Rhode Island Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Fund
Pre-Proposal Form 2011/2012
I.
PROJECT SUMMARY
1. Project Title : Lower Pawtuxet River Fisheries Restoration Phase 3: Pontiac and Natick Dams
2. Project Location (include map): Providence and Cranston, R.I.
3. Project type (Planning, Design, Construction or Other): Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design
4. If other, please specify:
5. Habitat type (River System, Salt Marsh, Seagrass Bed, Shellfish Bed or Other): River System
6. If other, please specify :
7. Total acreage of habitat to be restored : More than 60 acres of anadromous fish spawning habitat
8.
□ This is an ongoing project that has previously received funds from the CRMC Coastal and
Estuarine Habitat Restoration Fund. If yes, year(s) funding was awarded: Pawtuxet Falls Dam
Removal was funded by CRMC over several years, most recently 2010-11. The dam removal was
completed in 2011; this funding would significantly expand the geographic scope of that restoration.
RICEHRT funding has not been previously requested or awarded toward the two dams that are the
subject of this proposal.
II.
PROJECT MANAGER CONTACT INFORMATION
1. Name: Thomas Ardito
2. Organization: Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
3. Address: URI Bay Campus Box 27, South Ferry Road
4. City: Narragansett
7. Phone:
874-6492
5. State: RI
6. Zip: 02882
8. Email: tom@nbep.org
9. Property Owner(s): Pontiac Dam is privately owned; Natick Dam is owned by the Town of West
Warwick.
□ The applicant can document ownership of project site or permission to perform all proposed restoration,
maintenance and monitoring activities (Proof of ownership or property owner permission will be required as part
of the full project proposal.) To be provided with full proposal.
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III.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET
Amount Requested from Trust Fund
Matching Funds
Partner Organization
$75,000
Amount of Match
Not yet identified
Total Project Cost
$75,000
IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (one page maximum)
1. Justification and Purpose
The Pawtuxet River is the third largest tributary of Narragansett Bay, and once supported large annual runs
of diadromous fish such as Atlantic salmon, American shad, and river herring. The Pawtuxet’s anadromous
fish runs were extirpated beginning in the 1700’s by the construction of mill dams on the river’s mainstem
and tributaries. In 2011 the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Pawtuxet River Authority and partners, with
funding from this Trust Fund and other sources, completed removal of Pawtuxet Falls Dam in order to
restore river herring and American shad to the lower seven miles of the mainstem Pawtuxet. This proposal,
if funded, will lay the foundation for adding approximately 5.25 additional mainstem river miles of habitat
for herring and shad to that restoration by restoring fish passage at Pontiac and Natick Dams. The project, if
funded, will leverage nearly $1 million spent to remove Pawtuxet Falls Dam. The goal of the project is to
restore anadromous fish spawning and biodiversity to the mainstem Pawtuxet River above Pontiac and
Natick Dams. Long- and short-term outcomes include improving habitat, biodiversity and native fish
populations in the lower Pawtuxet River and Narragansett Bay; enhancing Rhode Island’s fresh and salt
water commercial and recreational fisheries; and promoting environmental stewardship through outreach,
education and public engagement.
2. Project Activities, Schedule and Work Plan
Describe the planned on-the-ground project activities, and when they are scheduled to occur.
Planned project activities include:
 Development of Restoration Feasibility Study for mainstem Pawtuxet River upstream of Pontiac and
Natick Dams
 Development of preliminary restoration designs for both structures;
 Expansion and application of HEC-RAS model used for Pawtuxet Falls dam removal;
 Development of cost estimates and identification of permitting requirements;
 Consultation with land owners and regulatory agencies (pre-application)
 Coordination with Pawtuxet River hydroelectric interests
 Identification of and coordination with potentially affected property interests such as Warwick Mall
 Public outreach and engagement
 While we have not yet identified match, we believe that Warwick Mall may be able to provide some
support and will seek additional match funding for permitting and construction from
NOAA/American Rivers
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AUTHORIZED AGENT OF LEAD ORGANIZATION
_____________________________________
Signature
_18 November 2011__
Date
Please include the following with your pre-proposal:
□ Map indicating proposed project location
□ Ground-level photograph(s) of existing site conditions
Note: Letters of support will not be accepted for pre-proposals, but will be considered with
full proposals.
Return completed pre-proposal no later than November 18, 2011 to:
Caitlin Chaffee
RI Coastal Resources Management Council
Stedman Government Center, Suite 3
4808 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, RI 02879
cchaffee@crmc.ri.gov
Applicants are required to submit one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy in Word or pdf format.
Contact Caitlin Chaffee at 401-783-7350 with any questions.
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Rhode Island Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Fund
Pre-Proposal Form 2011/2012
Project Title : Lower Pawtuxet River Fisheries Restoration Phase 3: Pontiac and Natick Dams
Ground-level photos
(Top) Pontiac Mill Dam
(Bottom) Natick Dam
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Rhode Island Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Fund
Pre-Proposal Form 2011/2012
Project Title : Lower Pawtuxet River Fisheries Restoration Phase 3: Pontiac and Natick Dams
Project Map
Proposed Project Area: Pontiac and Natick dams and ponds. Distance between Pontiac Dam and
head of Natick Pond is approx. 5.25 miles.
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