New program to protect Rhode Island’s coastal waters
Enrollment is now open
through Sept. 6 to join Salt
Pond Smart, a new community engagement initiative offered through the
University of Rhode Island Cooperative
Extension. Designed for homeowners along Rhode Island’s southern coast,
Salt Pond Smart empowers residents to take meaningful action to protect and
improve water quality in the state’s treasured coastal salt ponds.
Aging septic systems and fertilizer use, especially in densely developed areas, contribute excess nutrients, bacteria, and other pollutants to the salt ponds. These problems have led to shellfish closures, algal blooms, and damage to the ponds’ ecosystems. Salt Pond Smart helps residents make property management decisions that reduce nutrient pollution, which is essential to safeguarding public health and preserving the ecological integrity of these fragile environments.
 |
| Enroll by Sept. 6 to join Salt Pond Smart, a new community engagement initiative offered through the URI Cooperative Extension. |
Salt Pond Smart is a free program that includes online training, a property assessment, and certification for homes that meet salt pond-friendly criteria.
Residents who complete the program and meet the criteria will be recognized with a Salt Pond Smart property sign, showcasing the homeowner’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
- Participants
will gain practical knowledge on topics including:
- Onsite
wastewater treatment (septic systems)
- Sustainable
lawn care and gardening
- Stormwater
management
- Native
coastal planting
“Rhode Island’s salt ponds are an irreplaceable habitat serving as the home to many aquatic species including flounder, quahogs, and horseshoe crabs, as well as many bird species as well,” says alumna Alicia Schaffner, director of the Salt Ponds Coalition.
“They are at the heart of many
of the communities that surround the ponds and have given generations of
pondgoers memories of clamming, swimming, and more. We need a community effort
to protect these ponds and Salt Pond Smart is a great chance to get involved
and help protect the ponds you love.”
Salt Pond Smart is part of a broader effort funded by the
Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast
New England Program (SNEP) to improve water quality in the salt ponds.
In 2021, URI’s Onsite Wastewater Resource Center (OWRC) partnered with the Town
of Charlestown, Save The Bay, and the Salt Ponds Coalition to launch a pilot
watershed management initiative focused on Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds. In
2024, the Tomaquag Museum joined the partnership to highlight the cultural
significance of the salt ponds and the importance of healthy ecosystems to
Indigenous traditions.
Salt Pond Smart participants will explore the ecological and
cultural importance of the ponds, learn about nitrogen-reducing technologies,
and receive guidance on sustainable landscaping. Technical assistance and
limited funding are available for eligible shoreline property owners interested
in installing native coastal plantings to help filter contaminants before they
reach the water.
All community members are encouraged to explore resources
and learn more at the Salt
Pond Smart website, even if they are not ready to participate in the Salt
Pond Smart program.
Enrollment for Salt Pond Smart is currently open until Sept. 6, and includes online training and property assessments. The program is open to any Rhode Island resident living within the Salt Ponds and Narrow River Watersheds. Currently there is no fee to participate in Salt Pond Smart.
Charlestown residents living along the shoreline of Green Hill or Ninigret Pond
may be eligible for a free native coastal planting consultation and
installation. Enroll or learn more at uri.edu/saltpondsmart/ or contact
lisa.hollister@uri.edu or (401) 874-5950.
