Water Quality - Nonpoint Source Pollution

 

Protecting and restoring the waters of the State – surface water, groundwater and wetlands – from pollution due to nonpoint sources continues to be an important focus of state water pollution control programs in Rhode Island. Managing nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution – those that cannot be tracked to a single pipe or discharge point, such as overland stormwater runoff and failing septic systems – is challenging. Available monitoring data reveal nonpoint pollution as a widespread problem affecting every watershed in the State. Nonpoint sources are suspected of contributing to the impairments in a majority of the surface waters included on the state's impaired waters list, also known as the 303(d) list.

To prevent and combat NPS pollution, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program encourages various actions by state and local governments, businesses, watershed groups and individual landowners. The NPS Program uses the watershed approach to focus on managing nonpoint pollution problems.The DEM NPS Program activities are guided by the RI Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan (2019) as well as federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements governing Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 funds. In accordance with federal NPS guidelines, only those projects that are in watersheds which have a Watershed Plan that meets the required elements in the federal guidelines and which implement recommendations in the Plan are considered eligible for funding with Section 319 grant funds. See below for qualifying watershed plans.

For information, contact:
Ernie Panciera, 222-4700 ext. 2777603
Betsy Dake, 222-4700 ext. 2777230

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Resources

• Guidance for Watershed Plan Development
• 2019 RI Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan
• State Guide Plan Element Water Quality 2035
• Stormwater Design Manual and Low Impact Development (LID) guidance
• Nonpoint Source Funding Page
• Nonpoint Source Grant Program Quality Assurance Project Plan
• Simple Ways You Can Help Keep Rhode Island's Waters Clean
• Stormwater Solutions RI

 

Watershed Plans

• Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan (in development):
• Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan
• Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan Proposed Goal Statement narratives
• Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan slides
• For more information about the Aquidneck Island watershed plan, please contact
  Jenny Paquet, Senior Environmental Planner, 401-222-4700 ext. 2777263.
• Barrington-Palmer-Warren Rivers Watershed Plan
• Bristol-Kickemuit Rivers Watershed Plan
• Jamestown Brook Watershed Plan
• Narrow River Watershed Plan (draft)
• Nonquit Pond Watershed Plan
• Stafford Pond Watershed Plan
• Watson Reservoir Watershed Plan