In Business for the Blackstone, developed by Massachusetts Audubon, promotes good management for stormwater at stores and offices.  A brochure describing steps such as keeping dumpster closed, washing vehicles responsibly, cleaning storm drains, and diverting run-off to landscaped areas, forms the basis for our conversation and further work with businesses. 

According to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, the Blackstone is out of compliance with copper, cadmium, and bacteria that can be deposited by stormwater.  Thus, Audubon participates to improve water quality and aquatic habitat

Watershed Counts is a broad coalition of agencies and organizations who have committed to work together to examine and report regularly on the condition of the land and water resources of the Narragansett Bay Watershed Region. In 2011, we have started with five key indicators (climate change, impervious cover, beach closures, fresh water flow and invasive species). Additional indicators will be added during the next several years. These indicators will be used to describe the condition of the watershed region and communicate this information to the public and decision makers.

RIPTA to Hold 10 Public Hearings on Proposed Service Reductions

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA ) will hold public hearings on proposed service reductions in all five Rhode Island counties on July 26th – July 28th, August 1st, and August 2, 2011. The Authority announced that the reductions in service statewide are due to a $4.6 million shortfall for FY 2012 (which begins on July 1st) that is caused principally by a reduction in revenue from the state gas tax and the high cost of fuel to operate the system.

The proposed cuts would affect thirty-five (35) communities, thirty-nine (39) bus routes, Flex zones and Park n’ Ride service and include the following changes: eliminating routes or route segments; decreasing service frequency; ending service at 10 pm on weekdays on many routes; and shutting down service at 10 pm on weekends on many routes. RIPTA is also proposing to eliminate all Holiday Bus Service, all Flex Service in Narragansett and some Park n’ Ride service.

Additionally, because American Disability Act (ADA ) service is offered within a ¾ mile corridor of fixed-route service, the Paratransit ADA service that RIPTA provides through the RIde Program may also be reduced wherever there is elimination of a route or segment of a route.

“This is a very painful undertaking for RIPTA. However due to current funding constraints we have no other choice but to consider cuts to service. RIPTA will be diligent in ensuring that these cuts cause minimal impact to our riders,” said RIPTA CEO Charles Odimgbe.

Pawtucket service will be greatly impacted by these proposed service cuts. Five of Pawtucket’s routes may be completely shut down on Saturday; four routes may cease to run on Sunday.

The proposed service reductions include the elimination of routes, or route segments, or service can be found HERE .

Storm-water Run-off

We are also promoting "Rain Gardens " as a means for home-owners to divert roof and driveway runoff into the soil with an aesthetic effect.  We provided a tour of local rain gardens.

During the summer we conducted a survey to find out whether homeowners manage in-ground irrigation systems in their yards to reduce water consumption and stress on local rivers.  Results indicate that we need a much better informed lawn management to achieve savings in costs of water. A copy of the report is available through emarks@asri.org.

Staff participated in an EPA - sponsored webinar on "Green Roofs " as a means to mitigate stormwater run-off. Vegetation planted on layers of water-proofing and non-soil growing medium can be retrofit on existing buildings, but new design and construction provides greater flexibility in choice of plantings.

Recycling fishing line    

As a extension of our International Coastal Cleanup theme, we have started a project with RI DEM to install and promote the use of boxes where snarled fishing line can be collected at DEM fishing access sites.  So far, the pilot project in North Kingstown has shown great response by the public with a garbage bag of line collected in just one month at four locations, thanks to volunteer Alex Bruder. Both U. S. EPA Lab and URI-GSO have requested boxes for their bay-front locations.   We have another set of boxes proposed in the east bay as part of an Eagle Scout project. 

Sustainable Energy

Audubon continues its stakeholder role following reports on impacts to birds, mammals, reptiles and fish as off shore and terrestrial sites for energy generation are proposed. 

We attended the meeting of the Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) is developing and will suggest a location for off-shore wind energy development.  At that meeting tidal and current power were reported to be commercially infeasible due to weak energy of our tides and currents.

We continue to urge energy conservation individually and corporately, and to promote least impact projects in the public interest.

Educational Partnerships

We are currently helping Smithfield students fulfill their service requirement through International Coastal Cleanup and serving as mentor for a Barrington High School senior on her senior project to improve commercial recycling.