Category: Public Forums

WEBINAR: Rhode Island’s Unique Commercial Shellfishing Industry

Thursday, May 3, 2018
2:00 – 3:00 pm
See the recording of this, visit the Past Events page and look for this date

Shellfishermen and science come together! Join Michael McGiveney, commercial quahogger and President of the RI Shellfishermen’s Association, and Conor McManus, Ph.D., shellfish biologist (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management) for a webinar about the commercial shellfishing industry. Rhode Island supports a robust shellfishing industry — human, not machine, power is used to harvest over 28 million clams a year (2016). Learn about the unique ways in which the industry and state have partnered for years on research projects, clam population enhancement efforts that benefit recreational harvest, industry education and training innovations, and quahog stock assessments.

The webinar is a program of the Rhode Island Shellfish Initiative. The Initiative “honors the legacy and vital role shellfish play in supporting our environment, families, traditions, and economy. Through a partnership of government, business, academia, and community, the Initiative strengthens our state’s shellfish management practices and promotes growth and innovation within our local seafood industry.

Presentations from the HAB Monitoring Workshop- September 2017

HABS_screenshotPosted on behalf of RI DEM:

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and partners held an informational meeting on September 12th to review Rhode Island’s new monitoring and contingency response plan for harmful algae blooms (HAB). Last year, Rhode Island experienced its first HAB caused by the presence of toxic phytoplankton in local waters; the event triggered an emergency closure of the state’s shellfishing areas. A subsequent bloom earlier this year resulted in a second emergency closure of some waters.

Presentations on HAB were given by DEM, RI Department of Health, and researchers at URI and DEM. All presentations are posted here HAB Monitoring Plan Workshop Presentations_Sept2017.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.

Webinar—Understanding the 5% Rule for the Coastal Salt Ponds

WEBINAR: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 from 4:00-5:00PM

To join the meeting:
http://crc.adobeconnect.com/fivepercentrule/

“Understanding the 5% Rule for the Coastal Salt Ponds” – Participate in this free, interactive Webinar, from your computer at home! Learn from those who were involved in shaping the 5% Rule for aquaculture in Rhode Island’s coastal salt ponds. The rule states that no more than 5 percent of the salt pond area can be used for aquaculture. Hear the details about the science, policy, and decision-making that was involved to set the rule.
Presented by retired URI Professor David Bengston. Prof. Bengston was a member of the working group that convened in 2007 to determine the 5% Rule.

Prof. Bengston will explain the original process with the goal of giving webinar participants a clear understanding of why the rule exists. The intention is to allow an open forum of knowledge and experience sharing so as to be better informed about what the rule is and is not.

The recorded webinar and a summary document will be posted online at:
http://www.appliedshellfishfarming.org/aquaculture-education-for-the-public/

For more information, please contact Azure@crc.uri.edu

Sustainable Water Quality Solutions Project Introduction and Brainstorming Session

Exploring Sustainable Water Quality Solutions for Upper Narragansett Bay:
Project Intro & Brainstorming Session
Tuesday December 2, 2014: 1-4 PM
Narragansett Bay Commission
Providence, RI

You are cordially invited to a meeting to brainstorm future opportunities for the restoration and sustainable water quality management of Upper Narragansett Bay on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 1 to 4 PM at the Narragansett Bay Commission headquarters in Providence, RI.

Background
The Rhode Island Bays, Rivers and Watersheds Coordination Team has launched a stakeholders process to identify sustainable, cost-effective management and restoration strategies that will further improve water quality and the overall ecological health of upper Narragansett Bay.

Phase one of the stakeholders process seeks to 1) identify, examine, and evaluate four to five ecosystem-based approaches that could be undertaken within the bay or along the coastline that will improve water and habitat quality , 2) identify data and research gaps regarding the most promising approaches, and 3) develop consensus on which approaches merit further pursuit and planning.

To lead this process, the Coordination Team has convened a Project Steering Committee (PSC) consisting of the organizations and individuals whose input, participation, and consensus is most needed to select and approve the most promising approaches. The PSC is supported by the Horsley Witten Group and the Consensus Building Institute.

Purpose
The PSC and consultants have initially identified four ecosystem­based management categories that merit further research and consideration:

o Shellfish & Macroalgae Cultivation & Restoration
o Reducing Tidal & Circulatory Restrictions
o Restoring Wetlands
o Enhancing Buffer Zones & Shorelines
o Stormwater Management & Green Infrastructure

This kick-off meeting will convene scientists, technical experts, and management officials with a diversity of technical expertise to share and discuss their questions, ideas, and knowledge on these categories of alternative strategies for restoring the water quality, habitats, and ecological integrity of Upper Narragansett Bay. Meeting participants will be encouraged to brainstorm and share additional options and ideas that warrant further consideration. Findings from the meeting will be used to organize a series of targeted, topical workshops to be held in the first half of 2015.

Attached here is a draft meeting agenda.

If you can possibly join us, please RSVP by Wednesday, November 26 to:

Kimberly Kirwan
kimberly.kirwan@narrabay.com
401 468 8848 x391

If you cannot join us, let us know if there is someone that we should invite in your place.
Thank you in advance for joining us. We look forward to a productive meeting!

PSC Members:
Angelo Liberti & Sue Kiernan Department of Environmental Management
Tom Uva & Pamela Reitsma Narragansett Bay Commission
Ames Colt Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team
Jeff Willis Coastal Resources Management Council
Jared Rhodes Statewide Planning
Tom Borden Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Hal Walker EPA ORD Atlantic Ecology Division
Mark Nelson & Stacie Smith Horsley Witten Group & Consensus Building Institute

Notice of Public Meeting 10-29-14

Shared on behalf of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Division of Agriculture
Notice of Public Meeting – Wednesday, October 29, 2014, 3:30 PM

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing regarding the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Small Grants and Technical Assistance Program will be held in Room 300 of the RI Department of Environmental Management, at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

The purpose of this hearing is to accomplish the purposes of RIGL 2-25-8 which requires the Department to annually schedule and conduct one or more public meetings to solicit input from the general public on whether the program is meeting its intended purposes, and to solicit recommendations for modifying the program.

AGENDA:

  • General overview of the program (Ken Ayars, DEM)
  • Grant round #1 overview (Leo Pollock, RI Food Policy Council)
  • Group breakouts:
  1. Discussion relative to 2015 round #2 priorities
  2. Discussion relative to outreach strategy for 2015 round #2
  • Wrap up & next steps (Ken Ayars & Leo Pollock)

Written comments are welcome and may be emailed to LASA@dem.ri.gov or mailed to/dropped off at the Division of Agriculture office at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 until Wednesday, November 12th at 4:00 pm. Email submissions are strongly preferred. All oral and written comments will be considered in the same manner.

NOTES: If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Ken Ayars, Chief, Division of Agriculture, 222-2781 ext. 4500, ken.ayars@dem.ri.gov, or Nicole Pollock, Assistant to the Director, 222-4700 ext. 2038, nicole.pollock@dem.ri.gov.

The meeting location is accessible to handicapped persons. If you require interpreter services for the hearing impaired, please request by contacting TDD number 222-1205 or #711 (R.I. Relay), at least 3 days in advance of the meeting.

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