, as habitat for local wildlife, and for their natural hazard mitigation function.
Photo 10.1: East Bay Bike Path sunset view at Boyden Heights Conservation Area. Photo: East Providence Conservation Commission
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Findings Challenges
East Providence has several preserved Restoring degraded environments natural areas with scenic attributes and including industrial brownfield sites is a wildlife habitat not commonly found close lengthy and expensive process. to the urban core. Improving the quality of stormwater run- Three watersheds are found within the City off into both freshwater and tidewater of East Providence. areas during times of heavy rainfall.
The City has approximately 800 acres, or Controlling all-terrain recreational vehicle about 1.25 square miles, of coastal and use where it is degrading City owned freshwater wetlands. woodlands and recreation areas.
Wetland areas are found throughout the Increasing public awareness with regard City and are often in close proximity to to fertilizer use and private landscaping, roadways, buildings and other especially near along water bodies, infrastructure. wetlands, and floodplains.
Numerous open areas, particularly near Discouraging the feeding of wildlife the waterfront, have contamination from including geese and deer. prior industrial uses. Preventing illegal dumping onto City East Providence has an active Conservation property and into catch basins and storm Commission which has helped to preserve drains. and enhance natural areas in the City.
Predicted values of sea level rise have the potential to affect coastal wetlands including areas along saltwater coves and along the lower part of the Runnins River.
Nutrient loading from fertilizer use and other non-point pollution sources in the City and upstream causes significant freshwater quality issues at times, especially in the Ten Mile River system including the Turner Reservoir and Central Pond.
The Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan ranks invasive species as the greatest threat to wildlife habitats.
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WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID
In a survey, nearly 60 percent of respondents consider natural areas with preserved woodlands and trails to be “very important”, and 90% consider this to be “very important” or “somewhat important”.
Clean-up of polluted properties is seen as a high priority impact item of the City’s waterfront development.
Many residents enjoy the East Providence’s proximity to the water and other natural areas while having City amenities very close by.
GEOGRAPHY
Topography and Landscape Character East Providence lies within the coastal plain of southeastern New England, along the eastern bank of the head of Narragansett Bay, 25 to 30 miles north of the closest point on the open Atlantic Ocean. While the topography of the City is relatively low and flat, there are some elevated areas along with three distinct drainage sub-basins.
The higher points in the City are across the central portion, generally within a mile to the south of Interstate 195. The highest point is near the City’s water tower in Kent Heights, with an elevation of about 150 feet above sea level. Other relative high points, where the elevation reaches 100 to 140 feet, also in this part of the city, located near Bradley Hospital, near Juniper Street and Eighth Avenue, near Exit 7 along I-195, and just east of the Veterans Memorial Parkway overlook. The southern portion of the City including nearly all of Riverside is rather flat with elevations mostly ranging from 20 to 50 feet. The Riverside shoreline along the Providence River and Narragansett Bay features a bluff from the Wastewater Treatment Plan southward to Bullocks Point, with an elevation averaging 30 feet.
North of Interstate 195, the terrain away from the immediate tidal shore ranges from 10 to 20 feet near the Runnins River and the lower Ten Mile River to 60 to 80 feet near I-195 and also in the City’s northern interior.
Slopes within the City are gentle with the exception of a few areas along Veterans Memorial Parkway and the East Bay Bike Path, and along the coastal bluffs in Riverside.
NATURAL RESOURCES PROFILE
SOILS AND GROUNDWATER
Soils in East Providence are composed largely of glacial deposits of varying composition and density (see Soil Parent Material map and chart for details). Numerous surface areas were altered with fill material over time, largely to support industrial and larger retail uses both along the waterfront and inland.
Seasonal high groundwater is evident at in scattered areas throughout the City including numerous areas of hydric soils (see Wetlands section below), particularly near the Ten Mile and Runnins Rivers. Water table depths are illustrated on Map 2. Many of the areas classified as “variable” in seasonal high- water depth are either heavily developed now, or have been in the past.
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Map1: Seasonal High Water Table Depth
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INLAND WATERS
Watersheds A watershed is an area of land that drains to the same lake, river, ocean or other water body1. East Providence is within the Narragansett Bay Watershed, which encompasses most of Rhode Island and interior southeastern Massachusetts along with a portion of southern Worcester County in Massachusetts. There are three principle sub-watersheds found within East Providence
Seekonk River-Providence River Sub- Watershed: This encompasses close to half of the City’s area and includes most of our population. It includes small streams and other drainage flowing directly into the Seekonk and Providence Rivers, and into upper Narragansett Bay via Bullocks Cove, or via Allin’s Cove in Barrington.
Ten Mile River Sub-Watershed: This area, comprising most of northern East Providence away from the immediate Seekonk River shore, drains into the lower-most portion of the Ten Mile River and ultimately into the Seekonk River. The entire Ten Mile Drainage Basin encompasses an area of about about 54 square miles, most of which is upstream in Massachusetts but also includes the eastern portion of Pawtucket.
Runnins River-Hundred Acre Cove Sub- Map 10.2: East Providence Sub-Watersheds Watershed: This basin includes the eastern portion of central and southern East Providence along with a large part of Seekonk a portion of Rehoboth. Areas immediately adjacent to the Runnins River are low in elevation with wetlands and relatively wide floodplain areas. The Runnins River Basin (above the Mobil Dam) measures 9.7 square miles.
The mapped divide between the Ten Mile and Runnins River basins includes a section of Taunton Avenue (Rte. 44); though during the March 2010 floods, water from the Ten Mile crossed the lowest portion of Taunton Avenue near the Seekonk line, closing the roadway for a short period. The true divide based on elevation in that immediate area may actually be located along Commercial Way a little south of Taunton Avenue.
1 Narragansett Bay “Watershed Counts” 2014 Annual Report, http://watershedcounts.org/documents/Watershed_Counts_Report_2014.pdf .
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Wetlands Coastal and freshwater wetlands provide valuable habitat for some of the City’s diverse wildlife, and also provide flood storage and help to filter stream flows and runoff. The City of East Providence has wetland areas totaling over 800 acres, around one-tenth of the City. The majority of this acreage is located to the north and northeast of the residential area of Riverside and eastward to the Runnins River. Of this, much is freshwater wetland acreage located within the Exxon-Mobil Property and vicinity, and south of Forbes Street within the City’s “Southeast Drainage Area”. The former area, located north of Forbes Street, generally drains west to southwest toward Willett Pond and eventually southward into Bullocks Cove and Narragansett Bay. To the south of Forbes Street, drainage is generally into Annawamscutt Brook which runs southward to the Bay through the eastern part of Riverside and West Barrington. Drainage south of Forbes Street in the Southeast Drainage Area is mainly southward toward Allin’s Cove in West Barrington.
The Runnins River and the Barrington River Estuary (Hundred Acre Cove) in East Providence and Barrington are identified as Special Resource Protection Waters in Ocean State Outdoors – State Guide Plan Element 152. Special Resource Protection Waters are high quality surface waters identified as having significant ecological or recreational uses, which may include but are not limited to: wildlife refuge or management areas; state and federal parks; state and federal designated Estuarine Sanctuary Areas; water bodies containing critical habitats; wetland types or specific wetlands listed as rare, threatened, endangered, of special interest or of special concern.2 The Runnins River effectively forms the southern half of the City’s eastern border; areas immediately adjacent to the River near the Barrington Line consist of estuarine emergent wetland, with forested wetland areas common along the river northward to Photo 10.2: Wetland and floodplain area along the lower Runnins River. Route 6 (Highland Avenue) and Photo: East Providence Conservation Commission into the area just north of Waterman Avenue. Terrain along the Runnins River is rather flat with elevations near base level, hence the large amount of wetland evident in this area (see Surface Water and Wetlands Map).
In the northern portion of the City, wetlands are concentrated along the Ten Mile River within a few hundred yards upstream from Pawtucket Avenue found along the Ten Mile River mostly just upstream from Pawtucket Avenue, with scattered pocket wetlands elsewhere.
2 RIDEM and Division of Statewide Planning, “Ocean State Outdoors: Rhode Island’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan”, State Guide Plan Element 152. Adopted 2003, Amended 2009.
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Map 4: Primary Surface Water and Wetland Resources
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COASTAL WATERS AND COASTAL FEATURES
The City has 14 miles of tidal waterfront along the Seekonk and Providence Rivers and upper Narragansett Bay, including several saltwater and brackish water coves. The shoreline varies in character with narrow beaches backed by bluffs; rock outcrops; some hardened structures (retaining walls); and several small islands. The beach areas have seen considerable erosion, and bluff erosion in Riverside is an increasing concern with undermining of the bluff evident at a few locations. Some residents have hardened the shoreline in an attempt to mitigate against shorefront property loss. These projects must be executed with great care to avoid adverse effects Photo 10.3: Coastal view near East Bay Bike Path. Photo: to other properties along the bluff. Wayne Barnes
The City has no “barrier beaches” of the type found along Rhode Island’s south coast, but the small peninsula separating Bullock’s Cove from the Bay (known locally as Terrace Beach) provides localized barrier beach functions including limited buffering of the Cove from storms, and provides a very scenic passive recreation area. e central portion of the City’s waterfront along the Seekonk and Providence Rivers is under the jurisdiction of the East Providence Special Waterfront District. Future development of these Waterfront District areas will be executed within State coastal regulations and with special attention paid to preserving water quality and scenic views, and to ensuring public access to the water. More detail can be found in the Waterfront District Element of this Comprehensive Plan.
Floodplains Flooding is an intermittently occurring natural phenomenon that forms and maintains flood zones and coastal zones3 including saltwater and freshwater marshes. In most urban areas in decades past, floodplains were often “managed” for the purpose of development; raising the elevation of these areas and building infrastructure to efficiently move high water flows downstream. This process created dry land and mitigated flooding on these individual properties, but also served to eliminate valuable floodplain functions as listed below and often caused adverse effects in areas downstream from these project areas. Floodplains, in their natural state, provide numerous functions including: Providing flood storage by temporarily “storing” floodwaters and reducing flood velocities; Reducing wave damage immediately inland from coastal flood zones; Treating water pollution; Providing habitat for a variety of wildlife including rare, endangered and threatened species; Providing recreational opportunities and scenic amenities; and Providing educational and scientific research opportunities.
Developed floodplains have become nagging problem areas for many urban and suburban and municipalities due to repeating incidents of residential and commercial flooding. This aspect of
3 Association of State Floodplain Managers, “Natural and Beneficial Floodplain Functions: Floodplain Management- More than Flood Loss Reduction”, Adopted by ASFPPM Board 2008.
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2017 East Providence Comprehensive Plan- Natural Resources Element floodplain management is addressed in more detail in the Natural Hazard of this Comprehensive Plan, which also contains a generalized City floodplain map. Every effort should be made to avoid development, or at least minimize the impact of development, in floodplain areas. New development proposals City-wide should consider short-term and long-term impacts to floodplains on both a neighborhood scale and on the larger scale of the City’s watersheds and coastal waters.
FORESTED AREAS AND “URBAN FOREST”
The Rhode Island Urban and Community Forest Plan (State Guide Plan 156) sets forth “goals and policies for all Rhode Island’s forests that must, under State law, be reflected in future updates of local comprehensive plans.”4
“Urban Forestry” is the care and management of trees and all associated vegetation and related resources where people live, work, and play5. Healthy urban forests improve the livability of our city by adding beauty and color to the urban and suburban environment. Photo 10.4: Spring tree canopy along Grove Avenue in central East Providence. Photo: Eugenia Soares.
Additionally, trees provide a number of benefits including: Reduction of surface water runoff and soil erosion; Absorption of air and water pollution and associated health benefits; Reduction of surface wind speeds; Urban noise abatement; Creation of wildlife habitat; and Property value enhancement.
According to the State Guide Plan, research has Photo 10.5: Tree canopy and natural wetland also found that the presence of trees in the urban vegetation at Boyden Heights Conservation Area. setting provides positive psychological and social Photo: Tabitha Watjen impacts, including stress relief and possibly crime reduction.
Trees favorably affect local microclimates by helping to mitigate “urban heat island” effects. They can also reduce energy use by shading buildings in the summer, while allowing sunlight through in the winter once their foliage has dropped.
4 Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning, “Rhode Island Urban and Community Forest Plan”, State Guide Plan 156, Adopted 1999. 5 Ohio Department of Natural Resources- Division of Forestry, http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/urban , accessed 12/9/2014.
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Significant forested areas in the City include a narrow strip along the eastern edge of northern East Providence, a large portion of the Exxon-Mobil property, and the southeast drainage surrounding the former landfill and solar farm site. Most of the City’s neighborhoods feature mature trees which are almost entirely deciduous, proving a partial canopy from May until well into October.
The City of East Providence has an estimated 8,300 public trees located in parks, playgrounds, schools, conservation areas and along streets. The City Parks Division oversees and cares for City trees, and the East Providence Conservation Commission provides additional stewardship in conservation areas.
Vegetative Invaders
Historic patterns of human migration, worldwide transportation of commodities, and the general mobility of our culture have resulted in the presence of species of plants that are not native to our local landscape. These organisms establish themselves both on land and along our waterways, often multiplying rapidly and “crowding out” native flora, which can adversely affect native wildlife. Once invasive species become established, they can be exceptionally difficult to eradicate or even keep under reasonable control. Japanese Knotweed is an especially pervasive junk plant found in disturbed Japanese Knotweed previously natural areas.
The Rhode Island Invasive Species Council, an outreach arm of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, maintains a list of invasive plant species found in the state on their website, http://rinhs.org/invasive- species-portal/invasive-species-lists/.
The East Providence Conservation Commission has performed some non-chemical control of invasive species in City natural areas including the Boyden Heights Conservation Area and at Hunts Mills, but control of invasive plants is always an uphill battle. The Commission will continue these efforts in the coming years with an eye toward encouraging native vegetation to regain a foothold in disturbed areas.
AGRICULTURAL LAND
As with most area cities and towns, the area now known as East Providence was an agriculture-based community for its first couple-hundred years as a settlement. There were numerous working farms in East Providence well into the 20th Century. Agricultural uses diminished quickly with post- World War II suburbanization, and commercial agriculture was essentially gone by 1970. Perhaps the most significant agricultural land remaining in the City, and the only one under protection as an agricultural site, is the Bridgham Farm Conservation Area located near the western shore of the Turner Reservoir in Rumford. This consists of 18.5 acres of what was once a 46+ acre farm and includes a woodland area along with a large gently rolling meadow. Two specimen white oak trees here are aged at almost 400 years. The East Providence Land Conservation Trust administers this property.
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Map 1: East Providence Agricultural Soils
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WILDLIFE HABITAT
A diverse array of wildlife is found within the City’s borders considering the proximity of the City to the urban core of Providence. The existence of large relatively open areas, several park and conservation properties, and numerous locations where fresh water and tidewater intersect all contribute to this diversity of species. The Exxon-Mobil property in combination with the Southeast Drainage Area provide a significant wildlife corridor between the Runnins River and uppermost Narragansett Bay. Other wildlife corridors consist of the Runnins River shoreline from just south of Route 6 southward to Barrington and Hundred Acre Cove. Even the relatively narrow East Bay Photo 10.6: Fawn, former Forbes Street Landfill area. Photo: Ernie Germani Bike Path right of way serves as a wildlife corridor.
Within these corridors, deer, coyotes, beaver, and wild turkeys, owls and bald eagles have been spotted. Willet Pond in particular serves as a stopover and also a home for geese and other waterfowl. The City’s coves support wading birds including blue herons and white herons. To the north along the Ten Mile River corridor, black crown night herons have been spotted along with otters and snapping turtles. During the winter, bald eagles have been seen along the Turner Reservoir.
The lowermost portion of the Runnins River and nearby Hundred Acre Cove in Barrington support a population of diamondback terrapin turtles, which are unusual turtle species in that they are native to the nearshore marine environment and tolerate freshwater and tidal waters of varying salinity. Our area is about the northern extent of their range along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Diamondback terrapins, while exhibiting a slowly growing population in the last 25 years6, are considered an endangered species in Rhode Island.
To the north, a major ecosystem restoration project has now been completed along the Ten Mile River with the construction of denil fishways (fish ladders) at each of three dams along the river within the City limit. The inset below on Page 10.14 contains more information on this remarkable multi-year restoration project. Photo 10.7 (left): Turner Reservoir Fish Ladder. Photo: East Providence Conservation Commission.
6 Barrington Land Conservation Trust, http://blct.org/, accessed 12/10/2014.
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Natural Resources Success Story: Ten Mile River Fish Ladder Project The Ten Mile River was once home to an historic fish run that supported river herring and American shad; anadromous fish that live as adults in salt water, but spawn in fresh water. The presence of dams on the Ten Mile River over the last 200 years has prevented herring from swimming upstream to spawn. Each spring, herring return from the ocean to the mouth of the Ten Mile River, remnants of the once abundant fish run. Some fish made it upstream over the years thanks to the efforts of local fisherman and conservation organizations who scooped the herring Photo 10.8: Hunts Mill Dam Fish Ladder. up and over the Omega Pond Dam, the most Photo: East Providence Conservation downstream of the river’s three dams, to spawn in Commission. the waters of the lower-most Ten Mile River.
Save The Bay, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, the Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, the City of East Providence and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forged an innovative partnership to naturally restore this fish run to the Ten Mile River via the construction of three fish ladders. After a decade-plus effort, fish ladders have been completed at each of three dams within the City, providing unblocked passage for anadromous fish to travel several miles upstream in the Ten Mile River and access about 340 acres of spawning habitat.
SURFACE WATER QUALITY AND STORMWATER RUNOFF
Inland and Estuarian Waters East Providence’s surface water and riverine areas require protection from, or at least mitigation of, the effects of urban development encroachment. These areas include the Runnins River and adjacent wetlands, Central Pond-Turner Reservoir area, Omega Pond, the segment of the Ten Mile River that connects the Turner Reservoir and Omega Pond, Willett Pond, and the Bullocks Cove area.
In the case of the Runnins River and the Ten Mile River-Central Pond-Turner Reservoir system, development-related pollution also originates from places upstream including Pawtucket, Seekonk and the Attleboros. Wastewater treatment facilities for Attleboro and North Attleborough (which also serve the town of Plainville, MA) discharge directly into the Ten Mile River. The construction of and improvements to these facilities have resulted in improvements to water quality in the river, but elevated levels of nutrients still exist. The combined volume of treated wastewater makes up a majority of base flow downstream from the facilities7. Elevated levels of metals remain in the water column as a result of the industrial history of the Attleboros where the jewelry, plating and textile industries were well represented in the 19th century and much of the 20th century. The recently completed Ten Mile River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Analysis includes much detailed information regarding water quality and the sources of pollutants along the length of the Ten Mile River System.
The Runnins River is assessed as “impaired” for recreational use due in part to bacteria from onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic systems and cesspools) in Rehoboth and Seekonk, along with
7 RIDEM Office of Water Resources, “Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis for the Ten Mile River, December 2013.
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2017 East Providence Comprehensive Plan- Natural Resources Element stormwater runoff from the very large retail area along Highland Avenue (Route 6) in Seekonk and East Providence. Because the City is nearly fully served by the public sewer system, degradation of the river coming from East Providence is primarily the result of urban runoff from existing development. Nutrient-loading from residential fertilizer is a contributor to impaired water quality for both the Ten Mile and the Runnins Rivers, as is the presence of large populations of nuisance waterfowl.
The Barrington-Palmer-Warren Rivers Watershed Plan (2012) includes more detail on impairments to the Runnins River and includes stormwater management and low-impact development checklists specific to East Providence and other communities within the basin.
Coastal Waters In general, the quality of our coastal waters has improved notably in recent decades due in part to Federal environmental legislation, improved treatment of wastewater, lessening heavy industrial presence, and “cleaner” commercial uses in the Narragansett Bay Watershed, along with a general increase in stewardship and advocacy for our waterways. Legal shellfishing acreage has increased considerably in Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays over the last 20 years, though the waters north of Conimicut Point in Warwick, which includes the entire waterway adjacent to East Providence, still remain closed to shellfishing at all times. Remarkably though, Narragansett Bay is now considered swimmable at times northward to southernmost East Providence.
Coastal Water Pollution Control Projects Combined sewer overflows during and shortly after times of significant rain contribute to pollution in the Providence River and the upper Bay. The Narragansett Bay Commission’s multi-phase Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Project is designed to store these overflows from the Providence side of the river to the extent possible, then treat this otherwise raw wastewater prior to its discharge into the Providence River. Phase I of this project was completed in 2008 with Phase II expected completed 2015. Phase III of the project was in the planning stages as of 2016. A recent $52 million upgrade to the East Providence Wastewater Treatment Plant improved the treatment of City wastewater, built new pump stations, and upgraded the existing pump station at Watchemoket Cove. In addition to more thorough wastewater treatment, this project has also reduced combined sewer overflows during times of heavy rainfall.
Two stormwater mitigation projects in Riverside; one at Sabin Point Park and one at Beach Road near Larisa Park, were in the works in 2016. These two projects are described in detail in Chapter 8- Community Services and Facilities, on Page 8.14.
In addressing surface water pollution sources from within East Providence, the City must emphasize protection of its water resources while balancing that protection with public access and the availability of the water resources for public enjoyment. To aid in protecting surface water resources, the City maintains a DEM- approved Municipal Stormwater Management Plan. The plan identifies the various sources of
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The Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual (2011) contains much guidance regarding resource management, especially with regard to surface water resources and stormwater. Nearly four-dozen ordinance recommendations are listed in Appendix A of the manual. While some of this guidance is geared toward rural communities with open areas that are subject to future development, there are recommendations that can be applied to our mixed urban/suburban environment. These include riparian buffer recommendations, development plan landscaping guidelines, and erosion and sediment control guidance.
LOCAL AND REGIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS
East Providence Conservation Commission The East Providence Conservation Commission is a citizen board of up to nine City residents that is responsible for the stewardship of the City's natural resources including its watersheds, rivers, wooded areas, coastal areas, wetlands, and green spaces throughout the City. The Commission makes recommendations to State Agencies, the East Providence City Council, and the various City Departments regarding proposed developments, donation of private land, and various environmental issues. Commission projects have included trail building and mapping, maintenance and clean-ups on city conservation properties, native species plantings, invasive species control, and reconstruction of a wetland boardwalk at the Boyden Heights Conservation Area.
East Providence Land Conservation Trust This non-profit organization provides stewardship for the 18.8-acre Bridgham Farm Conservation Area in Rumford, located near the western shore of the Turner Reservoir. This property was historically meadow and grazing land and is the last remaining undeveloped agricultural land that was part of the original “Ring of the Green” from the early days of European settlement of the area. Two specimen oaks that are nearly 400 years old are found on the property.
Ten Mile River Watershed Council The mission of the Ten Mile River Watershed Council (TMRWC) is to promote the restoration of the Ten Mile River Watershed and encourage and support recreational activities within the watershed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts8. The Council is an active 501(C)3 non-profit organization and conducts river- side cleanups and trail maintenance, and provides general advocacy for the river corridor. The TMRWC has an agreement with the City of East Providence for use of a building at the former Fire Department training area at Hunts Mills for equipment storage.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) RIDEM, along with the University of Rhode Island and the Nature Conservancy, have developed the Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan, which provides an overview of Rhode Island’s wildlife and wildlife habitats, analyzes threats to significant species and their habitats, and recommends broad action items regarding wildlife conservation and management. The plan includes Community Companion Guide to aid communities with plan implementation at the local level.
8 Ten Mile River Watershed Council webpage, http://tmrwc.webs.com/ , accessed 12/10/2014.
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Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) The Coastal Resources Management Council is a management agency with regulatory functions as provided under federal and state laws. Its primary responsibility is for the preservation, protection, development and where possible the restoration of the coastal areas of the state via the issuance of permits for alterations and construction with the coastal zone of the state. CRMC’s local regulatory authority extends inland two hundred feet inland from any coastal feature.
Save The Bay Save The Bay works to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts through advocacy, educational programs, and hands-on restoration. Founded in 1970, the organization envisions a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program Established in 1993 as part of the National Estuary Program, NBEP’s mission is “to protect and preserve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through partnerships that conserved and restore natural resources, enhance water quality and promote community involvement”.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NBNERR) Located on Prudence Island Part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, the NBRR performs research on the Bay’s ecosystem including the monitoring of water quality and the evolution of the intertidal zone. Its mission is “to preserve, protect and restore coastal and estuarine ecosystems of Narragansett Bay through long-term research, education and training.9”
Northern Rhode Island Conservation District In Providence County, the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District works in partnership with private land owners, farmers, municipalities, state and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental agencies. NRICD is not a regulatory or enforcement agency, but rather provides assistance to those who desire to work as a team to face issues -- watershed by watershed10.
Champlin Foundations Since 1932, The Champlin Foundations have distributed over $497M, almost entirely in the State of Rhode Island. Projects supported by the Champlin Foundations have included the purchase of real property for open space acquisition, and projects that increase public access to valuable natural resources. The Chaplin Foundations, along with RIDEM, provided funding for the fully-accessible Turner Reservoir Raised Walkway.
Providence County Hiking Club This group organizes walks and hikes throughout the Rhode Island area including East Providence and has aided the Ten Mile River Watershed Council and the East Providence Conservation Commission in clean-up and informal maintenance activities at the Hunts Mills Historic Site and at the Boyden Heights Conservation Area.
9 Narragansett bay National Estuarine Research Reserve website, http://www.nbnerr.org/, accessed 4/8/2016 10 Northern Rhode Island Conservation website, http://nricd.org/, accessed on 1/2/2015
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Goal: East Providence’s natural resources are preserved and perpetuated for their aesthetic and passive recreational qualities, as habitat for local wildlife, and for their natural hazard mitigation function.
Objective: Preserve and protect the wetlands, water bodies and their sources within the City of East Providence for continuation of their natural beauty and as components of the East Providence ecosystem.
Implementation Actions:
Inspect City properties to keep up with issues like erosion, invasive species, vandalism/tagging, and litter and take action to mitigate or eradicate problems as appropriate.
Support the efforts of local environmental organizations in protecting our waterways and other wildlife habitats.
Establish a policy of ongoing communications with Providence, Pawtucket, Barrington, Seekonk, Attleboro, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding water quality issues.
Provide for the protection of freshwater wetlands including those that are outside of the designated Critical Areas to the extent possible.
Work with RIDOT on future road developments to incorporate design features that reduce discharge into waterways and wetlands.
Perform improvements to outflow infrastructure where possible and educate citizens on the environmental hazards of illegal dumping into catch basins and storm drains.
Review the Rhode Island LID Planning and Design Guidance Manual for guidance regarding low impact development, landscaping, and stormwater management as appropriate for our urban and suburban setting.
Work with agencies such as the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District to encourage residents to use of organic lawn treatments in place of chemical-based treatments, particularly in areas close to the City’s waterways and coast.
Work with state agencies and other local organizations to develop an invasive species management program for our public lands.
Seek natural resource restoration opportunities including eel grass planting and other measures to protect wetlands and coastal features.
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Coordinate with RIDEM and other agencies regarding implementation of locally appropriate action items within the Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan.
Enforce compliance with City drainage and erosion standards to reduce harm to the City’s natural areas by human disturbance and intrusion. Ensure that the latest best management practices are followed for development in areas with proximity to the City’s wetlands and waterways.
Objective: Preserve both public and private open lands in where possible to ensure their maintenance as wildlife and fish habitats, natural drainage areas, and areas of passive recreation and outdoor education.
Implementation Actions:
Inventory and prioritize significant natural resources areas including critical wildlife habitats which should be preserved and protected.
Where significant open land is developed, require preservation of open space and resources to the extent possible.
Utilize National Park Service (NPS) and other assistance to foster a natural corridor along the Runnins River.
Prioritize areas for conservation easements and/or fee simple acquisition when possible in the event that such opportunities arise.
Work with the Ten Mile River Watershed Council to identify illegal disposal sites along the River and address this issue. Utilize Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation resources to ensure and communicate the proper disposal of “hard-to-dispose-of” items that otherwise as dumped on public property.
Protect endangered and rare plant and animal species in East Providence based on the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Survey and incorporate the list as a standard tool in the development review process. Identify and catalog unique and rare plant and animal species.
Objective: Provide education regarding the City’s natural resources and opportunities for passive recreation in our preserved natural areas.
Implementation Actions:
Educate residents with regard to waterbody protection including reduced use of fertilizers, control of pet waste, litter control, and property-scale control of water runoff.
Provide and update information on unique, rare, and endangered species and other natural resources in the City. Reference available Conservation Opportunity Area mapping as provided through the Rhode Island Wildlife Action plan.
10.19
2017 East Providence Comprehensive Plan- Natural Resources Element
Educate residents regarding invasive species and about landscape plantings that are appropriate for our region.
Develop a youth education program, possibly through "adoption" of a natural resource and study of that resource.
Increase informational material on specific conservation areas in hard copy and electronic format including trail maps, natural resource amenities, and historic facts where appropriate.
Use traditional media and social media to promote our conservation areas and get the word out that the City has much to offer with respect to passive outdoor recreation.
Discourage the feeding of wildlife including deer and geese.
Objective: Preserve and expand public access to the City’s waterfront for passive and active recreational activities.
Implementation Actions:
Require pedestrian access to the waterfront as part of any private mixed-use or commercial development in waterfront areas.
Install signs at public access point locations and maintain rights of way to the water.
Develop and avail access to maps showing the location of public access points.
Work with CRMC and City enforcement officials to help ensure public access where legally designated.
10.20