Lake Management Planning Projects
Revised: January 2026
Under DEM's 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, Goal Four: to protect and improve water quality, includes strengthening watershed management through policy, regulation, and partnerships to promote water resource protection, including a focus on freshwater lakes and ponds. DEM is working in partnership with local stakeholders and contractors to develop five separate, written lake management plans for:
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Central Pond/Turner Reservoir, East Providence
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Georgiaville Pond, Smithfield
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Indian Lake, South Kingstown
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Tiogue Lake, Coventry
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Upper Dam Pond (Breezy Lake), Coventry
What is a lake management plan?
- A written document for a specific lake
- Outlines and prioritizes specific goals of management (eradicate or control plants)
- List factors at a particular lake that contribute to a specific problem
- List the factors at a particular lake that contribute to a specific problem
- Provides options and recommends strategies and activities to meet specific goals
- Names people who are responsible for particular protection or restoration actions
- Provides a specific, measurable timeframe with quantifiable endpoints (or benchmarks)
Background
DEM uses Clean Water Act funding, through its annual Performance Partnership Grant (PPG) from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to support water quality monitoring, assessment, and watershed planning. As part of the PPG, the DEM's Nonpoint Pollution Source (NPS) Program coordinates a range of non-regulatory initiatives that encourage voluntary actions to prevent nonpoint source pollution and support water quality restoration.
In February 2024, DEM issued a call to local organizations seeking technical assistance to develop lake management plans. Lakes were selected based on documented concerns across a variety of water quality and watershed management topics. In accordance with State purchasing guidelines, DEM engaged a consultant and initiated the project in December 2025. Beginning in January 2026, DEM began meeting with stakeholders from each location to introduce the project and hear concerns about their lake.
During the initial meetings, consultants will engage with local stakeholders, including lake associations, watershed councils, and municipalities, to better understand local priorities and concerns. Data will be collected, compiled, and analyzed to inform the development of a lake management plan tailored to each location. A second in-person meeting will be held later in the year to present findings, review recommended management strategies, and discuss ideas for future projects. Following these meetings, draft plans will be prepared for review and approval by DEM and the EPA.
DEM intends for these written, data-driven lake management plans to serve as practical guides for stakeholders seeking to protect and improve local water quality. The plans will be developed to meet the EPA’s Nine Elements for a Watershed Plan. Once approved, projects identified in the plans may be eligible for NPS grant funding to support efforts to protect and restore the lake.
Please watch for announcements about upcoming stakeholder meetings. All meetings are recorded and posted to this webpage. If you are unable to attend but have specific concerns about a lake or have data/information you would like considered, please email katie.degoosh@dem.ri.gov.