The Bailey Brook Project

A collaboration of municipal, regional, state and federal agencies has recently completed a project to improve Aquidneck Island’s drinking water quality. A Preliminary Investigation Report for the Bailey Brook Watershed has been completed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, the Town of Middletown and other community agencies have participated in the project.  The Conservation Service contracted with GeoSyntec Consultants to conduct the assessment

The highly urbanized Bailey Brook Watershed has been ranked as having the highest water quality risk in the network of watersheds that the Newport Water Division (NWD) draws from to service the Island’s community drinking water needs. The focus of the Preliminary Investigation described below has been to conduct a comprehensive compilation and analysis of data related to water quality protection in this watershed, which includes the primary water supply reservoir for Newport Water’s Station 1 distribution system.

The Preliminary Investigation Report includes an assessment of development encroachment into watershed protection zones, flooding issues, agricultural and non-agricultural water and stormwater issues, and water quality management. The analysis of existing data sources were augmented by on-site inspection of agricultural lands and development sites throughout the watershed, as well as outreach and coordination with municipal officials, land owners and other watershed stakeholders. Funding for the project was spearheaded through Senator Lincoln Chafee’s office with local assistance from RI State Representative Bruce Long, and is directed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The final BAILEY BROOK WATERSHED REPORT is found on the consultant’s public web site, including maps and photographs at http://projects.geosyntec.com/bw0051/

Participants