The
South County Watersheds Partnership (SCWP) unites a diverse group of individuals
and organizations interested in addressing environmental and quality of life
issues at the community level through a highly collaborative and cooperative
process. The SCWP is an embodiment of a new watershed-based approach to
environmental management which focuses attention on individual watershed
communities, and allows natural resource agencies, like RIDEM, to more
effectively address issues of local concern.
The Partnership is an open and on-going forum which presently includes representatives from numerous South County associations such as the Salt Ponds Coalition, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, the Narrow River Preservation Association, the Saugatucket River Heritage Corridor Coalition and the South Kingstown Land Trust, along with representatives from local, state and federal government agencies and academic institutions. The Partnership welcomes new voices and perspectives and is open to the public.
The
SCWP actively supports the efforts of the Washington Regional Planning Council
and its Vision 2020 Plan. For example, the SCWP oversees two projects that
provide Washington County towns with technical planning assistance to better
plan for growth and to preserve the regions high quality of life and rural
character. Water quality protection and growth management planning in Washington
County are key concerns of both the Washington County Regional Planning Council
and SCWP.
For
more information about the South County Watersheds Partnership and the RI
Watershed Approach, please feel free to contact Jeff Nield, South County
Watersheds Coordinator at 401-222-3434 Ext. 4405.