The R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) has awarded funding for nine habitat restoration projects in the 14th round of its RI Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Trust Fund (CEHRTF).
The Council approved the funding at the February 27 semi-monthly meeting in Providence.
As with the previous two years, in its request for proposals the CRMC put special emphasis on projects that would enhance the resiliency of Rhode Island’s coastal habitats to climate change and sea level rise.
The largest award this year – $92,295 – was awarded to CRMC and its partners (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], Town of Charlestown, and Save The Bay) for salt marsh restoration and enhancement in Quonochontaug Pond in Charlestown.
The proposed project will raise the elevation of the Quonochontaug marsh using material dredged from the pond. Some of the dredged areas will be designed with depths suitable for eelgrass with the goal of increasing the amount of eelgrass in the pond.
The project will be similar to the successfully completed restoration and enhancement project within Ninigret Pond.
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