In 2021, the Town of Charlestown and its partners were awarded federal funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) Southern New England Program (SNEP) to implement a pilot watershed management program to protect Greater Allen’s Cove and Eastern Ninigret Pond from nutrient pollution. Project goals include improved wastewater and stormwater treatment, water quality monitoring and community engagement.
Community engagement is a core component of the project, and the project partners have sought to connect with the community through a series of listening sessions. During the listening sessions, residents expressed interest in building a greater understanding of the issues facing the ponds and asked for a central repository for information and resources. Community members also asked if there were incentives to increase community members’ adoption of best practices that protect the ponds from pollution.
In response to these community member requests, and inspired by successful programs in Maine and New Hampshire, the project partners developed Salt Pond Smart: a voluntary program to educate, support and recognize homeowners’ efforts to protect and improve water quality in Rhode Island’s coastal salt ponds. All members of the community have access to information and resources through the program’s website, while residents who enroll in the Salt Pond Smart program will receive training and the opportunity to demonstrate sustainable landscapes practices and salt pond-friendly property management. Residents who meet the criteria will earn the Salt Pond Smart property certification.
Project Partners
The Town of Charlestown partnered with the University of Rhode Island’s Onsite Wastewater Resource Center, the Salt Ponds Coalition and Save the Bay to secure the initial funding for the Greater Allen’s Cove and Eastern Ninigret Pond Pilot Watershed Project, and each partner has contributed expertise and in-kind support to the development and implementation of Salt Pond Smart. Learn more about each partner by following the links below.
Onsite Wastewater Resource Center