As part of the Green Hill Pond and Eastern Ninigret Pond watershed management plan, the Salt Ponds Coalition is sponsoring a workshop for area residents to participate in the development of recommendations for lawn care and waterfowl management. The Watershed Assessment Report prepared by Horsley Witten Group in July of this year identified neighborhood lawns and local waterfowl as key pollutant sources to the ponds. This interactive workshop is planned to give area residents the principal role of recommending actions that may be necessary to reduce pollutant from these sources. Attend the workshop if you love the birds but don?t know what to do about their droppings, or if you love the view from your lawn but don?t know how the fertilizer impacts the health of the ponds. Attend the meeting if you want to have an impact on what the final watershed management plan recommends for your neighborhood. This project is co-funded by DEM and CRMC and coordinated by DEM's Sustainable Watershed Office.
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RISC Supports Eastern Ninigret/Green Hill Channel Dredging Project

Dredging of the Ninigret Pond portion of the South Shore Habitat Restoration Project (Dredge Project) is scheduled to begin this fall. This project has created an opportunity for a complementary project -- dredging the eastern end of Ninigret Pond into Green Hill Pond. The proposed dredging of the eastern area of Ninigret Pond and Green Hill Pond will be conducted using private donations. The project is not included in the South Shore Habitat Project (the rest of Ninigret Pond) because it does not meet the criterion needed for the use of public funds, which is habitat restoration.

The RISC Environment Committee believes the eastern Ninigret/Green Hill project has merit because of expected recreational benefits from improved safety and boat launch access. There are no expected negative environmental impacts.

Approximately $150,000 in private donations is needed to fund this project. The Salt Ponds Coalition has stepped forward to take the lead in fund raising and collection.

Contributions to help fund the eastern Ninigret/Green Hill project should be sent to the Salt Ponds Dredge Fund, Box 1094, Charlestown, RI 02813.Make checks out to Salt Ponds Dredge Fund. Contact GreenHillChannel@cox.net or call 322-3068 for further information.

Submitted by: Roy Jeffrey, Environment Committee Chair