ESS proposes a complete inventory of federal, state, and local planning efforts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. ESS will focus on historic efforts that pertain to the overall goals of the Narragansett Bay Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP), including improvements to water quality in developing coastal areas; protection of high quality resource areas; managing commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important estuarine-dependent living resources; restoring water quality-dependent uses; and establishing interstate and interagency agreements and mechanisms to coordinate and oversee implementation of the CCMP. Specific tasks to be completed will be as follows:

Identify, Summarize and Evaluate Planning Initiatives: ESS will develop a list of applicable programs, projects, regulations, legislation, grants, and other initiatives designed to protect the Narragansett Bay environment and facilitate land use and resource management decisions impacting Narragansett Bay and coastal Rhode Island.

In order to provide an objective evaluation of the effectiveness of each initiative, ESS will assess if the initiative resulted in a measurable improvement (biological, chemical, physical, educational, social), allowed input from multiple constituents within the watershed (if applicable), resulted in a change of public policy, regulations, or legislation and/or the initiative resulted in a benefit to Narragansett Bay and coastal watersheds or to residents of the watersheds.

ESS will include the Massachusetts portion of the Narragansett Bay watershed specifically by reviewing Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Watershed Action Plans, historical planning and legislative initiatives, connecting with nonprofit organizations, and researching publications available through regional planning councils.

Stakeholder Group Review: ESS will prepare a draft document that will be provided electronically for review to a stakeholder group which will include key representatives at state and federal agencies, applicable watershed team leaders and members, former Narragansett Bay Project Management Committee members, state legislative representatives and/or staff, town/city planning departments and conservation commissions, regional planning authorities, non-profit organizations including watershed associations, water quality monitoring groups, and regional planning councils. The stakeholders will be invited to review the document and attend a luncheon. At the luncheon, ESS will present the results of the review of the planning history of Narragansett Bay and ask for feedback from the attendees. ESS will address any areas not covered already in the final document and summarize other comments for a presentation to the Administration Team.

Conduct Case Studies: ESS will prepare written case studies of three initiatives, comparing their scope and effectiveness to those of successful initiatives in other estuaries similar to Narragansett Bay. If the initiative did not meet the criteria (e.g., funding, public support, etc.), ESS will identify potential reasons for the lack of success. These case studies will also identify lessons learned in other programs that are relative to the selected initiative.

Project Team Contact Information:

Principal-In-Charge:
Elizabeth T. Gowell
Environmental Science Services, Inc.
401 Wampanoag Trail, Suite 400
East Providence, RI 02915
401-330-1203
lgowell@mail.essgroup.com

Project Manager:
Laura M. Ernst
Environmental Science Services, Inc.
401 Wampanoag Trail, Suite 400
East Providence, RI 02915
401-330-1208
lernst@essgroup.com

Environmental Scientist:
Joe Roumelis
Environmental Science Services, Inc.
401 Wampanoag Trail, Suite 400
East Providence, RI 02915
401-330-1247
JRoumelis@mail.essgroup.com