State Guide Plan Element 162

Rivers Policy and Classification Plan

Originally adopted January 8, 1998, amended May 2004   77 pages

Purpose 

The Plan fulfills the River's Council statutory mandate to provide "an affirmative, clearly articulated program to manage and protect [the state's] rivers and watershed resources." 

The Rivers Policy and Classification Plan is a guide for action to protect and enhance the quality and the use of Rhode Island's watersheds.  Its approach is holistic; it endeavors to integrate water quality planning with land use planning and with planning for activities such as recreation and habitat preservation.

The Plan is intended to provide clear, integrated, affirmative guidance for the management and the protection of Rhode Island's water resources at the state, local and especially watershed level.  Its broad objectives are to protect drinking water supplies and pristine rivers, to encourage recreational use of rivers, to foster the creation of greenways, and to provide for the clean-up of rivers. 
(from section 1.1)

Availability

The full text of plan and summary of  the Plan's Goals and Policies from the State Guide Plan overview is available on-line (See links at left. Note that some browsers all links to be printed at a single time.).  Maps of individual watersheds provided within the plan while not available as part of the plan are available at the University of Rhode Island's on-line atlas and RI Department of Environmental Management's Watershed Partnership pages.   A hard copy of  the plan is also available at municipal libraries throughout the State.