DRAFT RHODE ISLAND WATERSHED -BASED PLAN FOR BARRINGTON -PALMER -WARREN RIVERS WATERSHED Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, and Warren, RI Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea, MA April 2012 i DRAFT RHODE ISLAND WATERSHED BASED PLAN APRIL 2012 BARRINGTON -PALMER -WARREN RIVERS WATERSHED Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Overview ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Watershed Planning Area Description ........................................................................................ 2 1.3 Existing Water Quality Conditions and Other Concerns in the BPW Watershed ......................... 2 1.4 The BPW Watershed Action Plan – Restoration and Protection.................................................. 4 2. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Purpose of the Plan .................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 How was the Plan Developed? ................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Watershed Vision and Goals ...................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Compelling Issues in the BPW Watershed ................................................................................. 6 2.4.1 Protecting Drinking Water Sources ..................................................................................... 6 2.4.2 Reducing Shellfish Bed Closures ........................................................................................ 8 2.4.3 Reducing Beach Closures.................................................................................................... 8 2.4.4 Protecting Fish and Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................... 8 2.4.5 Maintaining the Cultural Identity of the Watershed ............................................................. 9 2.5 How to Use the Plan .................................................................................................................. 9 3. Watershed Description ....................................................................................................................11 3.1 General Watershed Description .................................................................................................11 3.2 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................14 Land Use Category .................................................................................................................................15 Runnins (sq. mi.) .....................................................................................................................................15 Runnins (percent) ....................................................................................................................................15 Palmer (sq. mi.) .......................................................................................................................................15 Palmer (percent) ......................................................................................................................................15 Barrington (sq. mi.) .................................................................................................................................15 Barrington (percent) ................................................................................................................................15 3.3 Additional Resources ................................................................................................................23 4. Water Quality Issues in the Watershed ............................................................................................24 4.1 Water Quality ...........................................................................................................................24 4.1.1 Water Quality Impairments ................................................................................................24 4.1.2 Shellfish Closures ..............................................................................................................28 4.1.3 Runnins River Sub-Watershed ...........................................................................................29 4.1.4 Barrington River Sub-Watershed .......................................................................................31 4.1.5 Palmer River Sub-Watershed .............................................................................................34 ii DRAFT RHODE ISLAND WATERSHED BASED PLAN APRIL 2012 BARRINGTON -PALMER -WARREN RIVERS WATERSHED 4.1.6 Warren River Sub-Watershed.............................................................................................36 4.1.7 Other Pollutants of Concern ...............................................................................................37 4.1.8 Unassessed Designated Uses in the Watershed ...................................................................38 11.2 Protecting Drinking Water Sources ..........................................................................................38 5. Current Management Activities in the BPW Watershed to Restore and Protect ................................40 5.1 Stormwater ...............................................................................................................................40 5.1.1 Summary of RI Stormwater Program .................................................................................40 5.1.2 Stormwater Checklist for Rhode Island Municipalities .......................................................42 5.1.3 Summary of MA Stormwater Programs .............................................................................44 5.1.4 Summary of Stormwater Programs for Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea, MA ..................44 5.2 Low Impact Development .........................................................................................................46 5.2.1 Summary of RI LID Programs ...........................................................................................46 5.2.2 Low Impact Development Checklist for RI Municipalities .................................................47 5.2.3 Summary of MA LID Programs .........................................................................................54 5.2.4 Summary of LID Programs for Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea, MA..............................54 5.3 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems ......................................................................................57 5.3.1 Summary of RI Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) Programs........................57 5.3.2 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Checklist for Rhode Island Municipalities .............59 5.3.3 Summary of MA Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Programs .....................................60 5.4 Other Issues ..............................................................................................................................62 5.4.1 Agriculture.........................................................................................................................62 5.4.2 Land Conservation and Preservation ..................................................................................62 6. Actions to Restore and Protect .........................................................................................................66 6.1 Watershed-Wide Actions ..........................................................................................................66 6.1.1 Create a Watershed-Wide Organization .............................................................................66 6.1.2 Form a Stormwater Utility for the BPW Watershed............................................................67 6.1.3 Form an Onsite Wastewater Management District for the BPW Watershed ........................69 6.1.4 Conduct Water Quality Monitoring ....................................................................................69 6.2 Municipal Actions.....................................................................................................................69 6.2.1 Improving Stormwater Management at the Municipal Level ..............................................69 6.2.2 Improving Onsite Wastewater Management at the Municipal Level ...................................77 6.2.3 Improving Development Practices at the Municipal Level ..................................................81 6.2.4 Other Action Items at the Municipal Level .........................................................................85 6.3 Individual and Non-Governmental Actions ...............................................................................90 7. Implementation Tools ......................................................................................................................94 7.1 Financial Support ......................................................................................................................94 iii DRAFT RHODE ISLAND WATERSHED BASED PLAN APRIL 2012 BARRINGTON -PALMER -WARREN RIVERS WATERSHED