Rhode Island Resource Protection Project

Resource Protection Areas Description

Resource Protection Area boundaries follow watershed, subwatershed and/or water supply watershed borders obtained from the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS). The Resource Protection Areas were targeted because of the general good health of the ecosystem or because of a critically important resource within the ecosystem. It is the project's goal to foster efforts that will prevent environmental degradation and thus the need for remediation in the future. The Resource Protection Project recognizes that there are important natural resources located in areas other than the Resource Protection Areas, particularly in urban areas, however this initiative sought out less developed areas.

There are some common themes that tie these Resource Areas together. Although the geography of each area provides different habitats, potable water is a human necessity. Whether groundwater or a surface water reservoir, protection of these water resources is crucial. An environmental paradox is that resources useful to people are also threatened by people; human activities impact water quality and natural habitats. The trick is finding ways that balance human needs with long-term ecological health. The Resource Protection Project workgroup's intent is to work with all interested parties to determine the best approaches for protecting each area.

Eastern Blackstone Resource Protection Area

Communities: Cumberland, Woonsocket, N. Smithfield, Burrillville, Lincoln, Central Falls, Glocester, Smithfield

Watershed Subbasins: Blackstone River, Branch River

Surface Water Supplies: Harris Pond, Diamond Hill Reservoir, Arnold Mills Reservoir, Woonsocket Reservoir, Robin Hollow Pond, Happy Hollow Pond, Sneech Pond

The Blackstone River was the birthplace of the industrial revolution, and it is currently an important recreational and cultural resource. The watershed has extensive groundwater resources that are used by Smithfield and Burrillville. The Diamond Hill and Arnold Mills reservoirs are the second largest drinking water supplies in Rhode Island. The unique bedrock geology of Lincoln and Cumberland gives rise to plant communities supporting a number of rare species, including several plants found only in this part of the state. Floodplain forests and marshes along the Blackstone support a variety of wetland species including large numbers of migratory waterfowl. Abbott Run in Cumberland is notable as a relatively unimpacted system that maintains a diverse aquatic fauna with several uncommon species and it is also a vital component of the public water supply system serving the urban communities of the lower Blackstone Valley.

Moosup River/ Western Blackstone Resource Protection Area

Communities: Burrillville, Glocester, Foster, Coventry, West Greenwich

Watershed Subbasins: Chepachet River, Clear River, Moosup River

Surface Water Supplies: Wallum Lake

These watersheds comprise the northern section of Rhode Island's "Western Forest," the largest tract of forest habitat in the state. It is also a significant nonurbanized area in the Washington D.C. to Boston corridor, especially considering its interstate connections with Connecticut and Massachusetts. This area is inhabited by species that require large unfragmented tracts of forest, including neotropical migrant birds (that use these forests for nesting habitat) and wide-ranging mammals such as the bobcat and fisher. The higher elevations and cooler microclimate in this part of the state support natural communities typical of regions north of Rhode Island. The public is able to enjoy the large amounts of open space that are accessible through significant state holdings and the North/South trail currently under development.

Western Pawtuxet Resource Protection Area

Communities: Glocester, Scitiuate, Foster, Johnston, Cranston, West Warwick, Coventry, West Greenwich, Exeter

Watershed Subbasins: Ponagansett Reservoir, Barden Reservoir, Regulating Reservoir, Moswansicut Reservoir, Scituate Reservoir, North Branch Pawtuxet, South Branch Pawtuxet, Flat River Reservoir, Big River

Surface Water Supplies: Scituate Reservoir system

The Scituate Reservoir, which provides drinking water to over 60 percent of the Rhode Island population, is the prominent resource in this area. This area comprises the middle portion of the Western Forest, containing large tracts of forest supporting a number of area-dependent species. The Big River Management Area maintains a variety of vegetation communities, including white pine forest, pitch pine forest, and white cedar swamp, that support uncommon plants and animals in unfragmented habitat parcels. The Big River Management Area also has significant water resources and has the potential for future water supply.

Hunt/Potowomut Resource Protection Area

Communities: East Greenwich, North Kingstown

Watershed Subbasins: Hunt River

The Hunt River is an active anadromous fish run, and the communities rely on the watershed's groundwater for their potable water. Several conservation groups, including the Audubon Society and local land trusts, have been active in protecting tracts of land along the Hunt River. Most notable is the Davis Wildlife Refuge, which contains one of the state's largest bogs. State, federal, local and private agencies have focused on the non-point source pollution impacts in the watershed and its contributions to Greenwich Bay.

Wood/Pawcatuck Resource Protection Area

Communities: West Greenwich, Exeter, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, Richmond, Hopkinton, Charlestown, Westerly, Narragansett Tribal Lands

Watershed Subbasins: Wood River, Pawcatuck River, Queens River, Chipuxet River

This area is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the state; it contains over 60 percent of Rhode Island's rare plant and animal populations. The high percentage of rare species is associated with the diversity and quality of wetland habitats, including coastal plain ponds, bogs, fens, floodplain forests, and white cedar swamps. The Pawcatuck watershed is the southern portion of the Western Forest. The area also supports much of the state's agricultural production. Large state management areas (Arcadia, Burlingame, and Great Swamp) provide recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat protection.

South Coastal Pond Resource Protection Area

Communities: Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Narragansett, Narragansett Tribal Lands

Watershed Subbasins: Chickasheen Brook, Pettasquamscutt/Narrow River

This area supports many of the unique ecosystems associated with the marine coast, including beaches, dunes, salt marshes, salt ponds and shores. These habitats support many important resources, such as eelgrass beds, shellfish, and coastal fisheries. Several Federal Wildlife Refuges focus on these coastal habitats, including Trustom Pond, Ninigret Pond and Narrow River. The Narrow River is the only fjord-like water body in the region. Groundwater is the potable water supply for both year-round residents and summertime vacationers.

Narragansett Bay Resource Protection Area

In-water, benthic ,and tidally-influenced shoreline and nearshore natural resources of the bay, including: Greenwich Bay, East Bay Estuaries (Barrington River, Warren River, Palmer River, Runnins River, Hundred Acre Cove, Kickamuitt River), Islands in Narragansett Bay

Rhode Island's signature resource, Narragansett Bay influences or is influenced by practically everything and everyone in the stateó53 percent of the state drains into the bay. The Bay's open waters, estuaries, tidally influenced rivers, islands and coastline are home to a vast array of aquatic and estuarine species, including seals, shellfish, eelgrass, herons and terns (colonial nesting birds), osprey, and commercial and recreation fisheries.

Eastern Sakonnet Resource Protection Area

Communities: Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport

Watershed Subbasins: Taunton River, Sakonnet River

Surface Water Supplies: Stafford Pond, Nonquit Pond, Harold Watson Reservoir, Gardiner Pond, Nelson Pond, Green End Pond, Sisson Pond, St. Mary's Pond, Lawton Valley Reservoir, Eastons Pond

This relatively undeveloped southeastern portion of the state encompasses part of Narragansett Bay and has coastal resources similar to the South Coastal Ponds. There are significant natural communities centered at coastal ponds and large estuarine marshes along the Sakonnet River. The beauty of open spaces and agricultural land grace the area, which also contains 10 surface water supply reservoirs.

Block Island Resource Protection Area

Communities: New Shoreham

Surface Water Supplies: Fresh Pond, Sands Pond

Block Island supports a comparatively high number of regionally significant species, most notably the federally listed American Burying Beetle. The island also serves as a refuge for several nesting birds and other species no longer present on the mainland. Several organizations are active in land conservation on Block Island, which faces continuing pressures from tourism.