Environmental Report Card will Show Rhode Island Needs Improvement
New collaborative sends heads up to legislators
Press release from Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Wednesday afternoon at the State House, a unique collaboration of 34 leading environmental agencies and organizations in Rhode Island will report the results of a year focusing on how to rate the health of local natural resources. The report will take place on April 27 at 2:00 PM at the State Room in the State House. This presentation is part of the Environment Council of Rhode Island's Lobby Day activities.
The report, entitled “Watershed Counts,” both tells a story of the success and achievements of investment in environmental protection and pollution infrastructure, and addresses the many serious challenges that remain for RI’s lands and waters.
“This is an extraordinary effort to bring together the most knowledgeable people to tell us how our environment is doing and why. We should be proud of the progress, but we have a huge amount of work to do still,” said Baykeeper John Torgan of Save The Bay.
Some of the report’s highlights include:
- Recognition of improved water quality for swimming and shellfishing in Narragansett Bay and the state’s licensed beaches since 2006, a result of improvements in wastewater treatment and stormwater infrastructure
- Major water quality challenges remain, related to polluted runoff, excessive nutrients, and an increase in water temperatures
- Other serious environmental problems statewide relate to climate change, invasive species, and freshwater conservation and usage
The Watershed Counts report is the product of a broad coalition of agencies and organizations. The process was facilitated the Narragansett Bay Estuary program and the URI Coastal Institute, and included five RI agencies, environmental groups including Save The Bay, Audubon Society of RI, Environment Council of RI, and many other environmental experts.
“I am pleased to see in operation that which we knew all along: Rhode Island's environmental expertise is massive” said Judith Swift of the Coastal Institute. “The members of the community, whether they serve as regulators or advocates, are all willing to work side by side to ensure the quality of life we treasure as Rhode Islanders.”
News Advisory
For Immediate Release April 25, 2011
Contact: Meg Kerr, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program 874-6525;
cell 714-2313, [email protected]
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