Kate McPherson, Narragansett Bay Riverkeeper for Save The Bay, explains to a homeowner the benefits of allowing the natural area next to the Maidford River to revegetate with trees, shrubs, and leaves. This effort was part of a neighborhood campaign to encourage property owners to rewild the portions of their property closest to the river for water quality improvement purposes. Photo Credit: Save the Bay.
Over the last 3.5 years, SNEP Network partners worked with the Town of Middletown, Rhode Island and the Aquidneck Land Trust to plan and design nature-based solutions that reduce flooding and improve water quality of the Maidford River and downstream receiving waters which include two sources of Aquidneck Island’s water supply, Nelson, and Gardiners Ponds.
This project advanced the recommendations of local watershed plans to increase the river’s flood storage capacity. In addition to the floodplain restoration work, the team focused on a public outreach campaign to promote buffer restoration and naturally vegetated conditions along the Maidford River.
The SNEP Network has published a case study on the Maidford River Project, which shares the project’s key findings, lessons learned, and next steps for the project.
Learn more about the Maidford River Project by viewing the following resources:
The SNEP Network is a project of the New England Environmental Finance Center and is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast New England Program. For more information about upcoming SNEP Network webinars and events, other assistance and training opportunities and resources, or to get in touch with us, visit the SNEP Network’s website at snepnetwork.org.