What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Photo Contest ~ Extreme High Tide Photos Needed ~ June 2-3, 2012

Grab your camera and head to the R.I. shoreline *June 2 and 3* to photograph some of the highest high tides of the year. Send your photos to Rhode Island Sea Grant, and you may see your photo published in the magazine /41°N <http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/41N/index.html>/. The photographer who captures the best photo will receive a prize worth $50.

Rhode Island Sea Grant is partnering with the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council and Save The Bay to record ongoing flooding from high tide events, and we are particularly interested in photos capturing the effect of flooding on shoreline homes, business, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. These areas are increasingly vulnerable to flooding during extreme high tide events, and as sea levels rise due to climate change, extreme tides may become the norm within a few decades.

This spring’s extreme high tide will be most pronounced at approximately 6:55 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, and at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. These times are for Newport, R.I. Visit NOAA’s webpage on tide predictions (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml) for specific times for your location, as timing of high tide varies along the coast. (Providence is 17 minutes later; Westerly is 41 minutes later.)


When taking your pictures please remember to record your *location *(street and town), *time and date, description* of what you are seeing, and *contact information* so we can give you credit for the picture and consideration for the prize. If known, please also include the *direction* (e.g., “facing north”) the photo was taken. Taking “before and after” shots—that is, showing what an area looks like when it is and is not flooded—are also helpful. And please, be careful! Take precautions to avoid slippery rocks or other hazards.

*If you have a Flickr account, upload your photographs to the Flickr group “Rhode Island High Tide 2012” at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ritide2012/. If you do not have a Flickr account, please e-mail pictures to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>. *

The Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island/Rhode Island Sea Grant has been working in cooperation with the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, Save The Bay, and other organizations on issues related to sea level rise and its impact on communities, as well as identifying ways to adapt to its effects. Pictures will provide important information for local and state planners. For more information, please visit http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coast/sealevelrise.html.

Resilience: Adapting for Man-Made or Natural Disasters ~ December 1, 2011

                         Special Seminar on Disaster Planning and Response through Resilience

5:00 to 6:15 p.m.
Thursday, December 1
Weaver Auditorium, Coastal Institute (Kingston Campus)
6:20 to 7:00 p.m. - Reception at the University Club
University of Rhode Island

Resilience: How do we learn to live with water, or earth, or wind, or fire? What is the theory? How do we measure resiliency? We can (and must) adapt to the changing environment. Learn about tsunami or storm surge mitigation and evacuation systems, floating cities, artificial barrier islands, land use restrictions, floodable environments and buildings. Examples are gleaned from work done in Christchurch, New Zealand, New Orleans, Chile and San Francisco. The speaker has done fieldwork in these locations and is in the forefront of resilience planning.

Doug Ahlers, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, founded the Harvard Kennedy School Broadmoor Project, a collaborative redevelopment effort between the Katrina-devastated Broadmoor New Orleans neighborhood and the Kennedy School. Ahlers has been a Fellow at the Preventative Defense Project at Stanford University¡¯s Center for International Security and Cooperation where he worked on a plan for San Francisco in preparing to recover faster after a disaster strikes. A Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, and a Fellow at the Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard, Ahlers teaches courses on the management of disaster recovery which blend case teaching with field-research (Community Recovery: Rebuilding Disaster Damaged Communities in Chile; Disaster Recovery Management and Urban Development: Rebuilding Cities After a Disaster). Mr. Ahlers is the cofounder of Modem Media (now Publicis Modem) and is on the Smithsonian Institution¡¯s National Board and the board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Are You Ready for the Future?
Find out on Tuesday nights: http://www.uri.edu/hc

Bioneers by the Bay Early Bird Discount (30%) Ending September 30, 2011

Note: This is a highly regarded conference!

The 7th annual educational Connecting for Change conference, is set to take place once again in downtown New Bedford, on October 21-23, 2011.  The Connecting for Change: a Bioneers by The Bay Conference brings awareness of the importance of environmental activism and sustainability.  Connecting for Change is committed to affordable access for all to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded individuals. Discounted (30%-off) Early Bird Registration is available ONLY until midnight on Friday, September 30.
 

Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Restoration Planning Public Information Meetings ~ September 21 & 22, 2011

State and Federal Officials Schedule Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Restoration Planning Public Information Meetings

Public Invited to Attend Meetings in Fall River and at Mass. Maritime Academy

The Natural Resource Damages Trustee Council (NRTC) for the Buzzards Bay oil spill has scheduled two public information meetings next week as part of the development of a Restoration Plan (RP) to restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of natural resources injured by the April 2003 Bouchard B-120 barge oil spill and spill clean-up in Buzzards Bay. The development and implementation of the Restoration Plan will be funded by a May 2011 Natural Resource Damages (NRD) settlement of $6 million with Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc.

The public is invited to learn about the process for developing the RP and is welcomed to offer input on potential restoration projects addressing the injured natural resources. The following are the injury categories that will be addressed by the NRTC and discussed at the public meetings.

• Shoreline resources, including tidal marshes, sand beaches, rocky coast, and gravel and boulder shorelines;
• Aquatic resources, including benthic organisms such as American lobster and their habitats, and finfish such as river herring and their habitats;
• Ram Island shoreline resources, including marsh fringe, rocky coast, and gravel and boulder shorelines ;
• Piping Plovers (a federally threatened shorebird); and
• Lost uses, including coastal access, recreational shellfishing, and boating.

“We are excited to start this Natural Resource Damages process, an important milestone that will serve to restore Buzzards Bay’s precious resources,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., who serves as Massachusetts’ Trustee for natural resources. “I urge residents in the Buzzards Bay area to attend one of these meetings and offer thoughts on how best to restore these valuable resources.”
 
“The State of Rhode Island joins Massachusetts and the Federal Trustees in looking forward to starting the restoration process,” said Janet Coit, the State of Rhode Island Director of Environmental Management.
 
A range of reasonable project alternatives will be included as part of the RP. Examples of projects that restore the injuries may include: tidal marsh restoration; fish passage projects such as dam removals and fishways; eelgrass bed plantings; enhancement of shellfish beds; acquisition of properties for public coastal access; installation of coastal boat ramps or access trails; and shoreline management for piping plovers. Restoration projects will be expected to address the natural resource injuries that resulted to both Massachusetts and Rhode Island shorelines and coastal waters.

The format of the public meetings will be as follows: The meeting will begin with an informal discussion at 6 p.m., followed by a formal Trustee Council presentation at 7 p.m., and concluded by a question-and-answer session. Following the public meetings, information obtained during the meetings will be used by the Trustee Council and technical agency staff to develop the RP and project alternatives. Once completed, a Draft RP will be released to the public for review and comment.

For the current settlement, the Trustee Council is composed of representatives from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; United States Fish and Wildlife Service, representing the U.S Department of Interior; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, representing the U.S. Department of Commerce. The spill also affected tribal resources, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head previously settled separately with Bouchard.
 

The meetings will be held at:

Wednesday, September 21st   6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Admirals Hall, Harrington Building
101 Academy Drive  
Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

 

Thursday, September 22nd   6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Heritage State Park
Visitor’s Center
200 Davol Street
Fall River, MA 02720

Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanup ~ September 17, 2011

Audubon Society of Rhode Island and local beach cleanup leaders are seeking volunteers for the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17, 2011. Interested participants should contact Audubon at 949-5454 or the local beach cleanup leader to sign up for the event.
 
Beach cleanups especially in need of help are:

• Aunt Carrie’s Beach, Narragansett: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Heather Biben at [email protected]
• Barrington Beach—West Side: 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Bill & Deb Dwyer at 245-2684 or [email protected].
• Warwick City Park: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. William Quirk at 952-8967 or [email protected]

Fall Fishing Classes ~ September - October 2011

DEM'S AQUATIC RESOURCE EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERING SALTWATER AND FRESHWATER FLY-FISHING WORKSHOPS, A FLY-TYING PROGRAM, AND FLY-FISHING TRAIN SAFARI ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND THIS FALL

 
            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold several fishing programs this fall. Hosted by the Division's Aquatic Resource Education program, the fee-based programs include an introduction to saltwater and freshwater fly-fishing, a fly-fishing trip via train around Aquidneck Island, and fly-tying. Pre-registration is required for most programs.

            The introduction to saltwater fly-fishing program will be held on Saturday, September 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Kettle Pond Visitors Center in Charlestown.  Premier fly-fishing instructors will teach participants fly-tying, casting techniques, and knot-tying. All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch. The program is open to adults and children age 10 and older.
 
            The introductory workshop on freshwater fly-fishing will be held at Addieville East Game Farm in Mapleville on Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Whether you are a beginner or need a refresher course, this workshop will cover all the basics on freshwater fly- fishing. Top Rhode Island fly-fishing instructors will teach casting techniques, fly-tying, tackle needs, and knot-tying. Participants will also put their skills to work on the water.  The workshop is open to everyone 10 years of age and older.  All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch.

            A fly-fishing safari around Aquidneck Island on the Old Colony Train will be held on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The train will stop at several remote public access fishing areas around the island. Fly-fishing instructors will offer advice on the best flies and fly- fishing tactics. The program is designed for advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced fly- fishing anglers, and is perfect for those who have already participated in the Introduction to Saltwater Fly-Fishing workshop and would like to hone their fly-fishing skills while fishing.  Pack a lunch and your chest waders and join other anglers on this fishing adventure.  All other equipment, including flies, is provided with the $35 per-person registration fee.

            From October 27 to December 8, fly-tying classes will be held each Thursday (except November 24) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center. Professional fly-tyers will teach beginning and intermediate fly-tying techniques for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Cost of the program is $6 for each class or $30 for all six sessions. Pre-registration is recommended, although walk-ins are accepted.

            For additional information and for registration materials, contact Kimberly Sullivan in DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program at 539-7333 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Volunteer ~ Save the Bay Prepares for Irene ~ August 27, 2011

We Need Your Help Preparing for Hurricane Irene!

Volunteers are needed at our Exploration Center Aquarium at Easton's Beach in Newport on Saturday, August 27 from 10 am - 2 pm to help fill sandbags to be used to block off the center from any potential flooding. Anytime you can give to help fill sandbags between 10 am and 2 pm would be greatly appreciated. Come grubby, bring your work gloves, a shovel and a bottle of water and we'll provide the rest!

Parking will be free if you're volunteering, just notify the staff at the beach gate you're there to volunteer for Save The Bay. The Exploration Center is located on the main floor of the Rotunda at Easton's Beach. The address is 175 Memorial Blvd. in Newport.

If you're able to help us out, please let me know at [email protected] or call 401.272.3540 x 130.

*Note: if you happen to already have filled sandbags that you'd like to share, feel free to drop them off anytime this week!*

Time to Sign Up for International Coastal Cleanup ~ September 17, 2011

September 17, 2011  ~ 9 a.m.-­noon*

*Some cleanups occur on a different date or time; check the Rhode Island International Coastal Cleanups for details.

Each year, volunteers around the world show they care about their coasts by flocking to the beaches to clean up and document the trash they find. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is proud to coordinate cleanup efforts for the Ocean State. If you would like to volunteer, please contact one of the local cleanup leaders listed below. For general questions, contact July Lewis at 401-­949-­5454 x3044 or [email protected]. This is a rain-­or-­shine event, but may be postponed in the event of a severe storm.

Bring a pair of gloves and come prepared to make a difference!

Rhode Island Water Resources Board ~ Slow the Flow ~ Summer 2011

Rhode Island Water Resources Board Launches
“SLOW THE FLOW THIS SUMMER” Campaign

Campaign aims to inform Rhode Islanders about
lawn watering guidelines and conservation efforts during the summer months

 

PROVIDENCE, RI (June 28, 2011) – The Rhode Island Water Resources Board has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging Rhode Islanders to follow simple watering guidelines this summer to keep lawns healthy while conserving water.

The “SLOW THE FLOW THIS SUMMER” campaign was developed to provide Rhode Island homeowners with year-round instructions on efficient water use for lawn watering both for lawn health and sustainability of our water supply.

“Water is a renewable but finite resource,” said Kenneth Burke, General Manager of the RI Water Resources Board. “Clean water is not always available when we need it and there is so much work and cost involved with producing clean, potable water – that it is truly wasteful to be applying it to lawns. The recent outdoor watering restrictions in both Narragansett and South Kingstown, and existing outdoor restrictions in North Kingstown emphasize the need to balance the use of these precious resources.”

Led by representatives from the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA), the University of Rhode Island’s Turf Program, and the RI Water Resources Board, stakeholders and experts worked for over a year to develop the State’s first lawn maintenance guidelines emphasizing water conservation.

“Working with the Rhode Island Water Resources Board to develop these important parameters was an innovative experience,” said Shannon Brawley, executive director of RINLA. “It brought together expertise from across the State to help educate about appropriate lawn watering and maintenance while conserving our critical resources.”

Conserving water reduces overall costs as both a home and business owner, according to the RI Water Resources Board – easing strains on water resource infrastructure such as rivers, streams, water towers, water lines, pump stations and treatment facilities. The new guidelines recommend that lawns get no more than one inch of water per week. Rhode Island gets between 39-54 inches of rain a year. To date, Rhode Island has received approximately 26 inches of rain.

“Your lawns should be healthy, but you can easily overwater and overfeed your lawn,” said Burke. “This is not only wasteful – but could also weaken your lawn and result in the runoff of nutrients into surrounding areas.”

RI Water Resources Board Chairman Bill Penn said, “We take great pride in offering these simple dos and don’ts – and we hope that Rhode Islanders take some time during this summer season to appreciate one of our most abundant but delicate resources – our water supplies.”

“This new how-to delivers useful and insightful ways for Rhode Island homeowners to conserve our precious water,” said Dave Wallace, president of The Rhode Island Turfgrass Foundation.

A fully integrated marketing campaign is launching July 4 to build awareness throughout the state of Rhode Island including radio, print, and online mediums. For additional details regarding these watering guidelines and other water resource programs, please visit www.riwater.org.

 
About The Rhode Island Water Resources Board

The Rhode Island Water Resources Board is an executive agency of state government responsible for managing the proper development, utilization and conservation of water resources. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that sufficient water resources are available for present and future generations. The Board actively pursues new and innovative strategies for water resource protection and development on behalf of the State – and as part of its mission is committed to wisely conserving Rhode Island’s water resources.

Bike Sale and Strawberry Picking Ride! ~ June 18, 2011

Find the Red Shed Bike Shop
Riverside Mills Park  
50 Aleppo Street in Providence

Stay tuned for more information about the shop
and upcoming weekly rides!

Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
27 Sims Avenue
Providence, RI 02909
401-861-9046