Local Initiatives 



***Revise town regulations to specifically incorporate the technical 

 requirements, recommendations and language of the Stormwater and 

 Erosion Control Committee regarding erosion and sedimentation control, 



design and installation of best management practices, and maintenance and repair of 

 facilities. These technical requirements will be defined in the updated Rhode Island 

 Sediment and Erosion Control Handbook, currenUy in press. Attach applicable erosion and 

 sedimentation controls and maintenance and repair provisions to all local building permits. 



To regulate earth removal in a manner complementary to erosion and sediment control 

 provisions: 



• set a maximum depth from the seasonal high water table for earth removal; 



• require that erosion control measures as recommended by the Stormwater 

 Management and Erosion Control Committee be put in place and maintained during 

 the full course of earth removal operations; and 



• set maximum grade, loaming (topsoil replacement) and planting and seeding 

 requirements as recommended by the Stormwater Management and Erosion Control 

 Committee for excavation operations and maintenance of sites following earth 

 removal. 



STORMWATER MANAGEMENT 



Findings and Concerns 



Although specific stormwater management enabling authority has not yet 

 been been provided to towns, several municipalities, including Smithfield, Scituate, and 

 Cranston have addressed stormwater in their erosion and sediment control ordinances. In 

 addition. Special Area Management Plans minimize allowable construction within 

 floodplain areas, and require consideration of stormwater management as it relates to 

 flooding. Certain towns are addressing stormwater via other authorities. East Providence, 

 for example, reviews developments with regard to downstream runoff and requires 

 installation of retention devices in critical floodplain areas. Narragansett and Charlestown 

 review runoff within the authority of zoning and subdivision controls. South Kingstown is 

 considering enacting a specific stormwater management by-law. 



Stormwater runoff from town secondary roads and neighborhoods has been shown to 

 be a very significant source of contaminant loading, particularly in areas having large 

 domestic dog populations (See Heufelder (1988) in related chapter on stormwater 

 management and erosion and sediment control.) In the Narrow River watershed, runoff 

 management was viewed as an important objective in formulation of the SAM plan. 



Recommendations 



♦♦♦Revise procedures of the municipal highway department, the department 

 of public works, the sanitation department, and other applicable service and 

 maintenance departments to ensure that procedures and practices of these 

 departments are consistent with the technical requirements, 

 recommendations and language of the Stormwater and Erosion Control 



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