The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and its partners are launching the Shoreline Adaptation Inventory and Design (SAID) program, beginning with an instructional webinar today and field trips to different coastal locations June 12 and 13, 2019.
CRMC, the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant, Save The Bay, and the Roger Williams University Marine Affairs Institute plan to use funds from a $280,140 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Coastal Resilience grant CRMC received in November. The Town of Bristol and City of Providence Department of Planning and Development, and Parks are also municipal partners.
The SAID program aims to create an inventory of completed and potential shoreline adaptation projects.
“These are projects that address the impacts of coastal storms, sea level rise and stormwater such as erosion, flooding, and loss of habitats and shoreline public access. They help to improve the resilience and safety of the shoreline while increasing the benefits of natural systems such as water quality improvement and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife. The SAID program will both document past efforts and provide ways for cities, towns and local communities to nominate sites for future projects,” CRMC said in its release.
The webinar will cover an overview of the SAID program, including online mapping and photo tools. It will also inform viewers how to nominate a site or project idea for the program inventory.
The field trips on June 12 at Mill Cove Road in Warwick (from 1-4 p.m.) and 13 at Grinnell’s Beach in Tiverton (from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.) will highlight successfully completed projects in the state as well as candidate sites for the program.