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CHAPTER 9 Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use Courtesy of Narragansett Bay Estuar Y Program (NBEP) Chapter 9 | Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use This document contains Chapter 9 of the National Coastal Condition Report III. The entire report can be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/nccr National Coastal Condition Report III Chapter 9: Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use December 2008 CHAPTER 9 Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use Courtesy of Narragansett Bay Estuar y Program (NBEP) Chapter 9 | Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use The previous chapters of this report address such an assessment can be pursued only at the the condition of the nation’s coasts in terms of level of individual estuaries. The corresponding how well they meet ecological criteria. A related, chapter in the NCCR II centered on Galveston but separate consideration is how well coasts Bay, TX, for this assessment; in this report, the are meeting human expectations in terms of the chosen estuary is Narragansett Bay in Rhode goods and services they provide for transportation, Island and Massachusetts. To a large extent, this development, fishing, recreation, and other uses. choice is dictated by the availability of data, and Human use does not necessarily compromise Narragansett Bay is an estuary for which high- ecological condition, but there are inherent quality, long-term data exist on the abundance conflicts between human activities (e.g., marine of commercial and recreational fishes. Although transportation) that alter the natural state of the fishing is not the only human use of an estuary, coasts and activities (e.g., fishing) that rely on the it is an important use that is thought to be bounty of nature. The emphasis of this chapter is strongly connected with ecological indicators. on human uses and how well they are met. For uses that are not being fully met, the question Overview of Narragansett Bay arises as to how the shortfall is related to coastal condition as described by ecological indicators. Narragansett Bay (Figure 9-1), which includes the Providence and Seekonk rivers, is approximately Because determining the effect of human 48 miles long, 37 miles wide, and 132 mi2 in uses on an estuary is specific to an estuary’s area (Ely, 2002). Although the Bay lies almost surrounding area and relies on local information, entirely within Rhode Island, a small portion of northeastern Mount Hope Bay is located within Massachusetts. The Bay’s watershed includes parts of all five Rhode Island counties (Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, and Washington) and five counties (Worcester, Middlesex, Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth) in Massachusetts. The total area of the watershed is 1,820 mi2, and approximately 40% of this area is located in Rhode Island (Ries, 1990; Crawley et al., 2000). The three main rivers that drain into Narragansett Bay are the Pawtuxet, Blackstone, and Taunton rivers. This chapter will examine the human uses of the Bay (bounded at its seaward end by a line running southwest from Sakonnet Point to Point Judith) and its watershed. Data associated with Block Island and the coast of mainland Rhode Island running along Block Island Sound from Point Judith to the Connecticut state line will not be included in this assessment. Wickford Harbor on the west shore of Narragansett Bay (courtesy of NBEP). 250 National Coastal Condition Report III Chapter 9 | Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use Boston WORCESTER COUNTY Worcester MIDDLESEX COUNTY NORFOLK COUNTY Blackstone River Watershed MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTICUT RHODE ISLAND PLYMOUTH Woonsocket COUNTY Taunton River Watershed Taunton PROVIDENCE COUNTY Providence East Providence Providence River Taunton River Barrington Warwick BRISTOL Pawtuxet River COUNTY BRISTOL KENT Watershed COUNTY COUNTY NEWPORT COUNTY WASHINGTON Newport COUNTY Narragansett Bay Narragansett Bay watershed Figure 9-1. The Narragansett Bay watershed and surrounding counties (U.S. EPA/NCA). Development Uses of economic force in Rhode Island. The deep, sheltered harbors and availability of fresh water helped to Narragansett Bay spur the transformation of Newport into one Development uses are human activities that of the premier centers for maritime trade and alter the natural state of Narragansett Bay and shipbuilding. By the middle of the 19th century, its watershed. Some of the most important another transformation had occurred: the rivers of these activities are land use changes and draining into Narragansett Bay were being used development in the Bay’s watershed; marine to provide both power and transportation for a transportation; and point-source discharges of rapidly developing industrial economy. Textile cooling water and wastewater to the Bay. mills, metalworking operations, and jewelry manufacturing plants lined many of the watershed’s Land Use Changes and rivers (Crawley et al., 2000); however, by the 20th Development century, industrial production had declined, in By the 18th century, a merchant economy had part due to the migration of textile industries to developed to replace agriculture as the primary the south. Currently, land use in the Narragansett National Coastal Condition Report III 251 Chapter 9 | Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use Bay watershed is divided among a number of The approximately 77 mi2 of farmland in the categories (Table 9-1). The largest categories of Narragansett Bay watershed represent approximately developed land are residential and agricultural. 7% of the total land area (Crawley et al., 2000). Throughout the 20th century, the counties in the Major agricultural crops in Rhode Island and Narragansett Bay watershed have been a popular Massachusetts include corn and turf. Although place to live (Figure 9-2). The human population Newport County, RI, has the highest percentage in the watershed doubled between 1900 and 1980. (15%) of agricultural area in the watershed, The population of the watershed has moved from Worcester County, MA, has the greatest number urban areas to the more suburban and rural parts of of acres (104,000 acres) dedicated to agriculture the watershed since 1980 due to the advent of better (USDA, 2004a; 2004b). It should be noted that transportation and changing lifestyles, resulting these data are presented on a county level and may in a population decline in several cities, including include agricultural area located within the county, East Providence, Warwick, Newport, Barrington, but outside of the Narragansett Bay watershed. and Woonsocket in Rhode Island, and Worcester Although the economy of Rhode Island and Taunton in Massachusetts (Burroughs, has moved towards a mix of service industries, 2000; Crawley et al., 2000). Although the rate of specialized businesses, and tourism and recreation population growth in Rhode Island has been slow since World War II, industrial operations remain since 1980, residential development, particularly in the area. Land used for industrial operations single-family homes, has increased markedly accounts for a little over 1% of the land area (Rhode Island Department of Administration, in the Narragansett Bay watershed (Crawley et 2000). Currently, the watershed’s population is al., 2000). According to the Economic Census, estimated at approximately 1.8 million people, the manufacturing industry in Rhode Island and residential land accounts for more than 20% produced $10.5 billion in sales and employed of the area, representing the largest area of any more than 75,000 people in 1997 (U.S. Census developed land use category in the watershed Bureau, 2000b). The computer manufacturing and (Crawley et al., 2000; Save the Bay, Inc., 2006). electronics, fabricated metal, electrical equipment and appliances, and textile industry sectors offered Table 9-1. Land Use in the Narragansett Bay the major employment opportunities in the Watershed (Crawley et al., 2000) Land Use Area (mi2) Percent Residential 216.6 20.1 Bristol, RI Bristol, MA Kent, RI Norfolk, MA Newport, RI Plymouth, MA Agricultural 76.7 7.1 800,000 Providence, RI Worcester, MA Washington, RI Commercial 20.7 1.9 700,000 Recreational 19.4 1.8 600,000 Institutional 16.7 1.5 500,000 Industrial 13.4 1.2 n 400,000 Transportation and Utilities 10.7 1.0 opulatio Roads 10.2 0.9 P 300,000 Commercial/Industrial Mix 2.3 0.2 200,000 Urban Vacant 6.9 0.6 100,000 Gravel Pits and Quarries 8.4 0.8 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Waste Disposal 4.4 0.4 Year Wetlands, Water, Barren 203.3 18.8 Figure 9-2. Population trends by county in the Forest 470.4 43.6 Narragansett Bay watershed (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). 252 National Coastal Condition Report III Chapter 9 | Health of Narragansett Bay for Human Use River. As a result of these restrictions, petroleum products had to be transferred from tankers onto barges before delivery to Providence Harbor. Dredging was required to return the Channel to its authorized 40-ft depth and to increase the efficiency of marine transportation to the Harbor. After some debate, dredging operations began in April 2003 and were completed in January 2005, resulting in the removal of 6 million cubic yards of sediment (USACE, 2001; 2005). A second issue concerned the development of a container ship terminal at the former U.S. Naval facility at Quonset Point in North Kingstown (Ardito, Industrial production in the Narragansett Bay watershed developed in the middle of the 19th century (courtesy 2002). The project was dropped in 2003, and of Marcbela). other plans are being developed for the area. Finally, there have been a number of proposals region (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000a; 2000b). For to develop liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals example, manufacturing in Worcester County, at various locations in Narragansett Bay. Safety, MA, accounts for $11.3 billion annually and security, and environmental concerns have been employs 61,000 people, primarily in computer, raised over the transport and storage of LNG. metal fabrication, and chemical manufacturing. In Point-Source Discharges Bristol County, MA, computer, electronics, and primary metal manufacturing activities accounted Narragansett Bay is also used to receive point- for $7.7 billion in 1997 and employed more than source discharges of cooling water, industrial 49,000 people (U.S.
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