FIRE BAN IN EFFECT In response to the continued elevated risk of wildfires, DEM has issued a fire ban at all State Parks, campgrounds, and management areas until further notice. The ban is effective as of today (10/28/24) and includes campfires in designated campfire areas, including charcoal fires and cooking fires. This preventative measure applies to all DEM-managed lands and aims to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires. DEM will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions to determine when the ban can be lifted. Together we can protect our communities and keep first responders safe by reducing the risk of wildfires: 📞 Call 911 if you spot a fire/smoke. Timely information is critical to contain fires before they spread. 🔥 Remember, any outdoor fire is a potential source for a wildfire. Be careful with cigarettes and ashes. When disposing of wood stove ashes, put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. 🚒 Check with your local fire department for any other restrictions and permitting information. 🚨 Stay informed and find resources at dem.ri.gov/wildfirestatus.
Water Quality Restoration Studies Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program DEM's Office of Water Resources develops water quality restoration studies, with public input, to restore and maintain water quality for impaired/polluted waters. Waters are impaired if they do not meet state water quality criteria. These studies, required by the federal Clean Water Act, are called Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs. TMDL is a term that represents the total pollutant that a waterbody can assimilate and still meet water quality standards. Learn more about RI’s water quality restoration efforts. Rhode Island’s TMDL studies identify water quality goals, necessary pollutant reductions to achieve these goals, the sources of pollution found contributing to the pollution problems, and the necessary pollution control actions to achieve the required reductions and restore water quality. To learn more about which waterbodies have TMDLs completed and to view TMDL documents, visit TMDL and Water Quality Restoration Study Documents. The U.S. EPA Vision framework was intended to help foster integration across 303(d) program areas and focus U.S. EPA and State efforts to advance the effectiveness of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) Program. Beginning in 2024, states and territories will begin implementation of the USEPA’s 2022 – 2032 Vision for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program (referred to as “2022 Vision” or “Vision 2.0”). The final document for Rhode Island’s Vision 2.0 priorities is available below: RI Vision 2.0 TMDL Framework Final Document PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Water Quality Assessment and TMDL Information Resources RI TMDL Program TMDL Background Information EPA TMDL Home Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Reporting Index of 303(d) Lists Draft Documents Open for Public Comment and Approved TMDL Documents Final 2016 Impaired Waters Report with 303d List PDF file, about 1mbmegabytes RI Vision TMDL Framework 2016 PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Documents Related to TMDL Projects Source Water Protection Initiative for Newport Water Supply Reservoirs PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Surface Water Monitoring in the Newport Water Supply Reservoirs 2015 Data Report (amended) PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes Determination Nitrogen Thresholds & Nitrogen Load Reductions Green Hill & Ninigret Ponds PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification PDF file, about 5mbmegabytes Addendum - Nitrogen Thresholds & Nitrogen Load Reductions Green Hill & Ninigret Ponds, October 2006 PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Greenwich Bay Fish Kill Report TMDL Implementation Guidance Scope of Work - Stormwater Attenuation and Source Reduction Word file, less than 1mbmegabytes Educational Brochures Ten Things You Can Do to Improve Water Quality in RI PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Five Reasons Why Feeding Waterfowl is Harmful PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Source Water Protection Initiative for Newport Water Supply Reservoirs PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Surface Water Monitoring in the Newport Water Supply Reservoirs 2015 Data Report (amended) PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes
Determination Nitrogen Thresholds & Nitrogen Load Reductions Green Hill & Ninigret Ponds PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes
Maidford River and Paradise Brook Water Quality Study and Pollutant Source Identification PDF file, about 5mbmegabytes
Addendum - Nitrogen Thresholds & Nitrogen Load Reductions Green Hill & Ninigret Ponds, October 2006 PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes