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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER 12 PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS WAYS TO RESTORE WATER QUALITY IN MOUNT HOPE BAY AND THE KICKEMUIT RIVER PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 12 to discuss recommendations and strategies for restoring water quality in Mount Hope Bay and the Kickemuit River estuary .The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Burnside Memorial Building located at 400 Hope Street in Bristol, adjacent to Bristol Town Hall.DEM has completed a draft water quality restoration study that addresses long-standing bacteria-related impairments to Mount Hope Bay and the Kickemuit River estuary waters .Such plans, known as TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load), are mandated by the federal Clean Water Act and establish the pollutant reductions needed to meet water quality standards. Mount Hope Bay and its tributaries, including the Kickemuit, Lee, Coles, and Taunton Rivers exhibit elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria, particularly after rain events .Elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria impair recreational uses in the Bay and cause the frequent closure of shellfishing beds following a half-inch or more of rain. Conditionally-approved shellfishing areas within Mount Hope Bay and the Kickemuit River estuary are closed to shellfish harvesting an average of 180 days per year as a result of bacterial contamination from wet weather sources. Bacteria levels in the study area have also been found exceeding levels deemed to be safe for swimming . Both Rhode Island and Massachusetts are preparing TMDLs to address Mount Hope Bay's bacterial impairments .DEM's detailed plan is designed to reduce bacterial pollution so that the Kickemuit River and the Rhode Island portion of Mount Hope Bay can meet numeric water quality targets for all designated uses affected by bacterial pollution, such as shellfishing and primary and secondary contact recreational use .Previous studies have determined that combined sewage overflows from the City of Fall River, MA are the largest source of fecal bacteria to Mount Hope Bay during wet weather. Ongoing construction of facilities to store and treat the combined sewage overflows have begun to mitigate this source of contamination, although data documenting the pollution reductions or resulting improvements in water quality have not been collected . Sampling conducted during wet weather by DEM's Office of Water Resources and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries found that stormwater outfalls at various locations around the Bay also contribute to localized degradation of water quality. In addition to the wet weather study, the TMDL also relies upon routine water quality monitoring data collected by DEM's Shellfish Water Quality Monitoring program, and the results of watershed and shoreline investigations that include the identification of all stormwater outfalls and streams .This information was used to characterize water quality conditions, identify pollution sources, and determine necessary pollutant reductions and pollution abatement activities. In order to meet water quality standards during both dry and wet weather conditions, significant reductions in identified sources of contamination must be accomplished .The TMDL establishes requirements for those sources in RI, while the TMDL being developed concurrently by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will address bacteria sources in that state .The TMDL recommendations will complement existing pollution reduction efforts in the watershed such as the Fall River CSO abatement project and the Phase II stormwater management programs being implemented by towns and municipalities throughout the watershed. "Community participation is essential to the success of this water quality restoration effort and we encourage participation at this critical stage of the process," notes Elizabeth Scott, deputy chief of DEM's Office of Water Resources."This public meeting will provide an opportunity for municipal officials and members of the community to hear the study's findings and recommendations, learn about the recommended pollution abatement activities, and provide feedback to DEM on the study." The TMDL sets forth both voluntary and mandatory pollution abatement activities within the watershed .While DEM is responsible for developing the TMDL, other responsible parties including the Towns of Bristol, Warren and Tiverton, and property owners will be required to implement the study's recommendations . DEM will present the draft TMDL at the November 12th meeting .Interested parties will have until December 12 to provide written comments about the restoration plan to DEM .The entire document is available online on DEM's website at: www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/rest/pdfs/mthopedr.pdf. For more information concerning the meeting or water quality issues in Mount Hope Bay and/or the Kickemuit River estuary, contact Brian Zalewsky in DEM's Office of Water Resources at (401)222-4700 ext. 7145 or via email at brian.zalewsky@dem.ri.gov. -30- -30- |
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