Water Quality - Nonpoint Source Pollution Protecting and restoring the waters of the State – surface water, groundwater and wetlands – from pollution due to nonpoint sources continues to be an important focus of state water pollution control programs in Rhode Island. Managing nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution – those that cannot be tracked to a single pipe or discharge point, such as overland stormwater runoff and failing septic systems – is challenging. Available monitoring data reveal nonpoint pollution as a widespread problem affecting every watershed in the State. Nonpoint sources are suspected of contributing to the impairments in a majority of the surface waters included on the state's impaired waters list, also known as the 303(d) list. To prevent and combat NPS pollution, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program encourages various actions by state and local governments, businesses, watershed groups and individual landowners. The NPS Program uses the watershed approach to focus on managing nonpoint pollution problems. The DEM NPS Program activities are guided by the RI Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan (2019) as well as federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements governing Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 funds. In accordance with federal NPS guidelines, only those projects that are in watersheds which have a Watershed Plan that meets the required elements in the federal guidelines and which implement recommendations in the Plan are considered eligible for funding with Section 319 grant funds. See below for qualifying watershed plans. For information, contact:Ernie Panciera, 222-4700 ext. 2777603Betsy Dake, 222-4700 ext. 2777230 Nonpoint Source Program Success Stories Outhouse Removal Eliminates Source of Bacteria Removing Beaver Dams Reduces Phosphorus Impairment Implementing Low Impact Development Practices at Bristol Town Beach Keeps the Beach Open and Improves Offshore Shellfishing Waters Installing Infiltrating Catch Basins Helps Reduce Bacteria in Greenwich Cove Installing Fish Ladders on the Ten Mile River Restores Historic Herring Run Addressing Failing Septic Systems and Controlling Stormwater is Improving the Pettaquamscutt River Resources Guidance for Watershed Plan Development 2019 RI Nonpoint Source Management Program Plan State Guide Plan Element Water Quality 2035 Stormwater Design Manual and Low Impact Development (LID) guidance Nonpoint Source Funding Page Nonpoint Source Grant Program Quality Assurance Project Plan Simple Ways You Can Help Keep Rhode Island's Waters Clean Stormwater Solutions RI South County Design Manual Watershed Plans Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan (in development) For more information about the Aquidneck Island watershed plan, please contactJenny Paquet, Senior Environmental Planner, 401-222-4700 ext. 2777263. Nonpoint Source Pollution - Watershed Plans Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan Proposed Goal Statement Narratives PDF file, less than 1mbmegabytes Aquidneck Island Watershed Plan Slides PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Barrington-Palmer-Warren Rivers Watershed Plan PDF file, about 8mbmegabytes Bristol-Kickemuit Rivers Watershed Plan PDF file, about 10mbmegabytes Buckeye Brook Watershed Plan PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Jamestown Brook Watershed Plan PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Little Compton Watershed Plan (draft) PDF file, about 3mbmegabytes Narrow River Watershed Plan (draft) PDF file, about 13mbmegabytes Nonquit Pond Watershed Plan PDF file, about 5mbmegabytes Stafford Pond Watershed Plan PDF file, about 2mbmegabytes Watson Reservoir Watershed Plan PDF file, about 4mbmegabytes Wood-Pawcatuck Rivers Watershed Plan PDF file, about 13mbmegabytes