Executive Summary 



Institutional Issues 



While Rhode Island's existing institutional firamework could potentially be adapted to achieve 

 improved control of non-point source impacts in the Bay, cross-cutting problems require that 

 the state's entire approach to environmental management be addressed. The cross-media 

 character of non-point source impacts, and the pervasive nature of degradation across 

 jurisdictional boundaries creates an imperative for watershed-based management Rhode 

 Islanders thus face an opportunity to refine and clarify management objectives and strategies 

 while providing for complementary land use controls. 



Management decisions presentiy tend to be crisis driven, due to an emphasis among all review 

 bodies upon achieving efficient permitting decisions to the exclusion of broader, less 

 politically-charged needs. Expanded resources must be devoted toward coherent program 

 development and coordination, strategic planning, review of program effectiveness, and 

 enforcement 



Local-state coordination must be improved and approaches rationalized. Presentiy, strong 

 regionalism and a disparity at all levels among points of view, perceptions, expectations and 

 agendas finistrates formation of coherent long-term strategies. Interagency competition and 

 transference of responsibility have damaged the credibility of certain agencies to the point 

 where their ability to exert leadership and to make necessary decisions may be seriously 

 threatened. 



Because of the intimate relationship between land use and water quality in the Nairagansett 

 Bay, the future viability of critical Bay resources depends heavily upon the enactment and 

 enforcement of local laws and regulations. Local zoning enabling authority must be 

 strengthened to give towns full authority to exercise control over the impacts of land use upon 

 public welfare. Vigorous outreach efforts need to be undertaken to support local initiative, 

 given widespread concern regarding cost and outcome of potential litigation. Expanded in- 

 house legal support is needed in key state agencies to provide objective advice to towns as to 

 legitimiate exercise of local authority. 



The Resource Management Context: Shared, but Clarifled, Responsibilities 



Non-point source management is integral to providing for sustainable growth and should form 

 an integral part of the upcoming comprehensive planning process, to be undertaken by 

 communities with state guidance. Towns should view the planning initiative as an opportunity 

 to clarify long-term objectives and to institute sound data management and planning practices 

 which will consistentiy serve long-term needs. Technical planmng capability in many Bay 

 basin communities is woefully inadequate to meet escalating requirements and needs. 

 Permanent fiill-time professional planning positions should be created and funded at the town 

 level in all basin communities, or should be shared cooperatively if necessary. 



At the state level, resources should be devoted toward setting long-term management direction, 

 establishing consistent statewide control standards, rationaliang the fragmented permitting 

 process, and providing state resources and oversight to support effective management of short- 

 term impacts at the local level. In addition, the state must take the responsibility for 

 coordinating point and non-point source management efforts and for directing sludge and 

 septage management policy in a manner consistent with non-point source control needs. 



Priority non-point source management problems should be addressed via a flexible program 

 encompassing land use management, source controls, targeted use restrictions, remedial action 

 and acquisition. A grant-in-aid program analogous to EPA's existing Clean Lakes Program 



