Thank you for your interest in Salt Pond Smart! By enrolling in this program, you are taking the first step towards a healthier salt pond. Read more about the steps to enroll in Salt Pond Smart below.
Is my property eligible to participate?
Anyone residing within the Salt Ponds or Narrow River Watersheds (designated as Critical Resource Areas by the RIDEM) is eligible to participate in Salt Pond Smart, although priority will be given to residents living in the Greater Allen’s Cove and Eastern Ninigret Pond Pilot Watershed. Not sure if your property is located within the Salt Ponds or Narrow River Watersheds (meaning the water on your property drains to a salt pond or the Narrow River)? Click on the the map below to determine if your property is located within the Salt Ponds and Narrow River Watersheds boundary before enrolling.
Salt Pond Smart is now enrolling for Summer 2025 training! Use the map below to determine if your property is eligible – eligible property owners will be prompted to register for Salt Pond Smart within the map application. A few weeks before training starts in Summer 2025, you will receive an email from us with more information on how to get started!
What if my property does not drain to a salt pond or Narrow River?
If your property is outside of the RIDEM-designated Salt Pond and Narrow River Watersheds Critical Resource Area, you are not eligible to participate in Salt Pond Smart. We encourage you to explore and share our Resources – best practices that protect local water quality in all watersheds!
After I am enrolled, how does Salt Pond Smart work?
We are currently accepting registrations for our first Summer 2025 cohort. Summer 2025 registrants will be contacted by email with more details and logistics – including an orientation to meet your fellow participants, introduce the project team, and review the steps to complete the online training. Throughout the summer and fall you will have the opportunity to work through the online training at your own pace and gather documentation needed to certify your property as Salt Pond Smart. We will schedule in-person sessions over the summer to provide assistance in navigating the online learning platform and/or gathering documentation for the certification process.
Online Training
You will receive instructions to log into Brightspace Engage, URI’s online learning platform, to complete a series of five online training modules. Each 30 minute training module will cover a different topic, including an overview of the salt ponds, drinking water (drinking water protection and private well water testing), onsite wastewater treatment systems (septic system function and maintenance, including information on nitrogen reducing onsite water treatment systems), sustainable landscaping choices (lawn and garden care) and stormwater management (keeping rainwater on your property and native coastal planting). Salt Pond Smart participants can complete different training modules at their convenience over the summer – either spread out over multiple sessions or all at once.
Meeting Certification Criteria
After completing your online training, you will answer a series of questions in each module to assess your property and document your salt pond-friendly management practices with photographs or sketches, redacted receipts (e.g. septic pumping), and plans or other public information about your property available online (e.g. septic system permit). Don’t worry – Salt Pond Smart staff is available to guide you and answer your questions! Completing your property assessment and collecting the supporting documentation is expected to take approximately 2-3 hours in total – you may complete the assessment at your own time and pace. If you choose to make improvements to your property to meet Salt Pond Smart certification criteria, this will take additional time and resources, which vary considerably by project or property.
Enrollment Period
Once you are enrolled in the program and begin your training, you will have 2 years to meet the requirements. If you cannot meet the certification requirements within 2 years, you will need to re-enroll and begin your training and certification again.
Getting Your Salt Pond Smart Yard Sign
Once you have answered all the questions sets for each module and uploaded the required documentation, Salt Pond Smart staff will review submissions and verify that the criteria have been met. Properties that meet the minimum requirements in each category (drinking water, onsite wastewater treatment systems, sustainable landscaping choices, and stormwater management) will earn a “Silver” Salt Pond Smart designation on their certification and sign, while properties that showcase additional, high-impact best practices will earn a “Gold” designation on their certification and sign.
What materials or qualifications do I need to enroll and compete the training and certification process?
You will need an internet connected browser to access materials available on our website and online learning platform, as well as the ability to upload files and photos to the online learning platform (you will be provided with tutorials and guidance to assist you in collecting and submitting documents, as well as the opportunity to speak with Salt Pond Smart staff directly if you need assistance). Specific projects (e.g. rain gardens, native coastal planting) may require additional planning and landscaping skills. Salt Pond Smart staff is available to provide guidance and connect you with relevant technical assistance upon request.