Ten Mile River Project Celebrated

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit and Colonel Christopher Barron of the USACE recently joined federal, state, and local officials at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Ten Mile River Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project.

The project restores river herring to the Ten Mile River watershed and provides river connectivity for other resident fish species.

The project was constructed in two phases. Construction of fish passages at Turner Reservoir and Hunt’s Mill Dams began in unison and finished in September 2012. The Omega Pond Dam started at a later date and was completed in April 2015.

“This aquatic ecosystem restoration project was possible because of the hard work of several federal, state, and local agencies and organizations,” said Colonel Christopher Barron, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.

The restoration project provides access to over 340 acres of spawning and nursery habitat, and approximately three miles of riverine spawning habitat for river herring.