For Release: October 20, 1998

Contact: Richard Ribb, DEM, 222-3961

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and Save The Bay have completed mapping of critical coastal habitats of Narragansett Bay. The maps depict salt marshes, eelgrass, oyster reefs and other habitats that are important to the Bay's fish and wildlife, yet vulnerable to destruction by human activity. The maps will serve as a scientific baseline for tracking changes in Bay habitats and are, therefore, essential to efforts to preserve and restore the ecology of Narragansett Bay.

The Critical Habitat Maps for Narragansett Bay were developed through a collaborative effort led by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program within DEM. Other partners included Save The Bay and the City of Warwick. The maps are computerized and will be included in the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS), the state's electronic repository for geographic information, November 1.

The new data indicates there are approximately 90 acres of eelgrass remaining in Narragansett Bay as well as about 2,700 acres of salt marsh. Areas of the upper Bay, such as Greenwich Bay and the Palmer River, have lost substantial amounts of eelgrass over the last half-century due to disease, hurricane damage, and water pollution.

"The Critical Habitat Maps will be a boon to our ongoing cooperative efforts to protect and restore wetlands, eelgrass, and other coastal resources around the Bay," according to DEM Director Andy McLeod. "The availability of these maps has the added benefit of helping position the state to receive new federal funds for restoration."

Eelgrass provides essential habitat for shellfish and fish such as tautog, winter flounder, and bay scallop; food for such waterfowl as brant and geese; and a variety of other ecological functions critical to the health of Narragansett Bay. Salt marshes provide habitat for a wide variety of bay creatures, filter pollutants, and provide buffers from storms and floods.

Already, the Estuary Program is using the maps as the foundation for a scientific study to identify and prioritize wetland restoration projects on Narragansett Bay, based on a "trends analysis" to document changes in the Bay's wetlands over the last several decades. "Data from this project will be a central component of efforts by DEM's Narragansett Bay Estuary Program and other partners to spur creation of a Bay-wide restoration plan for all types of coastal habitats," McLeod said. "The goal of this effort is to develop a strategic, coordinated approach among agencies and organizations engaged in restoration activities on Narragansett Bay."

Over the next year, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program will be expanding the mapping project to encompass coastal habitats of Rhode Island's South Shore and Block Island. This will complete comprehensive coverage of the state's coastal habitats.

"The mapping shows that Narragansett Bay is in dire need of restoration," said Curt Spalding, executive director of Save The Bay. "We plan to use the map findings to make the case that the necessary funds must be allocated to restore Bay habitats. The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed S.1222, a bill introduced by Senator Chafee to help fund local restoration projects. But, in order to qualify for these federal funds, Rhode Island must provide matching dollars."

The Critical Habitat Maps are based on color aerial photography of Narragansett Bay commissioned by the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program in 1996. The Estuary Program initiated the project, which was funded by $200,000 in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Rhode Island Aqua Fund, then worked with a team of state, federal and local organizations to develop the methodology. The University of Massachusetts interpreted the photographs, delineating eelgrass beds, salt marshes, fringe marsh, beaches, bars, flats, oyster reefs, and coastal banks. DEM then digitized this information and developed habitat coverages. Save the Bay provided $6,000 in supplemental funding, undertook public education and outreach about coastal habitats, and coordinated volunteers to verify the results of the aerial photography. The City of Warwick served as the municipal sponsor. Warwick officials have worked cooperatively with DEM on several environmental projects, most notably the Greenwich Bay Initiative, a successful effort to restore shellfish beds by reducing land-based pollution.

"This is another example of the cooperation between the city and state that is working wonders for the Bay," said Warwick Mayor Lincoln Chafee.

The protection, management and restoration of the critical coastal habitats are high priority actions for DEM and its Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. For more information, call Helen Cottrell, the Estuary Program's habitat coordinator, at DEM, 222-4700 ext. 7273.