Supported by a newly-awarded Community-based Marine Debris Removal grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Clean Bays is working to remove industrial debris from 18 miles of East Providence shoreline, as well as from the navigable waters of Providence Harbor. With plenty of debris left over from its use as an industrial port and from the intentional dumping of discarded items, this area has become not only an eye-sore, but a threat to navigation and the surrounding environment. To restore this 18-mile stretch that encompasses approximately 350 acres of habitat, Clean Bays will remove 165 tons of debris!
Collaborating with community partners such as Save The Bay, Clean Ocean Access, Providence Community Boating Center, and 11th Hour Racing, Clean Bays will engage over 500 local volunteers to participate in shoreline cleanups, data collection and monitoring work. This work, in addition to Clean Bays’ efforts to remove larger debris such as abandoned pilings and household appliances, will help to implement a plan adopted by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council to revitalize the East Providence shoreline.
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) is hosting a press event tomorrow, November 24th, to celebrate the launch of this exciting project. The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Northeast Regional Coordinator, Keith Cialino, will be speaking at the event.
For more information on this project, visit the project profile page on our website.