(Top, l-r: Curt Spalding, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator; Sen. Jack Reed; Tom Ardito, AIPC Executive Director; Hilary Stevens, AIPC Board Chair; Rep. David Ciciline. Bottom, l-r: Abby Burrows, Drew Carey, Dave McLaughlin, Clean Ocean Access; Tom Ardito; Hilary Stevens; Julia Forgue, City of Newport; Rep. Lauren Carson)


AIPC is pleased to announce a $1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for “Island Waters,” an innovative new project that will protect and restore fresh and salt water quality on the Island. We developed the three-year program in partnership with the City of Newport, Towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, Aquidneck Land Trust and Clean Ocean Access.

The grant is aimed at reducing storm water runoff, which washes pollution into our drinking water reservoirs and coastal waters. Storm water is a problem for water quality throughout the U.S.; however with relatively little protected watershed, large surface reservoirs, and some of the state’s most popular recreational beaches, we are uniquely vulnerable to this type of pollution.

Island Waters will develop an inter-municipal partnership to help the communities develop more effective ways of managing storm water. While much of the Island Waters grant is for engineering and construction, the project also includes a storm water financing plan and extensive outreach to homeowners and other Island stakeholders.

Learn more about this project from the great news coverage here and here, or by attending our Island Waters community forum on Nov 17th at CCRI (More details TBA). Stay tuned for more news soon!