Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 awarded a $2.2 million Project Grant to Roger Williams University under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) on October 1, 2025, to support implementation of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program's (NBEP) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) through September 30, 2028. The award funds comprehensive estuary management activities designed to improve water quality, protect natural habitats and living resources, and support sustainable human uses in Narragansett Bay. Key deliverables include assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources, and uses; coordinating CCMP implementation across state, federal, local, and non-governmental partners; monitoring effectiveness of management activities; and providing sound program management consistent with NBEP's mission and bylaws. The award also supports collaborative regional planning for resilient and sustainable natural resource management and science communication tailored to researchers, managers, and priority audiences.

The funding supports multiple sub-awarded initiatives advancing estuary restoration and research objectives. Sub-awardees include the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management ($75,000 for replacing aged water quality monitoring network equipment), Clark University (satellite imagery analysis of ground solar installations in the Narragansett Bay watershed), the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (environmental education intern support), the Town of Barrington (community flood resilience and climate action planning intern), The Nature Conservancy (juvenile fish population assessment in estuarine rivers), the Rhode Island Natural History Survey (rare plant population surveys and monitoring), and Blackstone Watershed Collaborative (fish passage restoration coordination, public outreach, and student mentorship for Blackstone River ecosystem recovery).

Section 320 of the CWA authorizes the administrator of the EPA to convene management conferences to develop comprehensive conservation and management plans for estuaries of national significance that are threatened by pollution, development, or overuse. The agreement provides funding to roger williams university, host of the narragansett BAY estuary program, to support implementation of the NEP comprehensive conservation and management plan (ccmp) to improve the water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses in the estuary by restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the estuary and supporting its sustainable human uses through tasks outlined in annual workplans and by its partners. Activities:the projects included will support activities that address the key challenges facing the estuary including assessing trends in water quality, habitats, natural resources and uses; coordinating implementation of the ccmp by the NEP, along with the state, federal, local agencies, stakeholders, ngos, citizens, partners, and others; and monitoring the effectiveness of activities conducted under the management conference approved ccmp and annual workplan. The cooperative agreement supports activities to ensure sound program management consistent with narragansett BAY estuary program's (nbep) mission, bylaws, and comprehensive conservation and management (ccmp) plan; to provide collaborative regional planning to advance more resilient and sustainable natural resource management, use, and enjoyment; to communicate science in ways that are understood and useful to researchers, managers, and other priority audiences; and to award funding to partners to help implement the ccmp.subrecipient:subaward activities under this award are as follows: - $31,625 to fund local organizations hosting interns that create work products to be used by nbep and its partners, tackle interesting issues facing the narragansett BAY region, provide capacity to nbep and its partners, and provide mentorships across disciplines and interest groups. - $75,000 to fund outreach and education subawards either by an RFP process or through direct awards. Up to 7 subawards will be made ranging from $10,000 - 15,000. - $79,750 to fund research subawards funded through an RFP that will focus on addressing priorities of the providence-seekonk river collaborative. Specific priorities will be determined by the science advisory committee. Up to 2 subawards will be made ranging from $30,000 - $79,750. - $75,000 to rhode island department of environmental management to cover 75% of the second year of a contract river connectivity project coordinator position. Ridem will provide the remaining funds to cover the full FTE. - $80,000 to rhode island department of environmental management to replace aged fixed site network equipment. - $35,000 to the blackstone watershed collaborative to continue monthly community advisory committee convenings and outreach and leadership activities for the lower blackstone fish passage project. - $48,000 to the nature conservancy in rhode island to conduct monthly sampling (may through october 2026) at up to five sites in the barrington river and palmer river estuaries. - 269,032 in match subawards will support aquatic connectivity projects. - 695,044 in match subawards will support water quality and shellfish monitoring projects as well as BAY and watershed restoration fund projects. Outcomes:deliverables and outcomes include the submission of at least two proposals for funding that will advance the comprehensive conservation and management (ccmp); complete a ccmp revision that will provide a watershed vision ready for implementation; convene the science workgroup and an annual science event to encourage greater coordination, information exchange, and collaborative decision-making for prior