Purpose

• Assess the ecological condition of Narragansett Bay and its watershed based on existing data from a variety of sources;
• Provide baseline information to serve as a foundation for collaborative decision-making in Rhode Island and Massachusetts regarding the future of Narragansett Bay Watershed Ecosystem;
• Provide a factual basis for a revised Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Narragansett Bay;
• Provide information to support other planning efforts including the R.I. Bays, Rivers and Watersheds Coordination Team.
  

Audience

The public, stakeholders, federal and state agencies, policy makers.

Geographic scope

Narragansett Bay and its watershed (fresh and salt waters systems, watershed lands, and rivers) in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, as well as coastal watersheds in Rhode Island.

Outcomes

• Promote understanding of the Narragansett Bay Watershed Ecosystem by the public, stakeholders and policy-makers;
• Summarize the existing management framework for Narragansett Bay;
• Summarize, for stakeholders and policy-makers, the state of scientific knowledge regarding the Bay;
• Help move toward interstate consensus on key issues;
• Identify data gaps and monitoring needs;
• Provide information and analysis to support agency actions.
  

Process of Development

NBEP will organize topic teams, provide technical support and develop
documents. We will work toward consensus, recognizing that this may not be possible for all topics—we will incorporate space for dissenting opinions. The report will be iterative—a “living,” web-based document, hosted by NBEP, updated and revised as new information and additional resources become available. It will build off existing work—plans, studies, etc.—wherever possible.

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