Courtesy of What’s Up Newp
AIPC: Public invited to attend presentation about planned improvements to health of Almy Pond
The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission announced this afternoon that
the City of Newport Tree and Open Space Commission will meet on March 5th at 6 pm in the Newport Public Library Program Room.
This meeting was originally scheduled on January 26th, but had to be postponed due to the gas outage.
Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC), in partnership with Aquidneck Land Trust and the City of Newport, has created a plan to reduce pollutants that enter Almy Pond through contaminated stormwater. The public is invited to attend a presentation about the project at the next Newport Tree and Open Space Commission meeting on February 26 at 6:00PM at the Newport Public LIbrary Program Room.
AIPC will present the current plan to remove portions of pavement on Spouting Rock Drive as well as the implementation of two bioretention basins.
The preservation of the health of Almy Pond, while not a public source of drinking water, is important to Aquidneck Island’s water system. The pond experiences high levels of phosphorus, which causes algal growth and can be dangerous to human health.
With support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the plan is being implemented according to the Almy Pond Conservation Area Land Management Plan, which was approved by Newport City Council in 2001.
These measures are part of AIPC’s Island Waters initiative to restore clean water on Aquidneck Island, improving the environmental, public health, and economic impacts of stormwater drainage. John Shea, Executive Director of AIPC, said, “Together, we will keep Aquidneck Island a safe, healthy home for us all to live. Hope to see you March 5.”