Appendix B. Action Plans at a Glance

ACTION PLAN: People Ready to Act

VISION: Informed and engaged partners are empowered to implement the CCMP.

GOAL: Provide foundational knowledge, capacity, and drivers for CCMP implementation.

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ACTION STATEMENT	POTENTIAL PROJECTS	OUTPUTS	OUTCOMES
OBJECTIVE 1: Increase meaningful and useful partner and public engagement.
People 1.1 Engagement Plan: Develop and implement the NBEP Engagement Plan to convene and activate partners to implement priority CCMP actions.	Convene NBEP partners and other organizations to advance connections, knowledge, and solutions at local and regional scales. Convene partners to inventory and coordinate needs for education and outreach programs. Convene partners to explore avenues to establish and promote a unique identity for the Narragansett Bay region to support funding requests and public engagement. Conduct NBEP Science Events. Review existing local and state plans (e.g., Wildlife Action Plans, Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Plans) and compile lists of recommended policy topics that have potential for bi-state or interjurisdictional interest; then, obtain Steering Committee consensus on priority topics, next steps, and appropriate outputs. Establish a regular schedule of communications with elected and appointed leaders at local, state, and federal levels to share NBEP and partner activities, accomplishments, and benefits.	NBEP Engagement Plan and regular updates Annual funding opportunities intended specifically for watershed outreach and education that implement the CCMP in the Narragansett Bay region Events to promote engagement with priority science, preservation, and restoration issues and opportunities Working group meetings Reports on select policy topics	NBEP decisions, services, and projects that are responsive to current needs Improved partner coordination for CCMP implementation at various scales (e.g., watershed, state, interstate) Increased NBEP and partner ownership of progress toward CCMP goals and objectives Public support for and participation in CCMP implementation Adoption of policy changes that advance CCMP goals and objectives
People 1.2 Research Plan: Implement the NBEP Research Plan and Coastal Urban Waters Research Collaborative.	Convene Coastal Urban Waters Research Collaborative focused on the Providence River Estuary, and as time allows, additional focus areas. Conduct literature reviews of the three priority coastal urban centers (Providence, Fall River, and Westerly) to identify data resources, seminal papers, and links to other reviews and analyses. Compile and improve information sharing on planned and completed research related to the NBEP region. Develop requests for proposals or direct awards to implement the Research Plan.	Ongoing meetings of the Coastal Urban Waters Research Collaborative Requests for proposals that advance research needs identified in the Research Plan Biennial updates to the Research Plan, including evaluations of Plan implementation	Articulated research needs to advance NBEP priorities Enhanced interdisciplinary networks of researchers, managers, and local people
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve access to and use of information to improve ecosystem management and public understanding.
People 2.1 Science Communication Tools: Develop compelling open-source data visualizations, stories, and dashboards.	Collaborate with local water quality monitoring groups and other National Estuary Programs to develop water quality dashboards that aid in analyzing and sharing data. Create tool(s) to document and showcase habitat restoration projects in the region. Build tool(s) to help local organizations prioritize areas for conservation or restoration. Collaborate with data developers, NBEP committee experts, and end users to develop tools that respond to current needs.	New tools Ongoing maintenance and updates to existing tools	Greater ability for end users to understand technical issues and take proactive Decreased technical debt and shorter, more efficient workflows for local organizations, leading to faster data analysis and availability
People 2.2 Ecosystem Modeling and Decision-Support Tools: Support, improve, and create efficiencies for integrated ecosystem models and decision-support tools that foster effective resource management.	Convene stakeholders and other experts to review available modeling tools and their limitations. Convene partners to build consensus on pathways for development of validated and calibrated bay water quality and ecosystem models to support management and assist in setting restoration targets. Collaborate with data developers, NBEP committee experts, and end users to develop technical tools that respond to current needs. Develop and/or update natural heritage database models to inform land use decisions.	Assessment of existing water quality and hydrodynamic models, their intended use, and a pathway toward a larger, linked hydrodynamic model Assessment of data needs for existing models and tools Working group meetings	More efficient and accurate modeling tools for decision-making and policy Broader understanding of available modeling tools and their applicability to resource management Ecosystem management that is better informed by modeling and monitoring data
People 2.3 Indicators: Develop and update indicators to track environmental and socioeconomic trends.	Develop refined metrics, assess and update existing indicators, and create new environmental and socioeconomic indicators. Expand the geographic scope of all indicators to include the Rhode Island Coastal Ponds and Little Narragansett Bay watersheds. Update the State of Narragansett Bay and Its Watershed report in 2027, emphasizing indicators that facilitate tracking CCMP goals and objectives.	Indicator updates New indicators, including socioeconomic indicators Update of The State of Narragansett Bay and Its Watershed report Expanded geographic scope of indicators	Improved understanding of environmental stressors and conditions in the region Improved capacity to track implementation of CCMP Actions Improved understanding of human-ecosystem interactions
OBJECTIVE 3: Accelerate CCMP implementation by supporting efforts to increase regional cooperation.
People 3.1 Finance Plan: Develop the NBEP Finance Plan to catalyze fundraising and investments for projects that implement the CCMP.	Convene partners to identify the highest-priority projects in this CCMP Revision to pursue with external awards within the framework of NBEP’s 9-step Project Development Process. Develop an NBEP Finance Plan and seek approval by Steering Committee and EPA Region 1. Solicit and award funding for staffing, planning, design, and construction of water quality, habitat, and public access projects.	NBEP Finance Plan NBEP project funding solicitations NBEP project awards Funded planning and construction projects	Increased collaborative and strategic fundraising Increased awareness of the cost, value, and importance of conservation, restoration, and resilience efforts in the Narragansett Bay region Increased regional staff capacity for project planning, development, implementation, and maintenance Increased number of conservation, restoration, and resilience projects in the region Improved ecosystem and community health and resilience
People 3.2 Regional Targets: Establish shared regional ecosystem targets with public reporting systems to track progress.	Convene partners to create numeric targets for priority ecosystem and socioeconomic system indicators that span watershed boundaries and authorities. Establish reporting systems for tracking progress toward shared targets.	Facilitated meetings Numeric targets and reporting system(s) for priority environmental and socioeconomic indicators	Improved coordination and collaboration among protection and restoration partners Increased public awareness of management goals and the effectiveness of actions and investments to attain them

People Ready to Act continued

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INDICATORS	NBEP ROLE	IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS	LOCATION	TIMELINE FOR INITIATION	ESTIMATED COST/ POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
OBJECTIVE 1: Increase meaningful and useful partner and public engagement.
All	Convene, Fund capacity and projects	Steering Committee, other agencies and non-governmental organizations	Narragansett Bay region, with priority areas to be determined during development and biannual update of the Engagement Plan	Ongoing	$1M–5M NBEP 320/SNEP; NOAA B-WET, EPA, private foundations
All	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	Science Advisory Committee and other researchers from management agencies, NGOs, and academia	Narragansett Bay region, focusing on the coastal urban sub-watersheds (HUC12 scale)	Ongoing	$5M–10M NBEP 320/SNEP, Rhode Island Sea Grant, NOAA, NSF, private foundations
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve access to and use of information to improve ecosystem management and public understanding.
All	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science	Steering Committee, Science Advisory Committee	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$10K-500K NBEP 320/SNEP
All	Convene, Fund capacity and projects	RIDEM, MassDEP, URI Coastal Institute, RI Environmental Monitoring Collaborative, Rhode Island Natural History Survey, NBNERR, Mass Audubon, MassWildlife, TNC (RI and MA), ASRI, Salt Ponds Coalition, URI Watershed Watch, Save The Bay, Brown University, URI, EPA-ORD-ACESD	Narragansett Bay region	2030-2032	$5M–10M NBEP 320/SNEP, National Science Foundation, Foundation Grants, URI Coastal Institute, RIDEM, MassDEP, TNC
All	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science	Science Advisory Committee, Southeast New England Program (SNEP), EPA Region 1, Other researchers	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$500K–1M NBEP 320/SNEP
OBJECTIVE 3: Accelerate CCMP implementation by supporting efforts to increase regional cooperation.
All	Convene, Fund capacity and projects	Steering Committee	Narragansett Bay region	2026	$10K–500K NBEP 320/SNEP
All	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science	Steering Committee	Narragansett Bay region	2026-2029	$500K–1M NBEP 320/SNEP

Key to Cost (all partners, all costs, over 10 years)

$10k–500k (NBEP staff time) $500k–1M (convene partners, support research/modeling projects) $1M–5M (develop and implement regional plans) $5M–10M (develop project plans, designs and permits) $10M+ (infrastructure and restoration construction)

ACTION PLAN: Water Quality Improvement

VISION: Waters support healthy ecosystems and communities by meeting their designated uses, including healthy fish and wildlife habitat, drinking water supply, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and recreation.

GOAL: Improve water quality to support healthy ecosystems and communities.

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ACTION STATEMENT	POTENTIAL PROJECTS	OUTPUTS	OUTCOMES
OBJECTIVE 1: Improve collection and use of water quality data for decision-making.
Water 1.1 Water Quality Monitoring: Support, improve, and create efficiencies for water quality monitoring programs to continue to provide information needed for management decision-making and filling knowledge gaps.	Facilitate Science Advisory Committee and staff participation on the RI Environmental Monitoring Collaborative to provide multi-state support for cross-boundary monitoring needs including coordinating or standardizing monitoring activities and methods, developing new or expanding current monitoring activities (such as water column chemistry, emerging pollutants, or increased focus on embayments), and ensure that monitoring aligns with management questions and needs. Develop and/or update water quality monitoring databases. Support expanded water quality monitoring in newly restored areas, such as the Kickemuit River, to establish a scientific basis for considering recreation and shellfish harvesting. Facilitate Science Advisory Committee participation in the update to the Rhode Island Statewide Water Monitoring Strategy (2026). Support innovations in monitoring strategies that bring efficiencies to and build capacity for data collection; encourage community science programs that help fill priority data gaps. Support innovations for funding and staff capacity to continue data collection, analysis, and reporting.	New monitoring protocols or programs for new or expanded monitoring activities Appropriately updated water quality databases and Statewide Water Monitoring Strategies	Enhanced capacity for water quality monitoring throughout the region Better coordinated water monitoring activities Improved collection and use of water quality information Enhanced understanding of monitoring gaps and mechanisms to fill them Ecosystem management that is better informed by monitoring
Water 1.2 Land Use and Watershed Planning: Work at multiple scales to assess land use changes and develop plans and tools to protect watersheds.	Foster adoption of Low Impact Development (LID) principles in local ordinances and bylaws. Support development of Watershed Management Plans and Watershed-Based Plans. Promote wider use and integration of existing land use tools and plans. Create NBEP Science Updates and web applications to communicate information about impacts of land use change on water quality and wildlife habitats. Conduct research and convene partners in workgroups to develop information and tools to inform land use policies for improved watershed management. Seek funding to provide ongoing support for regional circuit-rider positions that lend capacity to local planners.	Ten additional watershed plans in Rhode Island (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources 2024) More municipalities codifying Low-Impact Development principles NBEP Science Updates and tools Workgroup products, including information and tools to inform land use policies Sustained regional circuit-rider positions at state and regional planning agencies	More watershed areas eligible for and seeking implementation funds for non-point source pollution projects Better integration of land use planning protective of natural resources at various scales
OBJECTIVE 2: Reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.
Water 2.1 Stormwater Guidance and Education: Update and standardize stormwater design manuals, support stormwater workforce training and capacity-building, and encourage public education and involvement to reduce stormwater pollution.	Update stormwater design and installation manuals for each state, as necessary, including protocols for maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation. NBEP has partnered with RIDEM to secure funding to update the Rhode Island Stormwater Design Manual. Support education and professional development to increase municipal and NGO capacities to maintain green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, or other stormwater infrastructure. Support public engagement and involvement activities to spread awareness about ways to reduce stormwater pollution. Convene partners to review existing plans, identify priority needs for new policies and programs that target stormwater pollution, and seek avenues for policy and program development and adoption.	Updated stormwater manuals Educational materials Trainings Working group meetings Studies to understand and improve stormwater BMPs	Improved water quality Reduced flooding Improved protection for public health and property Expanded use of LID and green infrastructure A trained workforce capable of designing, installing, and maintaining stormwater infrastructure, especially LID and green infrastructure Increased public awareness about stormwater pollution drivers, consequences, and solutions
Water 2.2 Stormwater Retrofits: Support stormwater retrofit opportunities and associated maintenance activities to improve resilience and treatment capacity.	Support under-resourced and under-staffed communities to design and implement holistic and coordinated landscape-scale approaches to meeting stormwater requirements. Fund studies and efforts to develop sustainable financing mechanisms to support more effective stormwater management at state and local levels. Support partners to work with farms to develop and implement Conservation Plans that identify BMPs that mitigate stormwater impacts.	Retrofit designs Completed retrofit projects Stormwater retrofit funding mechanisms	Water quantity and quality are better managed Public health and property are better protected from the impacts of stormwater Municipalities have reliable funding pathways for stormwater retrofits and maintenance Expanded use of green infrastructure
OBJECTIVE 3: Reduce pollution from wastewater discharges, onsite wastewater systems, and combined sewer overflows.
Water 3.1 Centralized Wastewater Infrastructure: Prioritize and support wastewater treatment facility and combined sewer system infrastructure upgrades to improve treatment of pollutants and increase resilience.	Compile a matrix of WWTFs with estimated pollutant loadings, major infrastructure projects, and track the status of permit compliance and project completion to foster community support and awareness. Continue to implement Narragansett Bay Commission’s Phase III CSO Project in RI. Continue to explore options for expanding the types of projects aligned with the CCMP that might benefit from participation in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.	Report card identifying permit compliance or changes to pollution loading at WWTFs Treatment capacity upgraded/compliance achieved by WWTFs in the region Continued implementation of Narragansett Bay Commission Phase III combined sewer overflow project Annual WWTF tracking internship maintained for at least 5 years Improved access for municipalities to funding for infrastructure projects	Greater community awareness and support for wastewater treatment facility infrastructure projects Greater Clean Water Act compliance at WWTFs and in receiving waters More resilient WWTFs Reduced wastewater pollution discharges to waterbodies and improved water quality
Water 3.2 Onsite Wastewater Systems: Support cesspool phaseouts and onsite system maintenance region-wide, and advanced septic system upgrades or extension of central sewer service in priority areas.	Fund studies to assess the contribution of OWTDS to water pollution where there are gaps in understanding. Support efforts to encourage property owners to properly maintain OWTDS, including those operating with advanced treatment technologies.	White papers or other research products that document OWTDS performance in areas that currently lack information Cesspool removals Advanced treatment systems installed in priority areas	More OWTDS meet high standards of performance More waterways previously impaired by OWTDS pollution meet designated uses
OBJECTIVE 4: Reduce trash and marine debris pollution.
Water 4.1 Trash and Marine Debris: Prevent and remove aquatic trash and marine debris.	Convene partners to develop materials to inform policies and legislation aimed at reducing aquatic trash and marine debris. Conduct regional needs/feasibility assessment for trash collection solutions on outfalls, rivers, and streams, and support funding and capacity to implement priority solutions.	Materials developed to inform policy and legislation solutions to reduce aquatic trash and marine debris Needs/feasibility assessment for trash collection solutions on outfalls, rivers, and streams More trash collection solutions deployed	Improved capacity to remove aquatic trash and marine debris Reduced volume of aquatic trash and marine debris

Water Quality Improvement continued

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INDICATORS	NBEP ROLE	IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS	LOCATION	TIMELINE FOR INITIATION	ESTIMATED COST/ POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
OBJECTIVE 1: Improve collection and use of water quality data for decision-making.
All	Convene, Fund capacity and projects	RIDEM, MassDEP, URI Coastal Institute, RI Environmental Monitoring Collaborative, NBNERR, TNC (RI and MA), Salt Ponds Coalition, URI Watershed Watch, Save The Bay, Brown University, URI, Narragansett Bay Commission, EPA-ORD-ACESD	Narragansett Bay region	2026-2029	$5M–10M NBEP 320/SNEP, National Science Foundation, Congressionally Directed Spending, Foundation Grants, URI-CI, RIDEM, MassDEP, TNC
Population, Land Use, Impervious Cover, Open Space	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	RIDEM, MassDEP, RI Division of Statewide Planning, SRPEDD, OCPC, URI Coastal Institute, URI Cooperative Extension, NBNERR, Mass Audubon, ASRI, Save The Bay, SNEP Network	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$10k–500k NBEP 320/SNEP
OBJECTIVE 2: Reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.
Precipitation, Impervious Cover, Wastewater Infrastructure, Water Quality Condition for Aquatic Life, Water Quality Condition for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Shellfishing Areas	Fund capacity and projects	EPA, RIDEM, MassDEP, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, Stormwater Innovation Center, SNEP Network, Conservation Districts, MS4 communities	Tasks will be targeted to specific areas identified by partners as hotspots, especially areas with CSOs and communities with rain-driven flooding issues.	2026	$1M–5M NBEP 320/SNEP, SNEP, MA, RI, MRP, MVP
Precipitation, Impervious Cover, Wastewater Infrastructure, Water Quality Condition for Aquatic Life, Water Quality Condition for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Shellfishing Areas	Fund capacity and projects	EPA, RIDOT, MassDOT, RIDEM, MassDEP, Narragansett Bay Commission, Stormwater Innovation Center, municipalities, Mass Audubon, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, MA EOEEA, Save The Bay, SNEP Network, Conservation Districts	Tasks will be targeted to specific areas identified by analyses or prioritized by partners as pollution or flooding hotspots to maximize co-benefits.	2030-2032	$10M+ NBEP 320/SNEP, NBEP BIL, SNEP, EPA, MRP, MVP, MassDEP CWA Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant, MassDEP CWA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant, RIDEM CWA Section 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant, NRCS EQIP
OBJECTIVE 3: Reduce pollution from wastewater discharges, onsite wastewater systems, and combined sewer overflows.
Precipitation, Sea Level, Population, Impervious Cover, Wastewater Infrastructure, Nutrient Loading, Legacy Contaminants, Emerging Contaminants, Dissolved Oxygen, Chlorophyll, Water Clarity, Water Quality Condition for Aquatic Life, Water Quality Condition for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Shellfishing Areas	Synthesize and communicate science	EPA Region 1, Narragansett Bay Commission, Upper Blackstone Clean Water, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, Save The Bay, NEIWPCC, RIDEM, MA EOEEA	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$10M+ EPA SNEP, RI and MA Clean Water State Revolving Funds
Wastewater Infrastructure, Nutrient Loading, Dissolved Oxygen, Chlorophyll, Water Clarity, Water Quality Conditions for Aquatic Life, and Water Quality Conditions for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Shellfishing	Fund capacity and projects, Synthesize and communicate science	EPA Region 1, RIDEM, MA EOEEA, MassDEP, NEIWPCC, Save The Bay, URI Cooperative Extension, RI Division of Statewide Planning	Narragansett Bay region	2033-2036	$10M+ NBEP 320/SNEP, EPA SNEP, RI and MA Clean Water State Revolving Funds
OBJECTIVE 4: Reduce trash and marine debris pollution.
Impervious Cover, Emerging Contaminants, Water Quality Condition for Aquatic Life, Water Quality Condition for Recreation	Fund capacity and projects, Synthesize and communicate science	EPA, NOAA, Save The Bay, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, URI, RIRC, watershed associations	These actions will take place at specific sites, in neighborhoods, municipalities, watersheds, and local waterbodies.	2030-2032	$500K–1M NBEP 320/SNEP, Municipal, state, EPA Trash-Free Waters, NOAA Marine Debris Program

Key to Cost (all partners, all costs, over 10 years)

$10k–500k (NBEP staff time) $500k–1M (convene partners, support research/modeling projects) $1M–5M (develop and implement regional plans) $5M–10M (develop project plans, designs and permits) $10M+ (infrastructure and restoration construction)

ACTION PLAN: Habitat Protection and Restoration

VISION: Resilient and connected landscapes and waterways support healthy habitats and wildlife and provide people with ecosystem services like clean air and water, flood protection, recreation, and sustainable harvest.

GOAL: Restore and protect habitats to support wildlife and people.

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ACTION STATEMENT	POTENTIAL PROJECTS	OUTPUTS	OUTCOMES
OBJECTIVE 1: Improve collection and use of habitat data for decision-making.
Habitat 1.1 Biodiversity and Habitat Quality Monitoring: Support, improve, and create efficiencies for monitoring and documenting biodiversity and habitat quality.	Convene interstate interests to coordinate and standardize monitoring activities and methods, including developing new or expanding current monitoring activities (such as seagrass, salt marsh, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria monitoring), and ensure that monitoring aligns with management questions and needs. Develop and/or update natural heritage databases for the states as needed, including BORIIS2 and BioMap2. Support development of partner-driven habitat and biodiversity monitoring data clearinghouse tools. Develop data visualization tools to encourage coordination on restoration projects. Support innovations in monitoring strategies that bring efficiencies to and build capacity for data collection and encourage community science programs that help fill priority data gaps. Support partners to develop and expand sentinel habitat monitoring sites to explore changes to the habitat with time and under changing conditions Convene and support partners to explore seagrass restoration using seed-dispersal and other techniques.	New monitoring protocols or programs from new or expanded monitoring activities Updated natural heritage databases and State Wildlife Action Plans Clearinghouse tool connecting users with data Data visualization tools highlighting restoration and monitoring efforts Working group meetings to convene on priority topics in the watershed Reports on select monitoring objectives	Coordinated and efficient monitoring activities Improved collection and use of natural heritage information Enhanced understanding of ecosystem monitoring gaps and mechanisms to fill them Increased understanding of characteristics and changes in the Narragansett Bay region over time Ecosystem management that is better informed by monitoring
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve habitat resilience.
Habitat 2.1 Habitat Plans: Update existing and develop new regional habitat restoration plans and strategies to facilitate cross-boundary projects and address emerging challenges for habitat resilience.	Update RI Anadromous Fish Restoration Plan. Update existing restoration strategies to include updated data, information, and completed projects. Develop a Narragansett Bay region salt marsh restoration strategy or update the RI Coastal Wetland Restoration Strategy to include the upper part of Narragansett Bay in Massachusetts and portions of Little Narragansett Bay in Connecticut, where useful. Strategy should highlight areas where marsh migration is possible and should be supported. Support the development and implementation of the Rhode Island Shellfish Restoration and Enhancement Plan. Develop a Narragansett Bay and/or broader regional submerged aquatic vegetation restoration plan that reviews restoration strategies that have been tried in Narragansett Bay to date, including current seed-based restoration strategies, and assesses whether recent water quality improvements could improve restoration success. This restoration plan should also include new data being collected on flowering phenology and seed collection and seed transfer guidance. Expand and update Sea Level Affecting Marsh Migration (SLAMM) models to include the Palmer and Runnins Rivers and other areas of MA, CT, and RI that were not covered in state models. Pursue or expand state level management plans for lakes and ponds, inclusive of invasive species and educational outreach to boaters. Develop plans and actions to protect cold-water streams and rivers, or specific endangered and/or threatened freshwater species, such as native brook trout.	RI Shellfish Restoration and Enhancement Plan A multi-state salt marsh restoration strategy At least one regional submerged aquatic vegetation restoration strategy Updated freshwater restoration and conservation plans and protocols Coordinated meetings among habitat restoration practitioners Expanded SLAMM to cover entire region seamlessly	Increased coordination on habitat restoration priorities, techniques, and projects across boundaries Shared habitat restoration goals, objectives, and targets Better designed and more impactful estuarine restoration projects Healthier and more sustainable estuarine habitat Increased coordination on freshwater restoration priorities, techniques, and projects across institutional and state boundaries Shared plans for achieving freshwater restoration goals, objectives, and targets
Habitat 2.2 Habitat Projects: Identify, prioritize, and coordinate partner opportunities and funding to implement habitat restoration projects.	Coordinate among groups pursuing priority habitat assessment, planning, and restoration in the greater Narragansett Bay region. Maintain priority project lists for major estuarine, riverine, and riparian habitat types/ecosystems in the Narragansett Bay region. Support states, municipalities, and local NGOs with planning, project identification, and prioritization.	Coordination meetings and tools for groups pursuing restorations in the same areas Annually updated list of priority estuarine and freshwater restoration projects Additional fully funded requests for proposals for freshwater and estuarine habitat projects Additional completed restoration projects from approved restoration plans. Education and invasive species removal events and programs	Accelerated system or sub-watershed scale habitat improvements Activated and coordinated local partners in restoration and outreach projects More engaged watershed or pond groups with more members More estuarine and freshwater systems meet both habitat and recreational use standards and sustain healthy wildlife and human use
Habitat 2.3 Benthic Habitat Assessment and Restoration: Assess and restore benthic habitats to support dynamic estuarine ecosystems.	Synthesize past and ongoing regional seagrass restoration efforts including methodologies used, success of restoration efforts, locations, etc. This synthesis should assess if these techniques could be more successful with current, improved water quality.  | - White papers synthesizing seagrass and artificial reef restoration efforts  | - Activated and coordinated local partners in assessment and restoration projects Update seagrass site suitability models or indices (Detenbeck and Rego 2015). Ensure such models include environmental variables of interest including water quality, sediment type and quality. Focus should be given to shallow water habitats to ensure data coverage is of sufficient resolution for a model.  | - Updated Seagrass Site Suitability models  | - Increased number of benthic habitat restoration projects  | Update monitoring protocols to modernize approaches to tiered seagrass monitoring, include widgeon grass, and develop sentinel seagrass monitoring sites. Sentinel sites should focus on how habitats respond to stress, establishing baselines for restoration, and include an area currently covered with widgeon grass to assess any potential transition from widgeon grass to eelgrass.  | - Updated seagrass, macroalgae, and benthic habitat monitoring protocols  | - More acres of benthic sediment habitat restored Establish long-term goals for benthic habitat monitoring, including the use of sediment profile imaging, sled-cameras, gliders, and autonomous underwater vehicles.  | - Updated and expanded SPI analysis | - Increased number of artificial reefs providing diverse habitat, and recreation and economic benefits Update 2018 benthic sediment profile imaging (SPI) for Narragansett Bay. Expand SPI to other areas of the region (Salt Ponds and Little Narragansett Bay) and new sites of interest, including shallow water portions of the coastal ponds. SPI can provide an assessment of benthic habitat quality trends, particularly in the upper part of the Bay as a result of improved water quality.  | | - More acres of seagrass restored Update benthic sled camera monitoring in the Providence River Estuary.  | | Synthesize artificial reef work that has been completed throughout the bay assessing the method and materials used, and if the reef has improved fish habitat in the area. Use this synthesis to develop an artificial reef plan to guide future work to focus on both habitat creation and resilience in high-erosion areas.  | | Implement the Macroalgae Monitoring Protocol developed by SEAC-RI to understand the seasonal abundance/distribution of drift and attached algae, habitat impacts from drift algae, and changes to algae due to stress.  | | Explore using dredged materials to restore areas of exposed sediment containing high concentrations of contaminants. | |
OBJECTIVE 3: Restore habitat connectivity and function.
Habitat 3.1 Aquatic Connectivity: Reconnect freshwater and saltwater systems and improve connectivity within freshwater systems to restore habitats and fisheries.	Identify and prioritize opportunities to restore diadromous fish and to address high-hazard barriers; develop site-specific information and tools to assist decision-making, including cost-benefit analyses. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of sediment contamination in the Blackstone River and its tributaries, as well as other rivers and streams with widespread sediment contamination concerns, to inform dam removal efforts. Partner with federal, state, and local agencies, officials, and indigenous communities to secure funding for large connectivity construction projects, including Lower Blackstone and other high priority areas. Conduct training opportunities to assess culverts and dams for safety, resilience to heavy precipitation events, and aquatic connectivity restoration opportunities. Incorporate North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) connectivity data into decision-making processes for culvert replacements. Engage communities in connectivity efforts to understand community priorities, provide information about common concerns like toxic sediments, water quality, water level changes, and organize support for connectivity projects. Work with Dam Safety offices to incorporate potential alternatives into dam emergency scenarios that account for connectivity restoration opportunities.	Working group meetings Updated Rhode Island Anadromous Fish Restoration Plan A prioritized list of connectivity needs for the six major basins in the region Additional connectivity project designs completed Outreach materials to support community engagement about ecosystem changes and post-dam removal, including water level changes, toxic sediments, and water quality	Reconnection of miles of river and acres of habitat Return of diadromous fish to river systems
Habitat 3.2 Salt Marsh Restoration: Restore coastal wetlands and reconnect with uplands for habitat migration, wildlife, and recreation.	Sustain marshes in place with a suite of hydrology restoration techniques to address legacy human impacts. Accelerate work to elevate priority subsiding marshes using sediment placement techniques. Explore beneficial use of dredged material to help marshes keep up with rising seas or to restore areas of exposed sediment with high concentrations of contaminants. Facilitate marsh migration through land conservation and managed retreat through land acquisition, redevelopment planning, rolling easements, setbacks, and buffer definitions. Deliver ongoing one-on-one technical assistance to municipal parks and land use programs. Identify tidal restriction restoration opportunities in concert with other restoration techniques. Maintain the Salt Marsh RAMP workgroup project tool, MarshMap, and expand the tool to include Massachusetts and Connecticut projects.	Coordinated meetings for groups pursuing saltmarsh restoration Annually updated list of priority saltmarsh restoration projects New land use policy strategies adopted to accommodate marsh migration	Federal, regional, state, NGO, and local partners coordinate to plan and implement restoration projects Increased number of marsh restoration, enhancement, and marsh migration facilitation projects More acres of saltmarsh restored

Habitat Protection and Restoration continued

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INDICATORS	NBEP ROLE	IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS	LOCATION	TIMELINE FOR INITIATION	ESTIMATED COST/ POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
OBJECTIVE 1: Improve collection and use of habitat data for decision-making.
All	Convene, Fund capacity and projects	RIDEM, MassDEP, URI Coastal Institute, RI Environmental Monitoring Collaborative, RINHS, NBNERR, Mass Audubon, MassWildlife, TNC (RI and MA), ASRI, Salt Ponds Coalition, URI Watershed Watch, Save The Bay, Brown University, URI, EPA-ORD-ACESD, EPA Region 1	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$1M–5M NBEP 320/SNEP, National Science Foundation, Congressionally Directed Spending, Foundation Grants, URI-CI, RIDEM, MassDEP, TNC
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve habitat resilience.
Sea Level Rise, Nutrient Loading, DO, Chlorophyll, Water Clarity, Benthic Habitat, Seagrasses, Salt Marsh, Aquatic Life Use, Estuarine Fish Use, Recreation Use, Open Space, Marine Beaches, Shell Fishing Areas, Land Use, Impervious Surface, Stream Invertebrates, Coldwater Fish	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	EPA Region 1, NBNERR, MassDEP, MA DER, MA CZM, Mass Wildlife, Massachusetts DCR, RIDEM, CRMC, URI CRC, RISG, Mass ECAN, RINHS, Mass Audubon, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative	Narragansett Bay region	2026	$5M–10M State Funds, NBEP 320/SNEP, EPA SNEP
Sea Level Rise, Nutrient Loading, DO, Chlorophyll, Water Clarity, Benthic Habitat, Seagrasses, Salt Marsh, Aquatic Life Use, Estuarine Fish Use, Recreation Use, Open Space, Marine Beaches, Shell Fishing Areas, Land Use, Impervious Surface, Stream Invertebrates, Coldwater Fish	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science	EPA Region 1, Save The Bay, TNC-RI, TNC-MA, Mass Audubon, WRWC, Old Colony Planning Council, MA DER, NBNERR, RIDEM, RINHS, MA EOEEA, SRPEDD, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$10M+ NBEP 320/SNEP, NBEP BIL, EPA SNEP, Massachusetts DER, NOAA, NFWF, USDOT, USDOE, RIDEM, MassDOT, Private Foundations
Nutrient Loading, Seagrasses, Benthic Habitats, Water Clarity, Estuarine Fish Communities	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	NBNERR, RIDEM, Save The Bay, Massachusetts DMF, EPA Region 1, Narragansett Bay Commission, TNC-RI	Benthic estuarine and tidal habitats throughout the Narragansett Bay region	2026-2029	$5M–10M NEP 320/SNEP, NBEP BIL, EPA SNEP
OBJECTIVE 3: Restore habitat connectivity and function.
Temperature, Precipitation, Sea Level Rise, Stream Invertebrates, Aquatic Life Use General, Recreation Use, Coldwater Fisheries	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	EPA, The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, Save The Bay, Mass Audubon, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, RIRC, SRPEDD, RIDEM, RIDOT, MA EOEEA, MA DER, Narragansett Indian Tribe, Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, Blackstone River Watershed Council, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$10M+ NBEP 320/SNEP, NBEP IIJA, EPA SNEP, NOAA, NFWF, USDOT, USDOE, RIDEM, MA DER, MADOT, FEMA, Private Foundations
Sea Level, Land Use, Salt Marsh, Open Space	Convene, Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	EPA, NBNERR, RIDEM, Save The Bay, MA DER, NOAA, CRMC, USFWS, Mass Audubon	Coastal and riverine salt marshes	Ongoing	$10M+ NBEP 320/SNEP, NBEP BIL, EPA SNEP

Key to Cost (all partners, all costs, over 10 years)

$10k–500k (NBEP staff time) $500k–1M (convene partners, support research/modeling projects) $1M–5M (develop and implement regional plans) $5M–10M (develop project plans, designs and permits) $10M+ (infrastructure and restoration construction)

ACTION PLAN: Public Spaces Accessible to All

VISION: All communities enjoy their right to safe access to nature.

GOAL: Ensure all communities realize long-term benefits of healthy watersheds.

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ACTION STATEMENT	POTENTIAL PROJECTS	OUTPUTS	OUTCOMES
OBJECTIVE 1: Increase managed public access to nature.
Public Spaces 1.1 New Public Access: Assess, prioritize, and support plans and projects to expand public access to waterways, natural areas, and urban green spaces.	Create a new State of the Watershed public access indicator that includes access to waterways and natural lands and green spaces and provides decision support for new sites and site improvements. Fund and support projects and plans that expand access to nature. Complete and implement plans that increase urban green space and tree canopies.	Public Access Indicator Plans and projects that expand access to waterways using resilient design features Plans and projects that expand access to greenway trails while restoring habitats New urban green space plans and projects that provide access to nature	Increased public access to nature Greater access to urban green spaces and improved quality of neighborhoods
Public Spaces 1.2 Public Access Protection: Develop policies and awareness campaigns to clarify and ensure legal access to shorelines and inland waterways.	Create and continue education and awareness campaigns to clarify public/private boundaries on the beach or along freshwater access points, prevent illegal signage, and ensure rights are protected. Develop policies that clarify legal rights to the shoreline and inland waterways and otherwise expand access in the region.	Database of public access locations in the region and a new corresponding NBEP Public Access Indicator (Narragansett Bay Estuary Program et al. 2023) New information campaigns educating the public on their access rights New policies and initiatives to clarify state laws	Improved public understanding of how to access coastal and inland waters Improved public understanding of legal access rights to shorelines and waterways throughout the region Clarified state and municipal policies regarding access rights and rules for enforcement
Public Spaces 1.3 Public Access Management: Support long-term management and stewardship of parks and public access points through community engagement, policy change, and job creation.	Support long-term maintenance and stewardship of parks and public access points through community engagement, policy change, and job creation. Assess and improve amenities at parks and public access points to improve accessibility and increase responsible public use. Explore creative maintenance approaches (e.g., local community oversight) and green workforce development.	New amenities and infrastructure to equitably serve visitors and protect the environment Long-term management plans and funding mechanisms New jobs dedicated to green and blue space management Community groups dedicated to maintaining access points in their communities	Safe, high-quality public access points and green spaces that are resilient and accessible to all Increased environmental workforce Increased visitor revenue and positive economic impact to areas with well-maintained green and blue space access Improved responsible enjoyment of nature by all communities
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve communication about environmental health hazards.
Public Spaces 2.1 Environmental Health Alerts: Develop and publicize education campaigns and public alert and incident reporting systems for environmental health risks.	Increase public awareness of CSO alert systems. Create a public notification system for raw and partially treated sewage into Rhode Island waters. Coordinate design of shared, consistent multilingual educational materials warning of priority environmental health risks. Track WWTF and CSO permits for compliance and notification of violations.	Notification system for raw and partially treated sewage in Rhode Island waters New multilingual alert materials for priority public health concerns	Improved public health Increased public awareness of water pollution and contamination problems and causes

Public Spaces Accessible to All continued

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INDICATORS	NBEP ROLE	IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS	LOCATION	TIMELINE FOR INITIATION	ESTIMATED COST/ POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES
OBJECTIVE 1: Increase managed public access to nature.
Sea Level, Population, Land Use, Open Space, Water Quality Conditions for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Shellfishing Areas, Public Access, Impervious Cover	Fund capacity and projects, Synthesize and communicate science	RIDEM, MA DER, Massachusetts DCR, National Park Service, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, RI CRMC, Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Taunton River Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council, Save The Bay, Groundwork RI, Groundwork Southcoast, MA EOEEA, SRPEDD, NRICD, TNC-RI, Mass Audubon, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, RI Land Trust Alliance, municipalities, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region with a focus on areas that have fewer high-quality access sites	Ongoing	$5M–10M NBEP 320/SNEP, SNEP, States
Precipitation, Sea Level, Water Quality for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Public Access	Fund capacity and projects, Synthesize and communicate science	Save The Bay, URI Coastal Institute, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, RWU, CRMC, RIDEM, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region	Ongoing	$500K–1M NBEP 320/SNEP, EPA SNEP, States
Precipitation, Sea Level, Population, Land Use, Water Quality Conditions for Recreation, Marine Beaches, Public Access, Open Space	Fund capacity and projects, Synthesize and communicate science	Groundwork RI, Groundwork Southcoast, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Save The Bay, MA EOEEA, TNC-RI, Mass Audubon, ASRI, RI Land Trust Alliance, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region, with a focus on areas with engaged partners or community groups	2026-2029	$5M–10M States, municipalities, Private foundations
OBJECTIVE 2: Improve communication about environmental health hazards.
Shellfishing Areas, Marine Beaches, Legacy Contaminants, Water Quality Conditions for Recreation, Water Quality Conditions for Aquatic Life	Synthesize and communicate science, Fund capacity and projects	MassDEP, RIDEM, EPA, RIDOH, Narragansett Bay Commission, Stormwater Innovation Center, URI Watershed Watch, NEIWPCC, RWU, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, Blackstone River Coalition, Mass Audubon, Taunton River Watershed Alliance, Save The Bay, SRPEDD, MA EOEEA, Mass Rivers, RI Saltwater Anglers Association	Narragansett Bay region, with particular focus on freshwater resources for cyanobacteria and fish consumption alerts	2030-2032	$1M–5M NBEP 320/SNEP, EPA/SNEP, State Funding, Sewage Notification Assistance Grant Program (MassDEP)

Key to Cost (all partners, all costs, over 10 years)

$10k–500k (NBEP staff time) $500k–1M (convene partners, support research/modeling projects) $1M–5M (develop and implement regional plans) $5M–10M (develop project plans, designs and permits) $10M+ (infrastructure and restoration construction)

References

Detenbeck, Naomi E, and Steven Rego. 2015. Predictive Seagrass Habitat Model. EPA/600/E-15/003. Atlantic Ecology Division, US EPA.

Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Courtney Schmidt, Bryce DuBois, and Rob Griffin. 2023. “Science Update: Social Science Indicators for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.” Pre-published March 2. https://doi.org/10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.21464037.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources. 2024. Rhode Island Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan.