Systems Level Planning

The RI Coordination Team’s Systems Level Plan

The Rhode Island General Assembly has mandated that the RI Coordination Team develop and implement a “Systems-Level Plan” (SLP). The SLP shall “establish overall goals and priorities for the management, preservation, and restoration of the state's bays, rivers, and watersheds, and the promotion of sustainable economic development of the water cluster. The SLP shall include a strategy for attaining goals, delineate specific responsibilities among agencies, and identify funding sources and a timetable for attaining goals. The SLP shall include but not be limited to, planning for:

  • Reduction of pollution from point source discharges, including, but not limited to, municipal and industrial discharges, and storm water and combined sewer overflows.
  • Reduction of pollution from non-point sources, including, but not limited to, on-site individual sewage disposal systems, residential and agricultural fertilizing practices, animal wastes, recreational boating, and land use practices.
  • Protection and restoration of shellfish and finfish.
  • Protection and restoration of aquatic and terrestrial habitat.
  • Conservation of open space and promotion of smart growth practices.
  • Management of aquatic nuisance species.
  • Management of dredging and dredged material disposal.
  • Identification of research needs and priorities.
  • Promotion of education and outreach.
  • Promotion of equitable public access.
  • Promotion of sustainable economic development of the water cluster.

The SLP shall also propose integrated economic and environmental monitoring strategies building upon the accomplishments to date of the Coordination Team’s Economic and Environmental Monitoring Collaboratives

Upon completion of the first version of the SLP in June 2008, the Coordination Team shall develop annual work plans and budgets to implement it.

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