This agreement is to fund the state of rhode island's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that…

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management received a $289,000 formula grant award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Water Quality Management Planning program (CFDA 66.454) for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The award, supported by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, funds water quality management planning activities designed to improve impaired waters and protect unimpaired waters across Rhode Island by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of Clean Water Act programs. Key deliverables include ambient river water quality monitoring, monitoring to characterize Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) pollutants in freshwaters, and surveillance of freshwater harmful algal blooms. These activities support the protection and restoration of water quality by providing a foundation of sound water quality standards, monitoring, assessment, and planning that enables adaptive management actions aligned with state strategic plan goals and EPA priorities.

In compliance with Clean Water Act Section 205(j)(3), the recipient is required to pass through at least 40 percent of the award funding ($115,600) to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies through a subaward with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) for monitoring-related activities. The planned work is consistent with EPA's "Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative," specifically supporting Pillar 1 (Clean Air, Land and Water for Every American) and Pillar 3 (Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership).

This agreement is to fund the state of rhode island's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of clean water act programs. In accordance with clean water act section 205(J)(3), unless a waiver request is approved by EPA, the recipient will jointly develop workplans with and passthrough at least 40% of funding to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) and the clean water state revolving fund. Activities:the activities to be performed include the following water quality management planning activities: monitoring water quality to characterize ambient river conditions, monitoring to characterize PFAS pollutants in freshwaters, surveillance of freshwater harmful algal blooms, and the 40% pass-through requirements will be satisfied by entering into a subaward with the new england interstate water pollution control commission (NEIWPCC) for monitoring related activities. These activities support the protection and restoration of water quality in rhode island through providing a foundation of sound water quality standards, monitoring, assessment, and planning that leads to the implementation of adaptive management actions. The planned activities for this program are focused on state priority water quality concerns (ridem strategic plan goals three, four and five) which are also aligned with EPA priorities. Ridem has focused on core program activities that implement required aspects of the federal clean water act and align with the EPA 'powering the great american comeback initiative.' more specifically, the planned work is consistent with EPA 'pillar 1: clean air, land and water for every american' and 'pillar 3: permitting reform, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership'. Subrecipient:the focus of the work will be implementation of ambient river monitoring program in the 2026 sampling season, including planning and execution by field staff and water sample laboratory analysis. In 2026, targeted watersheds will include the wood-pawcatuck and saugatucket rivers in southern rhode island. Contingent on continued availability of funding, approximately 50 stations will be sampled several times during may - october for bacteria, conventional parameters, and some metals in the selected watersheds, allowing for biennial assessment of water quality standards for aquatic life and recreational designated uses in streams and rivers. The data also serves to identify impairments and track progress toward water quality goals consistent with the clean water act.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: field sampling and laboratory analysis of the water quality sampling dataset in rivers; field sampling and laboratory analysis of PFAS pollution in fresh waters; field investigation and sampling for harmful algal blooms (HABS); and assessments to inform the 2026 list of impaired waters the expected outcomes include: characterization of selected ambient river conditions; reports documenting results of the PFAS sampling program and HABS investigations; and draft updates to RI water quality rules, and progress reports for the 2025 workplan. The intended beneficiaries include the residents of RI and users of RI waters, water quality data, and ecosystem services, and recipients of ridem technical assistance