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Water US Army Corps Resources of Engineers New England Division Development C"s CW3 TC 424 R4 W68 M 1991 Rhode Island 1991 On the Cover: Block Island Harbor ofRefuge I The work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Rhode Island 1991 This booklet presents a brief description of water re- sources projects completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Rhode Island. It describes the role of the Corps in planning and building water resource improve- ments and explains the procedure leading to the autho- rization of such projects. For ease of reference, the material is arranged accord- ing to the type of project, i.e. flood damage reduction, navi- gation, or shore and bank protection. There is also a refer- ence at the end of the booklet that lists Corps' projects by community. A map showing the location of all Corps pro- jects in the state is provided on the underleaf of this page. The Corps of Engineers water resources development program exerts a significant impact on Rhode Island's physical, economic, and social environment. This publi- cation affords citizens the opportunity to learn about the various projects and to determine how they can participate in decisions regarding present and future activities. For further information, call the Corps of Engineers at 617-647-8777, or write: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England Division Public Affairs Office Property of CSC Libx=7 424 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02254 617- 647-8777 US Army Corps of Engineers New England Division U . S . DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA COASIAL SERVICES CENTER 2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413 This publication is authorized 7Z> by the Secretary of the Army C 177S as required by PL 99-662. TES doc (-J ZE =1111111IM1111111 LOWER WOONSOCKET I CLEAR RIVER I I Vs ...... ......... MASS. WOO OCKET IL D CENTRAL FALLS 711 KE SEEKONK RIVER PROVIDENCE VID CE FOX POINT HURRICANE BARRIER PROVIDENCE RIVER & HARBOR w BULLOCKS POINT COVE CRA WARREN RIVER PAWTUXET RIVER PAWTU IWICK APPONAUG COVE OAKLA ris GREENWICH BAY Timton POTOWOMUT RIVER SAKONNET CONN. WARWICK COVE WICKFORD HARBOR Aquidneck ,S land EWPOR T HARBOR COASTERS HARBOR terly NEWPORT HARBOR Block Island Sound SAND HILL COVE BEACH MISQUAMI (Ov PAWCATUCK RIVER & POINT JUDITH POND & LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY HARBOR OF REFUGE GREAT SALT ONO @C, BLOCKISLAND HARBOR OF REFUGE Corps' Projects in Rhode Island FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION NAVIGATION SHORE AND BANK PROTECTION 4 4 12 M I LE S US Army Corps of Engineers New England Division For more than 216years, the missions and accomplishments ofthe U.S. Army Corps ofEngin- eers have closely reflected the nee& and wants ofa growing, changing nation. For much ofthis time, the Corps has played a major role in our nation's water resources development, including naviga- tion,flood control, water quality and supply, recreation and relatedprojects. Although the drivingforce behind our water resources development mission has remained con- stant-providing quality service to the nation there have been several challenging adjustments in how we meet this requirement. One such change was the introduction of non-federal cost sharing in the Water Resources Devel- opment Act. Though legislatively reaffirmed in the subsequent acts of 1988 and 1990, the true value ofcost-shared development can be measured by the many successful projects of this partner- ship and the healthy water resources program it ensuresfor thefuture. Another challenge we havejaced recently is the increasedpublic concernfor their environment. We have always complied with environmental laws and regulations and managed ourprojects as a trust we holdfor thefuture. Compliance, however, is no longer enough. We are taking an active position to not only protect but enhance ourfragile environment. The Secreta?y of the Army has been directed to include environmental Protection as one ofour primag missions, and the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 established a "no net loss" Polig as an essentialpart ofall water resources development. In addition to making environmen- tal considerations as important as engineering and economic considerationsfor new start projects, we are taking a new look at existing projects to determine how they can be environmentally improved. Looking ahead to the nee& ofour nation, we are taking a lead role in helping rebuild our nation's aging infrastructure. The U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers has always been at theforefront ofinfrastructure development in the United States exploring new territolyfor settlement, survging transportation routes and opening rivers to navigation. While we work to restore and strengthen the vital links in our infrastructure, we are also exploring new methods to meet increasing and vaging national requirements. One such effort is ajointfederal, non-federal demonstration project to determine thefeasibility ofa U.S. developed and built high-speed magnetic levitation trans- portation system. We have also been working actively with the construction indushy on a cost-shared Construc- tion Productivity Advancement Research Program. This program has the double benefits ofin- creasing the U.S. construction indusby's competitive ability in the international market while providing more effective techniques, equipment and processesforfederal and non-federal projects in the United States With these initiatives, we are building on the Corps' traditions ofprofessionalism and service to meet the needs ofour nationfor another 200years. We are proud of the partnerships we have forged, and lookforward to an exciting, rewardingfuture in water resources development. This booklet is one in a series detailing water resources programs in the 50 states and U.S. possessions. I hopeyoufind it interesting andfeel some pride ofownership. HJ. HATCH Lieutenant General, USA Commanding US Army Corps of Engineers New England Division The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has a long andproud histog of applying its expertise in engineering and related disciplines to meet the Nation's needs. Over theyears, those needs have evolved,from such 19th Centug activities as exploration, pathfinding and lighthouse construction to such modern missions as hazardous and toxic waste removal and environmental improvement. The centralfocus of its Civil Works mission, however, hasfrom its earliest days, been development of the Nation's water resources. The water resource projects developed by the Corps ofEngineers, in cooperation with State and localproject sponsors, have proven themselves time and again as wise investments ofpublicfunds5 returning to the public in benefits-low cost transportation,flood damages prevented5 etc.-far more than their cost to plan, build and operate. As a result, the Civil Works program enjoys a high degree ofcredibiliy within the Administration, and with Congress. With a program ofmore than $3.5 billion in Fiscal Year 1991, the Civil Works program was one ofthe vegfew "domestic dis- cretionag" activities ofthe Federal government to receive an increase infunding thatyear Yet, proud as we are of the respect this program commands within the Federal government, we are even prouder of the trust that ourpartners the States, local governments, port authorities, water management districts and other localproject sponsors place in us. Each Corps ofEngineers project is the product of an orderly study and design process. Under provisions ofthe Water Resources Development Act of 1986, sponsors demonstrate their commit- ment early in the project development process by agreeing tojointfunding ofthefeasibiliy study upon which a project's construction authorization will be based, and to cost sharing of the project's construction once it is authorized. To date, more than 150 non-Federal sponsors have signed Local Cooperation Agreementsfor studies or congressionally authorizedprojects. The engineering expertise and responsiveness ofthe Corps ofEngineers, gained in the Civil Works and Supportfor Others programs as well as in its militaiy construction role, has stood the Nation in good steadfrom Alaska, where itparticipated in the oil spill cleanup; to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Southeastern States, where it spearheaded recoveg Cfforts after Hurri- cane Hugo; to California in the aftermath ofthe Loma Prieta Earthquake; to the Midwest and California as they deal with continuing drought; to Panama and the Middle East in Operations JUS T CA USE a nd DESERT SHIELDIDESERT S TORM; to dozens of other locations. Whatever challenges arise in theyears and decades ahead, I have no doubt that the Army Corps of Engineers will be equal to the task. "Y 5@_J G. Edward Dickey Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Table of Contents A. U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Pawcatuck River and PROGRAMS AND SERVICES I Little Narragansett Bay 41 1. Civil Works Overview 3 Pawtuxet Cove 41 Introduction 4 PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge 42 Authorization and Planning Process for Potowomut River 43 Water Resource Projects 6 Providence River and Harbor 43 Navigation 6 Sakonnet Harbor 44 Flood Control and Flood Plain Management 7 Sakonnet River 44 Flooding in New England 9 Seekonk River 45 Reservoir Control Center 14 Warren River 45 Shore and Hurricane Protection 16 Warwick Cove 45 Hydropower 17 Wickford Harbor 46 Water Supply 18 IV. Shore and Bank Protection 48 Environmental Quality 18 Shore and Bank Protection Projects Regulatory Programs 19 in Rhode Island 49 Recreation 20 Clear River, Burrillville 50 Emergency Response and Recovery 21 Cliff Walk 50 Misquarnicut Beach 51 B. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS 23 Oakland Beach 51 Sand Hill Cove Beach 52 1. River Basins 24 Blackstone 25 Thames 26 C. STUDIES 53 Pawcatuck 27 Flood Damage Reduction 54 11. Flood Damage Reduction 28 Pawcatuck River Basin and Narragansett Bay 54 Hurricane Protection Barriers 29 Navigation 54 Fox Point 30 Block Island Harbor of Refuge 54 Local Protection Projects 31 PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge 54 Lower Woonsocket 32 Shore and Bank Protection 54 Pawtuxet River, Warwick 33 Bullock Neck 54 Woonsocket 34 City Park Beach and 111. Navigation 36 Conimicut Point Beach 54 Navigation Projects in Rhode Island 37 Apponaug Cove 38 D. APPENDIX 55 Block Island Harbor of Refuge 38 Bullocks Point Cove 38 1. Communities with Corps Projects 56 Coasters Harbor 39 11. Glossary 58 Great Salt Pond 39 Greenwich Bay 39 111. Index 60 Newport Harbor 40 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Rhode Island 1991 n CIVIL WORKS OVERVIEW Rhode Island 1991 a Introduction The Corps traces its history back to April 26, 1775, seven British. An astonished General Howe, commander of the days after the first shots of the American Revolution were British forces, reportedly remarked that the Americans fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. Recognizing that the had done more in one night than his entire army would need for military engineering skill would be important in have done in six months. Exposed to the American bat- the war with England, the Massachusetts Provincial Con- teries on Dorchester Heights and not strong enough to gress appointed Boston native Richard Gridley to the rank fight Washington's troops in other parts of Boston, the of Colonel and chief engineer of the troops being raised in British army and fleet departed Boston on March 17, the colony. never again to occupy Massachusetts. In the early morning hours ofjune 17, 1775, Gridley, In 1802, Congress established a separate Corps of Engin- working under the cover of darkness, constructed a well- eers within the Army, and at the same time established the designed earthwork on Breed's Hill that proved practically U. S. Military Academy at West Point, the country's first- invulnerable to British cannon. The British eventually took and for 20 years its only-engineering school. With the the hill (later called the Battle of Bunker Hill) when the Army having the Nation's most readily available engineer- patriots ran out of gunpowder, but at a cost in casualties ing talent, successive Congresses and Administrations es- greater than any other engagement of the war. tablished a role for the Corps as an organization to carry out Gridley was to play other critical roles in the early days both military construction and works "of a civil nature." of the Revolution. On the evening of March 4, 1776, Grid- Throughout the nineteenth century, the Corps super- ley, along with 2000 men and 360 oxcarts loaded with en- vised the construction of coastal fortifications, lighthouses, trenching materials, moved into Dorchester Heights. By several early railroads, and many of the public buildings in daylight, two strong protective barriers looked down at the Washington, DC, and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Corps of 7 A A M re 4 Lo, 40 ;WdEENOPT r -1 FYI T Underthe direction of Colonel Richard Gridley, American patriots worked diligently throughout the early morning hours ofjune 17, 1775, designing a stout earthworkfortification that helpedprotect American soldiersfrom British cannonade in the historic Battle ofBunker Hill. US Army Corps of Engineers Topographical Engineers, which enjoyed a separate exis- made it a natural to assume new water-related missions in tence for 25 years (1838-1863), mapped much of the Amer- such areas as flood control, shore and hurricane protec- ican West. Army Engineers served with distinction in war, tion, hydropower, recreation, water supply and quality, and with many Engineer officers rising to prominence during wetland protection. the Civil War. Today's Corps of Engineers carries out missions in three In its civil role, the Corps of Engineers became increas- broad areas: military construction and engineering support ingly involved with river and harbor improvements, carry- to military installations; reimbursible support to other ing out its first harbor and jetty work in the first quarter of Federal agencies (such as the Environmental Protection the nineteenth century. The Corps'ongoing responsibility Agency's "Superfund" program to clean up hazardous and for federal river and harbor improvements dates from toxic waste sites); and the Civil Works mission, centered 1824, when Congress passed two acts authorizing the around navigation, flood control and-under the Water Corps to survey roads and canals and to remove obstacles Resources Development Acts of 1986 and 1990 a growing on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Over the years since,- role in environmental protection. the expertise gained by the Corps in navigation projects W@ Army engineers contributed to both lanning and InA 1, P tion ofour nation's capital. When the construc Capitol Building had to be reconstructed in 1857, 'M@ the Corps built two new wings and redesigned the '0' o,e d with cast and wrought iron. The completed dome, which weighed almost nine million pounds, N Z was used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War as a symbol ofhis intention to pre- N serve the Union. 4 7 PEELW A, 4, 7,11W INN- Cleaning chemical spills at hazardous waste sites is a team project between the Corps and the EPA. An area identified as a hazardous waste location was this site in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, near Cornell Pond and the Copicut River. Rhode island 1991 Authorization and States, the Chief of Engineers forwards the report and environmental statement to the Secretary of the Army, Planning Process for who obtains the views of the Office of Management and Water Resources Projects Budget before transmitting these documents to Congress. If Congress includes the project in an authorization bill, Water resources activities are initiated by local interests, enactment of the bill constitutes authorization of the pro- authorized by Congress, funded by Federal and non- ject. Before construction can get underway, however, both Federal sources, and constructed by the Corps under the the Federal government and the local project sponsor Civil Works Program. New England Division has water must provide funds. Budget recommendations are based resource responsibilities in all six New England states. on evidence of support by the State and by the ability and The area assigned to New England Division contains willingness of non-Federal sponsors to provide their share 66,000 square miles, 13 million people, 6, 100 miles of of the project cost. coastline, 13 major river basins and I I deep draft com- Appropriation of money to build a particular project is mercial ports. usually included in the annual Energy and Water Develop- The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 made ment Appropriation Bill, which must be approved by both numerous changes in the way potential new water re- Houses of the Congress and the President. sources projects are studied, evaluated and funded. The major change is that the law now specifies non-Federal cost sharing for most Corps water resources projects. Navigation When local interests feel that a need exists for improved navigation, flood protection, or other water resources de- Rivers and waterways were the primary paths of commerce velopment, they may petition their representatives in Con- in the new country. They provided routes from western gress. A Congressional committee resolution or an Act of farms to eastern markets. They promised a new life to the Congress may then authorize the Corps of Engineers to seaboard emigre and financial reward for the Mississippi investigate the problems and submit a report. Water re- Valley merchant. Without its great rivers, the vast, thickly- sources studies, except studies of the inland waterway nav- forested, region west of the Appalachians would have re- igation system, are conducted in partnership with a local mained impenetrable to all but the most resourceful early sponsor, with the Corps and the sponsorjointly funding pioneers. and managing the study. Consequently, western politicians such as Henry Clay For inland navigation and water-way projects, which are agitated for federal assistance to improve rivers. At the by their nature not "local," Congress has established, in same time, the War of 1812 showed the importance of a the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, an Inland reliable inland navigation system to national defense. Waterway Users Board, comprised of waterway transporta- Thus, both commercial development and military needs tion companies and shippers of major commodities. This required attention to river and harbor development. There Board advises the Secretary of the Army and makes recom- was, however, a question as to whether transportation was, mendations on priorities for new navigation projects (e.g., under the Constitution, a legitimate Federal activity. This locks and dams, channel improvements, etc.). Such pro- question was resolved when the Supreme Court ruled that jects are funded in part from the Inland Waterway Trust the Commerce Clause of the Constitution granted the Fund, which in turn is fed by waterway fuel taxes. Federal Government the authority not only to regulate Normally, the study process for a water resource prob- navigation and commerce, but also to make necessary nav- lem will include public meetings to determine the views igation improvements. of local interests on the extent and type of improvements The system of harbors and waterways maintained by the desired. The desires of local interests and the views of Corps of Engineers remains one of the most important Federal, State, and other agencies receive full considera- parts of the Nation's transportation system. Without con- tion during the planning process. stant supervision, rivers and other waterways collect soil, Considerations which enter into recommendations to debris and other obstacles, which lead to groundings and Congress for project authorization include determinations wrecks. New channels and cutoffs appear frequently, and that benefits will exceed costs, and that the engineering the main traffic lanes require continual surveillance. design of the project is sound, best serves the needs of the Where authorized to do so, the Corps maintains the people concerned, makes the wisest possible use of the Nation's water-ways as a safe, reliable and economically natural resources involved, and adequately protects the efficient navigation system. Inland waterways carry one environment. sixth of the Nation's inter-city cargo, and one job in five in A report, along with final en@7'ironmental documenta- the United States is dependent, to some extent, on the tion, is then submitted to higher authority for review and commerce handled by the Nation's ports. recommendations. After review and coordination with all River and Harbor work by the Corps of Engineers in interested Federal agencies and Governors of affected New England was initiated by a congressional appropria- US Army Corps of Engineers "a, jetties help provide safe channelsfor commercial and recreational vessels. Thejetties at Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich, Massachusetts, also help prevent the buildup ofsediment in the channel by directing and confining the tidalflow. tion of $20,000 on May 26, 1824 "to repair Plymouth expertise in navigational work to devise solutions to flood- Beach, in the State of Massachusetts, and thereby prevent ing problems along the river. the harbour at that place from being destroyed." From After a series of disastrous floods affecting wide areas, that initial project at America's first permanent settle- including transportation systems, in the 1920's and 30's, ment, New England Division has completed 173 navigation it was recognized that the Federal Government should projects , including federal navigation projects in I I deep participate in the solution of problems affecting the public draft ports and adjacent waterways. The most visible of Interest when they are too large or complex to be handled The Corps navigation responsibilities is the Cape Cod by States or localities. As a result, Corps authority for flood Canal, which has been operated by the federal government control work was extended in 1936 to embrace the entire since 1928. The canal is 17.5 miles long and is traversed by country. 19,000 vessels annually. In addition, its recreation features The purpose of flood control work is to prevent flood attract over 4 million annual visitors to the project. damage through flood flow regulation and other means. In addition, the Flood Control Act of 1944 provided that "flood control" shall include major drainage of land. These Flood Control and objectives are accomplished with structural measures, such Flood Plain Management as reservoirs, levees, channels and floodwalls, or non-struc- tural measures which alter the way people would otherwise Federal interest in flood control began in the Alluvial occupy or use the flood plain. Levees, channel improve- Valley of the Mississippi River in the 19th Century. As the ments and flood walls built for flood control by the Corps relationship of flood control and navigation became appar- of Engineers are turned over to non-Federal authorities for ent, Congress called on the Corps of Engineers to use its operation and maintenance. Rhode Island 1991 Reservoirs constructed for flood control storage often in- planning for floods and regulation of flood plain areas, thus clude additional storage capacity for multiple-purpose uses, avoiding unwise development in flood-prone areas. Once such as the storage of water for municipal and industrial community officials know the flood- prone areas in their use, navigation, irrigation, development of hydroelectric communities and how often floods would be likely to occur, power, conservation of fish and wildlife, and recreation. they can take necessary action to prevent or minimize dam- The Corps fights the Nation's flood problems by not only ages to existing and new buildings and facilities by adopt- constructing and maintaining flood control structures, but ing and enforcing zoning ordinances, building codes and also by providing detailed technical information on flood subdivision regulations. The Flood Plain Management hazards. Under the Flood Plain Management Services Services Program also provides assistance to other Federal Program, the Corps provides, on request, flood hazard agencies and to State agencies in the same manner. In information, technical assistance and planning guidance to many cases, fees are collected to cover a portion of the costs other Federal agencies, States, local governments and pri- of these services. vate individuals. This information is designed to aid in US Army Corps of Engineers Flooding in New England New England has a long history of flooding. Through the because their reservoir capacities had been reached, the 35 years it has been hit with various storms that have caused dams under the jurisdiction of the Corps' New England millions of dollars in damages. Some of the more destruc- Division held back billions of gallons of water that other- tive hurricanes and floods the area has experienced since wise would have caused severe flooding downstream. The 1900 occurred in November 1927; March 1936; September amount of water held back by these dams from this heavy 1938; September 1954; and August 1955. However, some rainfall was equivalent to a reservoir that could put the of the highest flood levels in New England history occurred entire state of Rhode Island under more than one foot of in April 1987 and gave many Corps dams their most seri- water. Damages prevented by Corps flood control projects ous test since they were built. Despite having six dams during the April 1987 storm amounted to $462.6 million. channel excess water through their emergency spillways 7-1 VT: f A; py- Ilk 7" 1927 Floodwaters swirl around homes and trees in this Vermont communiy during the November 1927 od. The storm claimed 21 lives and caused $29.3 million inpropery damage. ...'rook .... .......... Ilk 1936 The rampaging waters of the North Nashua River ripped through the downtown area ofFitchburg, Massachusetts, during the March 1936flood, taking with it homes, automobiles, and com- mercial and industrial propery. Eleven lives were tostfrom thisflood and damages were estimated at $66.4 million. MOW Rhode Island 1991 - ff JL PkI, -@2f' 'Ilk K'atersfrom the Connecticut River surround the Hartford South Aleadows Power Station (center) and cover much qfHaqford, 1936 Connecticu t, dun ng the March 1936flood The spnngfloods of 1936 brought widespread dtsa-i terfirom Mai ne to Magland and helped moldpoluical andpublic opinion that culminated in the Flood Control Act of 1936, which recognized the proper involvement of thefeder- algovernment inflood control (Copyright 1936 The Hartford Courant) L4- d-j A Not 1938, The heaq rainsofthe September 1938hurricane caused the Contoocook River to flood a section of Eastjqfi'rej,,AIew Hampshire This storm with feightpeople its 121 in p h gusts, took the lz ves o iso R@-. in ATew England and caused damage@ of$486 million (about S740 million in toda),s dollars) US Army Corps of Engineers zy@ AL @Z-aw 77"t'- '44 @12 .41, -3W 1 4%4. Ooi Sol =4,0M ]i1i 2. Hurricane Carol, which struck the New England coast in August 1954, caused damages estimated at $186 million ($685 million in 1954 today's dollars). The storm achieved its greatestfuiy in a band stretchingfrom New London, Connecticut to the Cape Cod Canal. All that remains of the Rhode Island Yacht Club (above) in the Pawtuxet Neck section of Warwick, Rhode Island, is a cradle ofpiles after the structure was destroyed by Carol's high winds and waves. (Copyright 1954 The Providence journal Company). Z AW m45 Ao The Blackstone River overflows its banks andfloods several businesses and homes in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as a result of the heavy RUA 1955 rains ofHurricane Diane in August 1955. Rhode Island 1991 1955 No natural disaster in New England histoy com- pares with the devastation caused by the sudden and torrential rainfall which accompanied Hur- ricane Diane in August 1955. The disaster killed 90 people and caused almost $458 million (about $1.82 billion in today's dollars) in property dam- age throughout the six-state region. In Connecticut alone, Diane's floodwaters killed 47 people and caused damages totalling about $370 million (about $1.3 billion in today's dollars). The rains of Hurricane Dianefell on ground already sat- urated by the rains of Hurricane Connie one week earlier. One of the communities that sustained heavy damage was Winsted, Connecticut. The waters of the Mad River overflowed its banks and roared through Main Street, uprooting foundations and flooding homes and businesses. Men the flood- waters receded, the devastation became apparent (right). Main Street had become a pile of rubble, cluttered with debris ripped from its understructure. The storm also forced hundreds of New Englanders to evacuate their homes, including a Connecticut woman (above) who was dram- atically rescued from ravagingfloodwaters. (Copyright 1955 The Hartford Courant). Only two months later, as Connecticut wasgetting back on itsfeet, another severeflood disrupted rehabilitation measures and causedsedlosses estimatedat $6.5 million. In response to these major floods, the Corps built several darns and local protection projects that, in a recurrence of theAugust 1955 flood today, would US Army Corps of Engineers 12 17- _7 A@' BR O's cAFE Romp" @A' f', As these photosfrom August 1955demonstratefloodwaters pose a powerful threat to propery and lives. As the top photo shows, this 1955 Southbridge, Massachusetts home was toppled when thefloodwaters ofthe Quinebaug River weakened itsfoundation. Note the overturned automobile on the left; its only ident0able remains are its tires. Floodwatersfrom the Blackstone River (above) roar through Webster Square in Worcester, Massachusetts. Rhode Island 1991 Reservoir Control Center potential flood conditions. This data indicates when to operate the flood control gates and when to release stored As a flood situation develops, considerable judgment and floodwaters from reservoirs once downstream flood condi- experience are required to efficiently manage Corps dams tions have receded. During flood emergency periods, addi- and reservoirs. Weather conditions, reservoir storage cap- tional information is obtained by telephone, teletype, and acity, and the flood levels of rivers are important factors radio from field personnel and other agencies, such as the when operating dams that maximize the protection of National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. downstream communities and minimize flood damage. The Reservoir Control Center has helped minimize or The nature of New England weather requires the region's prevent severe and damaging floods in many New England dams and reservoirs be professionally managed by trained communities. The Corps is proud of its commitment to engineers and hydrologists. These skilled technicians, provide the public with improved flood protection through using sophisticated communications equipment, form an the professional management of its dams and hurricane integral part of the Corps' flood control efforts known as protection barriers. the Reservoir Control Center (RCC). New England Division has been an innovative leader in The RCC is located at the Corps'New England head- the use of non-structural solutions for flooding problems. quarters in Waltham, Massachusetts. From this site, Corps The Charles River Natural Valley Storage Project provides engineers closely monitor precipitation, river levels, and a novel approach to flood protection in parts of Boston and tidal levels in New England. The state-of-the-art commu- Cambridge by retaining flood flows on 8, 100 acres of wet- nications equipment used by RCC personnel is comple- land areas aquired by the government at a cost of $9 mil- mented by the Geostationary Operational Environmental lion. In Warwick, Rhode Island flood-prone properties Satellite (GOES) System. The GOES system serves as a were aquired, removed or modified to withstand high communication link for the relay of hydrologic and meteo- water events with the federal government underwriting rological data. Information from about 50 data collection 80% of the cost. In these times of environmental concern platforms at key locations along rivers, streams and other and building restrictions, non-structural flood protection bodies of water is relayed to a stationary satellite, which projects have the potential to protect life and property transmits this data by radio signal to the RCC. Engineers with minimal adverse environmental impacts. then examine and analyze this hydrologic information for GOES SATELLITE The GOES network, or the New England Division Satellite System (NEDSA7), plays a kg role in helping the Corps reduceflood damage. About 50 data collection platforms (DCPs) are situated on various rivers and streams throughout thefive New England states (opposite page) where the Corps has dams and hurricane Z7 protection barriers. Hydrologic and meteorological datafrom these DCPs are relayed to a satellite stationed above the earth (7ight). The satellite then transmits this information by radio signal to the Corps'Reservoir Control Center in > Waltham, Massachusetts. The data tell Corps' engineer;when to open or close thefloodgates of Corps'dams and h urricane protection barriers, PF-771"', thus limiting damage to communities down- %7-, cows stream. The GOES system also provides the - WWI @t national weather maps displayed by local Qpvp) TV weathermen during theirforecasts. US Army Corps of Engineers INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY NEDSAT: A network of remote, data collection platforms (DCP's) in five major river basins, which report hydrologic data, such as water level and rainfall, from important index stations on rivers and streams. All DCP's show by dots on the map, sense water data and transmit VT it by radio to NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). It is relayed back to Earth, and Wells River NH is received at the satellite ground station at NED Headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts. There it is used for - Woodstock timely and effective operation of flood control projects. Rumney West Hartford Plymouth o West Lebanon Bristol GTilton N Franklin Jct e Henniker 9 o River Hill North Walpole e * Concord Goffstown e . Goffs Falls Keene 0 Peterborouge eSouhegan East Pepperell West Deerfield Athol Lowell Montague City Barre Plains * MA New England Division 1.2.1 U3 Headquarters Gibbs Crossing 9 Westfield. Indian Orchard e Northbridge Webster Thompsonvillee Putnam CAPE Mad River Dam Simsbury V@oons cket COD 0 BAY Hall Meadow! *East Branch Willimantic Thomaston - 0 Ilartford Northfield. Unionville Jewett City R Brook Black Rock* * Waterbury Stevenson *Hop Brook . . Beacon Falls CT LopjC PJ0 Soutil) New England Division ISLA NEDSAT GOES Satellite Stamford Hydrologic Data Collection Network Rhode Island 1991 Shore and Hurricane Protection The Corps work in shore protection began in 1930, when tion and maintenance. The New England Division has Congress directed it to study ways to reduce erosion along completed 36 streambank/shoreline protection projects in U.S. seacoasts and the Great Lakes. Corps of Engineers the region. hurricane protection work began in 1955, when Congress New England Division has been a pioneer in the con- directed it to conduct general investigations along the struction of hurricane protection barriers. NED has con- Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to identify problem areas and structed and operates hurricane barriers in Stamford, CT determine the feasibility of protection. and New Bedford, MA. Additionally NED has constructed While each situation the Corps studies requires differ- barriers in Providence, R.I.; Pawcatuck, CT; and New ent considerations, engineers look at each one with struc- London, CT. The local communities have assumed re- tural and non-structural solutions in mind. Engineering sponsibility for their operation and maintenance. feasibility and economic efficiency are considered along Section 145 of the Water Resources Development Act of with the environmental and social impacts. A recommen- 1976 authorizes placement of beach quality sand from our dation for Federal participation is normally based on shore dredging projects on adjacent beaches with local interests ownership, use and type and frequency of benefits if there picking up the additional costs of the disposal. Section 933 is no public use or benefit, Federal participation is not rec- of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 reduces ommended. Once a shore protection project is completed, this local cost share from 100 to 50 percent of additional non-Federal interests assume responsibility for its opera- costs. 7 4f FI This shore protection project at Oakland Beach in Warwick'Rhode Island, is a good example ofhow Corps'works help protect shores and restore beaches. Sand replenishment, which widened and restored the two beach areas on thefar lefi andfar right, slows the ocean's inland advance. Thefour groins maintain shore alignment by trapping and retaining sand. The stone revetment, in the center of the photograph between two groins, retards erosion. US Army Corps of Engineers Hydropower The Corps has played a significant role in meeting the plant is used by the Vermont Electric Cooperative or Nation's electric power generation needs by building and is sold to other utilities. operating hydropower plants in connection with its large Quechee, Vermont, 2.5 miles upstream of the North multiple-purpose dams. The Corps' involvement in hydro- Hartland Lake Dam and within the reservoir area. power generation began with the Rivers and Harbors Acts Built on Corps land, this plant produces 1.8 mega- of 1890 and 1899, which required the Secretary of War and watts. Power is sold to the Central Vermont Public the Corps of Engineers to approve the sites and plans for Service Corporation. all dams and to issue permits for their construction. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1909 directed the Corps to con- Waterbu?y, Vermont, at the base of the dam at Water- sider various water uses, including water power, when sub- bury Reservoir. This facility generates approximately mitting preliminary reports on potential projects. 5.5 megawatts of power, which is used by the Green The Corps continues to consider the potential for hydro- Mountain Power Corporation. electric power development during the planning process Montpelier, Vermont, approximately 200 feet down- for all water resources projects involving dams and reser- stream of the dam at Wrightsville Reservoir. The voir .s. In most instances, hydropower facilities at Corps plant has the capacity to produce 1.2 kilowatts of projects are now developed by non-Federal interests with- power, which is used by the Washington Electric out Federal assistance, but the Corps becomes involved Cooperative. with the planning, construction and operation of hydro- power projects when it is impractical for non-Federal in- Franklin, New Hampshire, on Salmon Brook. Built on terests to do so. Today, the more than 20,000 megawatts Corps land within the Franklin Falls reservoir, this of capacity at corps-operated power plants provide approx- facility produces 0.2 megawatts of power. Power is sold imately 30 percent of the Nation's hydroelectric power, or to the Public Service Company of New Hampshire. 3.5 percent of its total electric energy supply. Bristol, New Hampshire, on the Newfound River. This In New England, the Corps does not operate any hydro- plant produces 1.5 megawatts and lies on private electric power facilities, but there are eight hydroelectric property but within the Franklin Falls reservoir area. power plants at Corps flood control dams which are owned Power is sold to the Public Service Company of New and operated by nonfederal interests. These plants are Hampshire. located in: North Hartland, Vermont, about 500 feet downstream of Peterborough, New Hampshire, on Verney Mills Dam at the North Hartland Lake Dam. This facility produces Edward MacDowell Lake. This facility began produc- 4 megawatts of power. All power generated at this ing power in 1990. The power is sold to the Public Service Company of New Hampshire. t "0 Although the Corps does not present@y operate any hydroelectric power plants in New England, there 't% arefive hydropower plants located at Corpsflood control projects in the region that are owned and operated by nonfiederal interests. The North Hartland hydropowerfaciliy in North Hartland, Vermont, located 500feet downstream of the Corps-operated North Hartland Lake Dam, is one suchfaciliy. Rhode Island 1991 Colebrook, Connecticut, at the intake of the dam at Cole- more extensive environmental studies, namely the prepa- brook River Lake. This facility began producing power ration of environmental impact statements. In selecting in 1989. The 3.3 megawatts of power is sold to the alternative project designs, the Corps strives to choose Connecticut Light and Power Company. options with minimum environmental impact. New England Division is evaluating a prototype design Under Section 1135 of the Water Resources Develop- ment Act of 1986, the Corps is authorized to modify its for installation of a vertical axis hydro turbine (VAHT) existing projects-many of them built before current envi- which would harness the energies of the continual tidal ronmental requirements were in effect for environmental currents at the Cape Cod Canal. If installed, the energy improvement. Proposed modifications under this authority generated would offset the current electrical bill. This pro- range from use of dredged material to create nesting sites totype has widespread repercussions as it does not require for waterfowl to modification of water control structures to the costly superstructure of conventional submerged hydro improve downstream water quality for fisheries. Several of turbines. these proposals were specifically designed to help meet the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Water Supply Plan. The Corps is working to select additional projects for modification. The Water Supply Act of 1958 authorized the Corps to provide additional storage in its reservoirs for municipal and industrial water supply at the request of local inter- ests, provided those interests agree to pay the cost. For irrigation, the Flood Control Act of 1944 provided that the Secretary of War, upon the recommendation of the Secre- tary of the Interior, may utilize Corps reservoirs, provided that water users agree to repay the Government for the water in accordance with the 1902 Reclamation Law, as amended. Both Littleville and Colebrook Lakes have been designed to provide backup water supplies to surrounding N_. communities in times of severe droughts. Littleville Lake will serve communities in the Springfield, MA area, while Colebrook Lake will serve communities in Northwestern Connecticut. Z Reservoir capacity can also be used for water quality and _7@ streamflow regulation, as authorized by, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 196 1. Environme ntal'Quality In conducting its Civil Works Programs., the Corps must comply with many environmental laws and executive orders and numerous regulations relating to the environ- ment. Consideration of the environmental impact of a Corps project begins in the early stages and continues through design, construction and operation of the project. The Corps must also comply with many of these environ- A beaverpipe allows water topass underneath a beaver dam, preventing the mental regulations in conducting its regulatory programs flooding of nearby roads and controlling the water level. This beaver pipe was constructed and installed at Suny Mountain Lake Dam in Suny, New (see next section). Hampshire. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is the national charter for the protection of the environ- ment, and its procedures ensure that public officials and private citizens may obtain and provide environmental information before Federal agencies make decisions con- cerning the environment. Corps of Engineers project plan- ning procedures under NEPA often point out the need for M US Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Programs The Corps of Engineers has regulatory authority over any considers all the relevant factors, including conservation, construction or other work in navigable waterways under economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and historical values, wetland values, fish and wildlife values, authority over the discharge of dredged or fill material flood damage prevention, land use classifications, naviga- into the "waters of the United States" a term which in- tion, recreation, water supply, water quality, energy needs, cludes wetlands and all other aquatic areas under Section food production and the general welfare of the public. 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amend- The Corps of Engineers has issued a number of nation- ments of 1972 (PL 92-500, the "Clean Water Act") - wide general permits for minor activities which require lit- The Corps regulatory program is the principal way by tle or no individual review. Individual Corps districts have which the Federal government protects wetlands and other also issued regional permits for certain types of minor aquatic environments and ensures the continued naviga- work in specific areas. Corps districts have also issued bility of the Nation's waterways. The regulatory program's State Program General Permits in States with comprehen- goal is to ensure protection of the aquatic environment sive wetland protection programs. These permits allow while allowing for environmentally sustainable develop- applicants to do work for which a State permit has been ment. issued. These general permits reduce delays and paper- The standard permit evaluation process includes a pub- work for applicants and allow the Corps to devote its lic notice with a public comment period and an opportuni- resources to the most significant cases while maintaining ty for a public hearing before the Corps makes a permit the environmental safeguards of the Clean Water Act. decision. In its evaluation of permit applications, the Corps A& @A- % A J1 V Baker Cove in Groton' Connecticut, like many wetlands, supports numerous plant and animal species. Before building a proposed project in a given area, the Corps looks close@) at the effects such a project may have on the environment and surrounding wetlands. The Corps considers all options, including those that pre- clude development, infinding a solution to a water resources problem. I rw@ riot". Rhode Island 1991 Recreation The Flood Control Act of 1944, as amended, provides authority to construct, maintain, and operate public park and recreational facilities at water resources development projects under the control of the Secretary of the Army and to permit the construction, maintenance, and opera- tion of such facilities. It also provides that the water areas of projects shall be open to public use - generally for boat- ing, fishing, and other recreational purposes. The Corps of Engineers today is one of the Federal government's largest providers of outdoor recreational opportunities, operating more than 2,000 sites at its lakes and other water resource projects, and receiving more than 600 million visits per r year. The recreation opportunities attract 7.9 million visitors to New England Division projects per year. Of these, 3.9 VS M FAA] SEINE million visitors utilize the flood control projects, while 4.0 million take advantage of various facilities of the Cape A Cod Canal. IF ir There are many recreational opportunities available at the 35 dams and reservoirs built by the Corps'New England Division such as snowmobiling at Blackwater Dam in Webster, New Hampshire (right); andflyfishing at Townshend Lake Dam in Townshend, Vermont (below). J V_ US Army Corps of Engineers Emergency Response and Recovery Corps assistance for emergency/disaster response and pairs to essential public utilities and facilities and emer- recovery is provided under Public Law 84-99, covering gency access for a 10-day period, at the request of the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies, or in support of Governor. other agencies, particularly the Federal Emergency Man- Under the Stafford Act and the Federal Disaster Re- agement Agency (FEMA). under Public Law 93-288 (the sponse Plan, the Corps of Engineers has a standing mis- Stafford Act), as amended. sion assignment to provide public works and engineering Under PL 84-99 the Chief of Engineers, acting for the support in response to a major disaster or catastrophic Secretary of the Army, is authorized to undertake activi- earthquake. Under this Plan, the Corps will work directly ties including disaster preparedness, advance measures, with the State in providing temporary repair and construc- emergency operations (e.g., flood fighting, rescue and tion of roads, bridges, and utilities, temporary shelter, emergency relief activities), rehabilitation of flood control debris removal and demolition, water supply, etc. works threatened or destroyed by flood, protection or In addition to its mission under the federal Disaster repair of Federally authorized shore protection works Response Plan, the Corps is one of the Federal agencies threatened or damaged by coastal storms, and providing tasked by FEMA to provide engineering, design, construc- emergency supplies of clean water in cases of drought or tion and contract management in support of recovery contaminated water supply. In post-flood response activi- operations. ties, the Corps provides temporary construction and re- IT, 4 -All 00, 'WP 0 00 4 .t;t@ > 3@ -ol The Corps provided disaster relief assistance to 'I residents 0 Chelsea, Massachusetts, whenfire f destroyed 18 ciy blocks in October 1973. Rhode Island 1991 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS Rhode Island 1991 m River Basins Flooding may be caused by a combination of many factors Pawcatuck. All three river basins have Corps'Flood Dam- related to the underlying river basin. Corps' Flood Dam- age Reduction projects within their drainage areas. R-hode age Reduction projects, such as dams and Local Protection Island is the Nation's smallest state (in terms of area) with Projects, are designed and constructed as part of an overall 1214 square miles. plan to limit flooding in a particular river basin. The following pages show where these three river basins There are 19 principal river basins that lie entirely or lie in the state and the location of Corps'Flood Damage partially in New England. Of this number, three lie in Reduction projects within each basin. parts of Rhode Island the Blackstone, Thames, and US Army Corps of Engineers ST. JOHN Major River Basins In Now England PENOBSCOT ST. CRDI KENNEBEC A VT. SACO PRESUMPSCOT SO* _s PISCATAQUA 04, 13 CHARLES NEW YORK NEPONSET ,TAUNTON THAMESI ATLANTIC BLACKSTONE OCEAN PAWCATUCK /ST US Army Corps of Engineers N WORCESTER BosIrON BLACKSTO E RIVER BASIN MASS. ORCESTER Lake PROVIDEN C I @@ I R.I. C ApS Quinsigamond Z. iddj@ 41- Leesville n OLANTIC 0 4- Auburn Millbury WEST HILL DAM 1z WORCESTER WOONSOCKET LOWER WOONSOCKET Uxbridge 04 MASS. Millvil e ---- ------- lacksto ---------- CONN. MASS. ------- R.I. OONSOCKET z LEGEND DM > LOM PROT[C" PWW "=am Pwmcm SCALE IN MILES BLACKSTONE P TUC T 10 Blackstone River Basin PROVIDENCE The Blackstone River Basin stretches from Worcester, E. PROVIDE@CE Massachusetts to the Providence-Pawtucket area of Rhode Island. It is 46 miles long and has an average width of 12 miles. FOX POINT The basin consists of 540 square miles, of which 382 M n square miles (71 percent) lie in Massachusetts and 158 % tn square miles (29 percent) lie in Rhode Island. In Rhode Island, it occupies one-third of Providence County, mainly in the county's northern and northeastern sections. Rhode Island 1991 LEGEND N 0 DAN VT. LOCAL P20TECTION N.H. PROJECY EAST BRIMFIELD A NVIRICANE PROJECTION LAKE BARRIER MASS. t" t. THAMES TON WESTVILLE SCALE IN MILES RIVER BAS12r4w ORCISSM 4 a LAKE 1DZNC9 r HARMT HODGES VILLAGE DAN CONN. Char Brimfield 0 rd 0 Long Island Sound turbridge in BUFFUMVILLE LAKE 0 Southbridge ............. Holland MASS. 0 Webster ------------------------------- ----- ...... CONN. k. MASS. -------------------- R.I. N Gronvenordfe West Thompson Putnam I WEST THOMPSON 10 1, West Glocester LAKE a *Me field Danielson Andover W LIMANTIC *Windbam I Greene I 1, 0 OLebanon zs.-; Thames River Basin MANSFIELD HOLLOW 0:04 LAKE Baltic U1 The Thames River Basin lies mostly I Jewett City in the eastern third of Connecticut, Gil an Occ a ov-% aftvi e with small sections extending into Fitc s' southern Massachusetts and northwest- ozra N ICH ern Rhode Island. It is 67 miles long Gardner with a maximum width of 38 miles. Lake *Salem The basin comprises an area of 1474 square miles. Of this number, 1162 NORWICH square miles (75 percent) lie in Con- Gel necticut, 251 (20 percent) lie in Massa- chusetts, and 61 (five percent) lie in NEW LONDON NEW Rhode Island. In Rhode Island, the LON Thames River Basin occupies the west- G n ern edge of Providence County and minor portions of Kent and Washington Counties. LONG ISLAND SOUND vt# R @'V Z23 US Army Corps of Engineers N MASSACHUSETTS Pawcatuck River Basin " --I RH @T71 ODE The Pawcatuck River Basin lies prin- PA WCA TUCK Providence cipally in the southwestern corner of RIVER BASIN Rhode Island, except for two small por- 0 Hartford ISLAND Ix tions located in southeastern Connecti- CONNECTICUT cut. It is 22 miles long with a maximum Y- ::) z '@t4 width of 22 miles. Q A w The basin extends over an area of 303 on, SIAT4 D square miles, 246 (81 percent) of which z S( z BLOCK lie in Rhode Island and 57 (19 percent) 0:0 Island e ISLAND Oj AN 0 M Long in Connecticut. In Rhode Island, the I som d A'ft'AS'flC basin covers part of Washington County and most of Kent County. The Pawcatuck River Basin contains a vast amount of wetland areas, which 11 absorb potentially damaging flood- waters from rivers and streams. 0 Exeter 0 Arcadia at Hope Valley Kingston 0 0 Hopkinton Carolina Great Swamp lorden Pond N. Stonin n CK Ashaway Bradford Charlestown 0 Pawcatuck 0 OWeaterly PAWCATUCK 4. LEGEND Watch Hill Little N rragansett HURRICANE PROTECTION BARRIER a Balf SCALE IN PAILIS 1 0 1 2 3 Rhode Island 1991 Flood Damage Reduction The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has constructed four and central Woonsocket and the Belmont Park section of flood damage reduction projects-a hurricane protection Warwick, cost a combined $17.7 million to construct and barrier and three local protection projects-in Rhode have prevented an estimated $43.4 million in flood dam- Island. ages. 1,ocal protection projects in Rhode Island are oper- The Fox Point Hurricane Protection Barrier in Provi- ated and maintained by the respective municipalities. The dence protects the center of the city from tidal flooding following pages give a brief history and description of the caused by hurricanes and other coastal storms. Gosting $15 flood damage reduction projects constructed by the Corps million to build, the city-operated barrier has prevented in Rhode Island. flood damages estimated at $745,000. The three local pro- Note: Figures givenfor damages prevented by eachflood control tection projects, which provide flood protection to northern project are estimated through September 1990. TOWER CONTROL ROOM STONE SLOPE PROTECTION @n .................... ......... Z@@ zz zzz Gq Cz 0 GO zzztzzzzzz zz zz@ FILL PERVI US zzzzz=zzzz== C L) zz@ IIMIJFERVIQV@,@ SAND'AND.GkAVE '=Mzz 'Ca CORE zzz=zz='1 U C3 C3 =M111=111___ Mzz 6 C) Cz zz z z z z z M CO zz zzz zz zzzzzzz ------------ 'ARE _7 7 - - - - - - STORAGE BEDROCK -`@ ONCRETE CHAMBER SAND DRAIN CONDUIT CONDUIT GATE (SAND, SILT AND CLAY) TYPICAL CROSS SECTION OF AN EARTHFILL DAM US Army Corps of Engineers Flood Damage Reduction Projects in Rhode Island Hurricane Protection Barrier Fox Point in Providence Local Protection Projects Lower Woonsocket Pawtuxet River, Warwick Woonsocket Rhode Island 1991 Street, near the p ower plant. The structure contains three tainter gate openings that prevent the entry of floodwaters in the bay when closed and permit passage of small vessels 7. when open. Each gate is 40 feet high and 40 feet wide. Two 1.0 to 15-foot-high earthfill dikes, each with stone JL:@ - slope protection, flank each side of the barrier. The eastern dike is 780 feet long'and the western dike is 1400 feet long. A pumping station and cooling water canal are integral parts of the project. During a flood situation, the pumping station's five large pumps. can. discharge the floodwaters of the Providence River through the barrier into the bay. Two gated openings i ,n the pumping station, each 10 feet high and 15 feet wide, admit water into the cooling water canal used by the Narragansett Electric Company, located im- mediately behind the barrier, There are three vehicular gates, located at Allens Ave- nue, South Main Street, and the Narragansett Electric Company and five sewer gates that prevent high tides from backing up through the sewer lines. The Fox Point Hurficane Protection Barrier Fox Point The Fox Point Hurricane Protection Barrier in Provi- dence is located immediately south of the Narragansett Electric Company plant, about 0.2 mile north of Fox Point and one mile south of downtown Providence. The project provides virtually complete protection against tidal flooding from hurricanes and other coastal storms to about 280 acres of downtown Providence. The protected area includes the commercial and industrial cen- ter, transportation facilities, public utilities, and many homes. The city suffered extensive damage from the hurri- cane of 1938 and Hurricane Carol in 1954 when, in each instance, water depths of up to eight feet were experienced in the city's commercial area. Damage from the 1938 hurri- cane amounted to $16.3 million-approximately $212 mil- lion in today's dollars. Damage from Hurricane Carol amounted to $25.1 million-about S 126 million in today's dollars. Construction began injuly 1961 and was completed injanuary 1966 at a cost of $15 million. Since the barrier was completed, it has prevented flood damages estimated at $745,000. The city of Providence operates and maintains the project. The barrier itself is a 700-foot-long concrete structure, 25 feet high, that extends westerly across the Providence River from Tockwotton Street, near Fox Point, to Globe US Army Corps of Engineers LOCAL PROTECTION PROJECTS Lower Woonsocket Pawtuxet River, Warwick Woonsocket Rhode Island 1991 m 7 A __W 71@ 46 A ik The Lower Woonsocket Local Protection Pro#ect protects industrial and commercial establishments and densely populated residential areasfromfloodflows on the Blackstone, Mill, and Peters Rivers. The photo shows a section ofthe 1860-foot-long earthfill dike and a section ofconcretefloodwall along the river's left bank (top bank in the photo) in the ciy's Social District. Also, this part of the Blackstone River was deepened. Lower Woonsocket Rivers. On the Blackstone River, the Corps constructed a 1860-foot-long earthfill dike with stone slope protection The Lower Woonsocket Local Protection Project in and three concrete floodwalls totalling almost 1100 feet, Woonsocket is located along the Blackstone River and two both along the river's left bank. A pumping station re- of its tributaries, the Mill and Peters Rivers, in an area moves interior drainage behind the dike and floodwalls downstream of the South Main Street Bridge. during flood periods. Also, about 600 feet of the Blackston;.; The project, in conjunction with the Woonsocket Local River was deepened. Improvements on the Mill River in- Protection Project located upstream and.West Hill Dam in clude construction of 2410 feet of dike, four concrete flood- Uxbridge, Massachusetts, protects industrial and commer- walls that total 600 feet in length, 1700 feet of channel ex- cial establishments and densely populated residential areas cavation, and a I 150-foot-long concrete pressure conduit from flood flows on the Blackstone, Mill, and Peters Rivers. that passes beneath Social StreetJohn A. Cummings Way, The Lower Woonsocket Local Protection Project and the and Clinton Street. The conduit is a twin-barrelled struc- Woonsocket Local Protection Project have together, since ture, with each barrel 12 feet high and 21 feet wide. As their completion, prevented flood damages totalling $43.4 part of its improvements on the Mill River, the Corps re- million (Flood damage prevention figures for the two pro- placed the East School Street Bridge so that the eastern jects are calculated together and not individually). bridge abutment could be tied into a floodwall, strengthen- The project was built between December 1963 and April ing the project's flood damage reduction capabilities. Im- 1967 at a cost of $8.3 million. Construction required the provements on the Peters River include construction of alteration of utilities at five points along the east bank of 770 feet of earthfill dike, 250 feet of concrete floodwall, the river where the two pressure conduits cross existing 400 feet of channel excavation, and an I I 80-foot-long con- streets. Woonsocket operates and maintains the project. crete pressure conduit, 10 feet high and 17 feet wide, that The project consists of work in three areas of Woon- passes beneath Elm, Godfrey, and Cumberland Streets. socket: The Social District Unit, the Hamlet District Unit, Work in the Hamlet District Unit entailed construction and the Bernon Unit. Work in the Social District Unit in- of three earthfill dikes with stone slope protection that F-7- W, volved improvements on the Blackstone, Mill, and Peters total almost 3 100 feet on the Blackstone River's right US Army Corps of Engineers bank; 75 feet of concrete floodwall between the upper two The Pawtuxet River is formed by the junction of its dikes; a pumping station behind the lower dike that dis- north and south branches in West Warwick. It flows north- charges interior drainage during flood periods; and about easterly for I I miles through Warwick (including the Bel- 2000 feet of channel excavation on the Blackstone River. mont Park section) and Cranston before it empties into In addition to this work, the Corps removed the Hamlet Narragansett Bay at Pawtuxet Cove on the Cranston- Dam. Warwick line. Belmont Park, a low-lying floodplain, had In the Bernon Unit, the Corps removed the 194-foot- been subject to more frequent and severe flooding in re- long Bernon Dam on the Blackstone River; constructed a cent years from increased development along the river. To pilot channel, 50 feet wide and 600 feet long, between the help stem this severe flooding, the Corps evaluated both former dam and the Bernon Street Bridge; and modified structural and nonstructural flood damage reduction the bridge by removing a steel truss beneath the bridge plans. A structural plan would have required construction and raising utility conduits, allowing flood flows to pass of a nearly one-mile-long dike around the Belmont Park underneath. area. The nonstructural plan called for the demolition and/or removal of several homes situated close to the river and the installation of an automated flood forecasting and Pawtucket River, Warwick warning system. After careful study, the Corps determined The Pawtuxet River Local Protection Project in War- that the nonstructural plan would be more cost effective. wick is located on the Pawtuxet River at the northern end The work involved moving or eliminating 61 homes; pur- of the city's Norwood section, referred to as Belmont Park. chasing outright 19 privately-owned vacant lots; construct- The project prevents flood damage to approximately 38 ing 12 above ground utility room additions to residences in acres of residential land in Warwick, much of it bounded the area which historically experienced less severe flood- by the Pawtuxet River. ing; and installing the automated flood forecasting and _77 -7,7, 3,R 40,, IpS fflF' 8 The Pawtuxet River Local Protection Project, one of two nonstructural plans the Corps oversees in New England, preventsflood damage to approximately 38 acres ofresidential land in Warwick. The project calledfor the demolition andlor removal ofseveral homes situated close to the river and the installation ofan automatedfloodforecasting and warning system. .1 - I AL Rhode Island 1991 warning system so that the remaining homes could be I'm -W @ @ , -14, 11,_M7FJT 7 evacuated and property vulnerable to basement flooding -too could be protected. Work began in September 1982 and was completed injuly 1985 at a cost of $4 million. Some of the homes demolished were used for training by firefight- 4 ers in Warwick and neighboring communities. Warwick is responsible for operating and maintaining the flood fore- casting and warning system. The Nonstructural Approach The Pawtuxet River Local Protection Pro ect is one of two nonstructural flood damage reduction projects the V V'r Corps'oversees in New England. The other, the Charles A River Natural Valley Storage Project in Massachusetts, is one of the country's largest and most successful applica- tions 'of the nonstructural approach to flood control. By purchasing 38 acres of land along the Pawtuxet River, the Corps has effectively prevented any develop- ment on them. Instead of building a dike after the flood prone area had been affected by private development, the Corps bought the land and returned it to its natural state 000 to limit the river's flood damage potential. Recognizing the value floodplains have in our society, the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality said in its 1973 The Woonsocket Local Protection Project, located along the Blackstone Annual Report: River in the industrial area of Woonsocket, protects several homes, commer- "The movement is away from the 19th century idea that cial establishments, and about one-ha@fof the industrial properties in the land's only function is to permit its owner to make maxi- ciy. The Woonsocket Falls Dam, shown with itsfour tainter gates open mum profit. Whereas the traditional answer to the ques- (center ofphoto), has helped to reduceflood damage along theriver. tion, 'Why regulate land use?'was 'To maximize land val- ues,' the new answer is becoming 'To make the best use of our land resources.' (This is) a far cry from the simple value maximization concepts of early real estate interests.... "The goal of long-range enhancement of land values is replacing a system aimed solely at increasing the short-run value and salability of land. The interest of the general public and of future generations is no longer ignored..." The project was built betweenjuly 1956 and April 1960 Woonsocket at a cost of $5.4 million. Construction required the reloca- tion of three water lines and four sewer siphons. The Woon- The Woonsocket Local Protection Project is located in socket Local Protection Project is operated and maintained the industrial area of Woonsocket along the Blackstone by Woonsocket. River. The project area extends 8300 feet downstream The project involved constructing channel improve- from the Massachusetts state line to the center of the city ments, a concrete floodwall, four earthfill dikes, and a near the South Main Street Bridge. A small portion of the pumping station; replacing an industrial dam; and modify- project along the west bank of the river lies in North ing two railroad bridges. This work is described below. Smithfield. Channel improvements included widening, deepening, Woonsocket suffered flood damage estimated at $22 and straightening 6700 feet of the Blackstone River in million from the heavy rains of August 1955. The project Woonsocket and North Smithfield and constructing 1600 protects about one-half of the industrial properties in the feet of new channel. The work extends from the Rhode city, several homes, commercial establishments, trans- Island-Massachusetts State Line to the vicinity of the portation facilities, and public utilities. The Woonsocket South Main Street Bridge. Local Protection Project and the Lower Woonsocket Local The concrete floodwall is located on the river's east bank Protection Project have together, since their completion, and extends 316 feet downstream from the Singleton prevented flood damages totalling $43.4 million (Flood Street Bridge to Dike Two (discussed below). It has a damage prevention figures for the two projects are calcu- height that varies between 13.5 and 21 feet. lated together and not individually). US Army Corps of Engineers The four earthfill dikes total 13 10 feet. Dike One, 800 The pumping station handles storm drainage behind the feet long with a maximum elevation of 10 feet, begins dikes and floodwall during high river stages. The dikes, about 1200 feet south of the state line and extends along floodwall, and pumping station protect about 20 acres of the cast bank of the river to the Singleton Street Bridge. industrial property in the vicinity of Singleton Street that Dike Two, 240 feet long with a maximum elevation of 10 would otherwise be sub ect to flooding. feet, extends from the south end of the floodwall and ties The Woonsocket Falls Dam is located about 100 feet into high ground on the easterly bank. Both of these dikes upstream of the South Main Street Bridge. Replacing an have stone slope protection. Dike Three, 160 feet long with older structure that impounded a pool used for industrial a maximum elevation of eight feet, lies adjacent to the purposes, the new concrete dam is 266 feet long with a southern end of Saranac Pond and extends from high maximum height of 13 feet. It is equipped with four tainter ground adjacent to the railroad tracks to Rivet Street. gates, with each gate 10. 1 feet high and 50 feet wide, which Dike Four, 110 feet long with a maximum elevation of five can be raised to allow passage of flood flows. feet, is basically a continuation of Dike Three and extends The modified railroad bridges are located near River from River Street to the western abutment of the Single- Street and above Sayles Street. The Corps strengthened ton Street Bridge. Dikes Three and Four protect the River the underpinnings of both bridges, and. also constructed a Street area from Saranac Pond flooding. new span and abutment at the bridge above Sayles Street. Rhode Island 1991 Navigation The Corps has completed 18 navigation projects in Rhode 19th century. However, most of the navigational work in Island. These projects have improved rivers, bays, coves, today's water-ways has been constructed by the Corps with- and harbors that are used by commercial interests, fisher- in the past 50 years, costing an aggregate $33.3 million. men, and the many recreational boaters that benefit from The following pages describe the Corps' navigation pro- Rhode Island's intricate and fascinating coastline and its jects in Rhode Island. Depths given for channels and inland waterways. anchorages are those at Mean Low Water. Initial work on many of the projects dates back to the NEESE= Afeny boat enters the Block Island Harbor ofRefuge, used byfreight and commercial passenger boats, asmalifishingfleet, and recreational crafl. The Corps built the two stone breakwaters thatpartially enclose the innerportion ofthe harbor. US Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Projects in Rhode Island Apponaug Cove Block Island Harbor of Refuge Bullocks Point Cove Coasters Harbor Great Salt Pond Greenwich Bay Newport Harbor Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay Pawtuxet Cove PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge Potowomut River Providence River and Harbor Sakonnet Harbor Sakonnet River Seekonk River Warren River Warwick Cove Wickford Harbor Rhode Island 1991 southern coast of Rhode Island and 15 miles northeast of Montauk Point, the eastern tip of Long Island, New York. The Block Island Harbor of Refuge, which indents the island's east side, is used by a small fishing fleet, freight and passenger boats, and transient recreational craft. The project, completed in 1916, consists of. Two stone breakwaters that partially enclose the 640,000-square -foot Inner Harbor. The 1950-foot-long easterly breakwater extends northerly, and the I I 00-foot-long westerly break- water extends northerly and then turns easterly in a right angle toward the east breakwater. A T-shaped stone jetty, about 140 feet long and 100 feet across, located about 600 feet south of the east breakwater. A 0.2-mile-long channel, 15 feet deep, extending t F from Outer Harbor to the southeastern head of Inner Prl "q-7 Harbor. A 15-foot-deep anchorage covering about 67 percent 6 r7oce of Inner Harbor. The dredged area includes the above-mentioned chan- -71" nel and the 75,000-square-foot area'in Inner Harbor's southeasterly corner known as The Basin. Masonry walls that enclose The Basin. In 1942, the Corps constructed a 255-foot-long steel bulkhead on the east side of The Basin. In 197 1, stone was placed against the bulkhead and a timber pier was con- structed over it. Bullocks Point Cove Apponaug Cove is used by local and transientfishing and recreational crafl. The above photo shows the cove's Outer Basin. Bullocks Point Cove lies between East Providence and Barrington on the cast shore of the Providence River, about five miles southeast of Providence. The cove is used for plea- sure boating and serves as a refuge for recreational craft. Apponaug Cove The project, completed in 1959, consists of- Apponaug Cove in Warwick lies at the head of Green- A 1. 1 -mile-long channel, 75 feet wide, extending from wich Bay, about 10 miles south of Providence. Used by deep water in the Providence River to an area oppo- local and transient fishing and recreational craft, Appon- site Haines Memorial Park. From deep water in the aug Cove consists of three connecting basins-Outer Providence River to a point just inside the cove (0.6 Basin, Middle Basin, and Inner Basin. mile), the channel is eight feet deep. From this area The project, completed in 1963, included construction of to a point opposite Haines Memorial Park (0.5 mile), a six-foot-deep channel, 100 feet wide, extending 0.8 mile the channel is six feet deep. from Greenwich Bay through Outer Basin and most of A six-foot-deep turning basin and anchorage, 8.3 acres Middle Basin. The channel ends at a point about 200 feet in area, on the west side of the inner harbor, opposite east of the railroad bridge that separates Middle and Inner the boat club. Basins. Also constructed was a six-foot-deep anchorage in A six-foot-deep turning basin, 2.9 acres in area, at the Middle Basin, southwest of the channel. The anchorage is end of the channel, opposite Bullocks Point. The turn- 10 acres in area and 400 feet wide at its widest point. ing basin is on the channel's westerly side. A reconstructed Bullocks Point. Dredged material was used to rebuild the area to a height of nine feet. Block Island Harbor A 600-foot-long stone dike and a 300-foot-long stone of Ref uge jetty that protects the reconstructed area. Block Island, coextensive with the town of New Shore- ham, is an I 1-square-mile island lying 12 miles off the US Army Corps of Engineers ponds nearly bisect Block Island. Inner Harbor is used by the local fishing fleet as well as outside fishermen who use Inner Harbor as a base during the spring and summer. Inner Harbor is also used by commercial passenger lines I carrying summer visitors to the island, and a number of local and transient recreational craft. The project, completed in 1905, consists of- A 0.6-mile-long entrance channel extending from the 7 ocean to the pond. The channel is generally 18 feet deep and 300 feet wide, but has a central depth of 25 feet over a width of 150 feet. A 169 1 -foot-long stone jetty on the southern side of MoIr the entrance channel. About 837 feet were built by the state; the Corps built the remaining 854 feet. Stone revetments on both sides of the entrance PL channel. Sand fences situated south of the entrance channel. Greenwich Bay Greenwich Bay in Warwick is located southwest of War- Bullocks Point Cove in Barrington and East Providence. wick Neck, about 10 miles south of Providence. Greenwich Cove is the small inlet at the southwestern end of Green- wich Bay that is bordered on the east by Goddard State Park in Warwick and on the west by the Warwick-East Coasters Harbor Coasters Harbor in Newport is a small, protected harbor situated between Coasters Harbor Island, at the northern end of Newport Harbor, and the mainland. Coasters Har- bor Island is located about 0.5 mile south of Coddington 6P Point, and is the base of operations forthe U.S. Navy New- port Training Station and the U.S. Naval War College. A cove at the southeastern end of Coasters Harbor Island IT. -.*i is used principally by vessels operating from the Naval Training Station. The Corps' project, completed in 1892, involved deepen- ing the channel leading from Newport Harbor into the cove to nine feet. It also provided for cutting additional openings in the causeway located immediately north of the cove. This causeway is the southernmost of three cause- ways that join Coasters Harbor Island with Newport. Coasters Harbor is a small, protected harbor situated between Coasters Great Salt Pond Harbor Island on the lefl and the mainland on the right. Coasters Harbor Island serves as a base ofoperationsfor the U.S. Navy Newport Training Great Salt Pond in New Shoreham is located along the Station and the U.S. Naval War College. The cove at the southeastern end western shore of Block Island, an I I -square-mile island of Coasters Ra rbor Isla no, sh ow n i n theforefiron t of the photograph on the lying 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and 15 miles left, is usedprincipally by vessels operatingfrom the Naval Training northeast of New York's Long Island. Great Salt Pond Station. " - M stretches about 1.2 miles southeast to a smaller pond, known as Inner Harbor or Trim Pond. Together, both Rhode Island 1991 Greenwich waterfront. Greenwich Cove is used by fishing and recreational craft. The project, completed in 1891, consists of a 500-foot- - - - - - - - - - - - - long channel through the sand bar at the entrance to Alma Greenwich Cove, west of Long Point. The channel, 10 feet deep and 2 10 feet wide, provides access to the Warwick- East Greenwich waterfront. Newport Harbor Newport Harbor in Newport is situated between Goat Island and the mainland, about 12 miles northeast of Point Judith Harbor. One of the Atlantic coast's principal yacht- ing centers and resorts, Newport Harbor accommodates a wide variety of boating craft, including commercial fishing boats, cabin cruisers, schooners, sightseeing and cruise boats, sail boats, visiting foreign sailing ships, ferries, and oil barges. Several inns, restaurants, and shops dot the historical waterfront. Newport Harbor is the starting point for the Newport to Bermuda Yacht Race and the finish of This 1691-foot-long stonejety on Great Salt Pond helps to maintain the the Annapolis-Newport Yacht Race. For many years it was proper depth ofthe 0.6-mile-long entrance channel bypreventing the buildup the site of the America's Cup Race. Newport Harbor is also ofsediment. home to the U.S. Naval War College and Destroyer Base. Initial work in the harbor, completed in 1906, provided for a 15-foot-deep channel extending southerly from the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, around the southern end of Goat Island, to the inner harbor; a 10-foot-deep anchorage off the south end of the main waterfront; a 13- foot-deep anchorage off the north end of the main water- front; a stone jetty at the southwest end of Goat Island; partial removal of a sand spit at the south end of Goat WWI, Island; and construction of additional jetties along the western shore of Goat Island to reduce erosion. A The present project, completed in 1940, consists of- A 1.25-mile-long channel, 21 feet deep, along the east side of Goat Island. The channel is initially 300 feet wide at its northern end, and widens to 450 feet at the southern end of the island. A 1-mile-long channel, 18 feet deep, situated cast of and parallel to the 21-foot-deep channel. The 18-foot- deep channel is initially 450 feet wide and gradually narrows to 350 feet near the southern end of the island. * A 1-mile-long channel, 18 feet deep, situated west of and parallel to the 21-foot-deep channel. This channel The Greenwich Bay project provides access to Greenwich Cove (lefl), a small is initially about 100 feet wide at its northern end and inlet used byfishing and recreational crafl. gradually merges with the 2 1 -foot-de ep channel at a point about halfway past Goat Island. The channel then widens as it continues around the southern end of the island. 9 Two adjacent anchorage areas along the main water- front. The southern anchorage, which begins at the City Stone Pier Marina on Newport Neck and extends northeasterly toward the Newport waterfront, is 13 feet deep. The northern anchorage is 18 feet deep and lies along the Newport waterfront. US Army Corps of Engineers "'J, Vl@ . . . . . . vz- 7 ro mill V I Newport Harbor The removal of Nourmahal Rock in Brenton Cove, sit- lower wharves at Westerly (about seven miles), then uated off the Fort Adamsmaterfront about 0.5 mile narrows to 40 feet for 0.5 mile to the upper wharves. southwest of Goat Island. This provided the channel 0 A 0.28-mile-long channel, 10 feet deep and 100 feet with a depth of 18 feet. wide, extending southerly from the mouth of the Pawcatuc@ River into Watch Hill Cove in Westerly. 0 A 10-foot-deep anchorage basin, 16 acres in area, in Pawcatuck River and Watch Hill Cove. Little Narragansett Bay - A 200-foot-long stone jetty near the southwestern end of Watch Hill Cove. The Pawcatuck River rises in Worden Pond, situated in the Great Swamp in South Kingstown, and follows a 33- Pawtuxet Cove mile-long course, meandering mostly through open and sparsely settled country having a multitude of lakes and Pawtuxet Cove lies along the Cranston-Warwick city swamps. The river flows in a generally southwesterly direc- line at the mouth of the Pawtuxet River, which discharges tion into Little Narragansett Bay at the Rhode Island- into Providence Harbor. The cove serves primarily as a Connecticut state line. The lower part of the river forms base for recreational boating. the boundary between Stonington and North Stonington, The project, completed in 1966, consists of- Connecticut and Westerly, Rhode Island. A six-foot-deep channel, 100 feet wide, extending Initial work on the project was completed in 1903, with westerly from deep water in the Providence River to the most recent work completed in 1949. The project con- the cove entrance, then turning northerly up the cove sists of- behind Washout Point to the head of the cove at A 7.5-mile-long, I 0-foot-deep channel extending east- Cranston; erly from Stonington Point in Connecticut, located on 0 A six-foot-deep turning basin at the head of the cove, Little Narragansett Bay's western end, through Little across from the mouth of the Pawtuxet River; Narragansett Bay and then northerly up the Pawca- - A six-foot-deep anchorage, 14 acres in area, situated tuck River to the upper wharves in Westerly. The south of the cove entrance and north of Warwick channel is 100 feet wide from Stonington Point to the Downs State Park; and Rhode Island 1991 6@ X_ Watch Hill Cove in Westerly, part ofthe Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay project. A 2200-foot-long stone dike along the east side of the Original work in PointJudith Harbor dates back to anchorage. The 12-foot-high dike extends northward 1905. Work in the present project, completed in 1950 from Rock Island to Marsh Island and affords shelter (except where noted), consists of- and protection to the cove. 0 A 6970-foot-long main stone breakwater in PointJudith Harbor, situated about 0.5 mile from shore. This breakwater, constructed roiighly in a 'V' shape, and Point Judith Pond and the two others mentioned below were built in 1914. Harbor of Refuge e A 2240-foot-long stone breakwater extending south- westerly from PointJudith. This breakwater forms an PointJudith Pond is a shallow, four-mile-long salt water easterly arm of the main breakwater. Between the body lying behind the barrier beaches and sand dunes that breakwaters there is a gap of about 1200 feet, which form PointJudith Harbor, which lies immediately west of allows boating craft to enter the harbor. PointJudith in Narragansett at the southwestern tip of A 3640-foot-long stone breakwater extending souther- Narragansett Bay. Located about 14 miles southwest of ly from the entrance to PointJudith Pond. This break- Newport Harbor, PointJudith Pond forms a partial border water forms a westerly arm of the main breakwater. between the communities of Narragansett and South Between this breakwater and the main breakwater Kingstown, and is connected to PointJudith Harbor by a there is a gap of about 1500 feet. narrow water-way that cuts through the beaches and sandy A 15-foot-dccp channel, 150 feet wide, that runs along shoreline. This waterway is used by a large fishing fleet the east side of the west breakwater and extends past and local and transient recreational craft, and the harbor the entrance to PointJudith Pond and the state-built handles a large amount of passenger traffic, primarily dur- jetties at the port of Gallilee. The channel ends on the ing the summer. Year-round ferry service is available west side of the pond at a point 100 feet north of the between PointJudith and Block Island. state pier injerusalem. US Army Corps of Engineers A 15-foot-deep channel, 200 feet wide, that branches off from the aforementioned channel at a point past the state-built jetties and extends up the cast side of PointJudith Pond. When originally constructed in 1950, the channel ended about 100 feet north of the state pier in Galilee. In 1977, the channel was length- ened by 1400 feet and widened to dimensions varying between 150-640 feet. This most recent work was completed as a small project under Section 107 of the Continuing Authorities Program. A 10-foot-deep anchorage, five acres in area, located on the pond's westerly side, immediately inside the pond's entrance. A 4.5-mile-long channel, six feet deep and 100 feet wide, starting at a point 100 feet north of the state pier injerusalem and running generally along the west side of the pond, ending in the Wakefield section of South Kingstown. 9 A six-foot-deep anchorage, five acres in area, at the end of the 4.5-mile-long channel in Wakefield. 0 The removal of two shoals to a depth of 18 feet. One shoal was removed from the I 0-foot-deep anchorage area, and the second from the east side of the Point Judith Pond entrance. This work was completed in 1921. Various works to help trap and retain sand at the entrance to the pond. A 2200-foot-long stone dike affords shelter andprotection to Pawtuxet Cove, which serves primario as a basefor recreational boating. Potowomut River The Potowomut River is a small coastal stream that empties into Narragansett Bay at a point about one mile 7@ south of Greenwich Bay and 10 miles south of Providence. ,JC4 Used by small fishing boats and recreational craft, the k,@ Potowomut River forms the boundary between North Kingstown and the southeastern section of Warwick known as Potowomut. The project, completed in 188 1, involved constructing a 0.5-mile-long channel, five feet deep and 115 feet wide, through the bar at the entrance to the river; and removing Eustons Rock on the north side of the channel. Providence River and Harbor The Providence River is formed by the junction of two small streams, the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers, which rise in northern Rhode Island. The river flows southerly for one mile to the head of Providence Harbor at Fox Point in Providence, where it is joined by the Seekonk River. The Corps project, a 16.8-mile-long channel, begins near the head of Providence Harbor and The entrance to PointJudith Pond. To the left of the entrance is Part of the follows the river on a southerly course through the commu- 3640-foot-long westerly breakwater, and to the right is a state-builtjet!Y. nities of East Providence, Cranston, Barrington, Warwick, The Corps also built a 15foot-deep channel, 150feet wide, through the entrance. Bristol, and Portsmouth. Providence River and Harbor together constitute the principal commercial waterway in Rhode Island. Rhode Island 1991 M & P Providence River and Harbor together constitute the principal commercial waterivay in Rhode Island. Initial work on the river and harbor began in the 19th north of Sakonnet Point and five miles east of Newport. century with the construction of a nine-foot-deep channel Initial work in the harbor, completed in 1908, involved near the head of the harbor. Subsequent improvements constructing a 400-foot-long breakwater extending north- involved the construction of a 5.5-mile-long channel, 25 feet erly from the western side of the harbor, and removing a deep and generally 600 feet wide, extending from Fox Point ledge near the wharf to a depth of eight feet. to Bullocks Point in East Providence; and extending this The project was modified in 1957 when the Corps con- channel 5.1 miles southward to North Point (Popasquash structed a 400-foot-long extension to the breakwater and Neck) in Bristol and deepening it to 35 feet through its dredged the harbor to a depth of eight feet. The total area entire length. dredged was about 13 acres. A modification to the project was completed in 1976. This involved extending the channel 6.2 miles southward to the southeasterly side of Prudence Island, and deepen- Sakonnet River ing the entire channel to 40 feet. The channel is generally The Sakonnet River extends northward from Rhode 600 feet wide, except for the stretch between Field Point Island Sound to Mount Hope Bay, passing along the east (near the Providence-Cranston city line) and Fox Point, side of Aquidneck Island, the largest island in Narragan- where it has varying widths of up to 1700 feet. sett Bay. The Corps' project is located at the northern end of the river, between the island town of Portsmouth and Sakonnet Harbor the mainland town of Tiverton. The project, completed in 1905, involved deepening and Sakonnet Harbor, originally known as Church Cove, is widening the small section of channel that passed through located in the Sakonnet section of Little Compton, near the draw opening of Stone Bridge, which at that time con- the entrance to the Sakonnet River. Used by fishing boats nected Tiverton and Portsmouth. The channel was deep- and recreational craft, Sakonnet Harbor is about 0.4 miles ened to 25 feet and widened to 100 feet. Stone Bridge was US Army Corps of Engineers removed by the state in 1956 following the construction of Warren River a new highway bridge about one mile northward. Rising in southeastern Massachusetts, the Warren River flows southerly across the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Seekonk River state line for about 7.5 miles before emptying into the From the natural falls at Pawtucket, the Seekonk River head of Narragansett Bay between Bristol and Rumstick flows about five miles southerly between the cities of Pro- Necks, about seven miles southeast of Providence. The vidence and East Providence before emptying into Provi- Corps' project is located along the lower two miles of the dence Harbor at India Point. river, between Barrington and Warren. The Warren River Original work on the river around the turn of the cen- is used by fishing vessels, recreational craft, and a boat- tury provided for a 12-foot-deep channel extending from building firm. the mouth of the river to the wharves at Pawtucket. The Completed in 1887, the project involved removing a present project, completed in 1927, consists of a 3.4-mile- rocky reef south of Little Island, near the confluence of the long channel, 16 feet deep, extending northerly from near Warren and Barrington Rivers, and a submerged boulder the Henderson Bridge connecting Providence and East (formerly called Bushworth Rock) opposite Warren's lower Providence, about 0.8 mile upstream of India Point, to the waterfront. The removal of these obstructions provides a Division Street Bridge in Pawtucket. The channel is 150 natural 12-foot depth in the lower two-mile-long channel feet wide from the Red Bridge to an area opposite Goose of the Warren River. Point (a distance of about one mile), where it widens fur- ther to 230 feet for a distance of about 0.5 mile. The chan- Warwick Cove nel then narrows to 150 feet for a distance of about 1.7 miles to a point upstream of the state pier, where it nar- Warwick Cove in Warwick is a narrow inlet lying im- rows to 100 feet through the ledge at Pawtucket and nar- mediately west of War-wick Neck that extends about 1.5 rows further to 60 feet as it approaches the Division Street miles northward from Greenwich Bay. Situated about nine Bridge. miles south of Providence, Warwick Cove is used by a large recreational fleet and small quahog and fishing fleets. Rum- Sakonnet Harbor in Little Compton. Rhode Island 1991 N@V7 @71.;__ The project consists of: A six-foot-deep channel extending approximately 1.8 miles from Greenwich Bay to the public landing at the head of the cove. The channel is 150 feet wide 7 from deep water in Greenwich Bay through the lower portion of the cove, then narrows to 100 feet to the head of the cove. Z' Four six-foot-deep anchorage areas totalling 13 acres in area. An anchorage two acres in area was dredged RIM- at the entrance to the cove on the west side of the channel, across from the public landing in Oakland Beach State Park in Warwick; two anchorages, each five acres in area, were dredged on each side of the channel in the lower half of the cove; and an anchor- age one acre in area was dredged at the cove's upper end, across from the public landing. The work in Warwick Cove, completed in 1966, was con- structed as a small project under Section 107 of the Continuing Authorities Program. Wickford Harbor Wickford Harbor is located in the Wickford section of North Kingstown in western Narragansett Bay, about two miles southwest of Quonset Point and 17 miles south of The Warren Riverflows between Warren on the left and Barrington on the Providence. Wickford Harbor consists of an outer harbor right. Little Island lies in theforeground. and three small coves-Wickford Cove, Fishing Cove, and Mill Cove. The harbor is used extensively by oyster and lobster boats, small oil tankers and barges, and recreation- al craft. L lk Warwick Cove US Army Corps of Engineers . . . ......... . . ....... @Q. 'Al Wickford Harbor in North Kingstown. The project consists of. A six-foot-deep anchorage, 250-300 feet wide and 10 � Two stone breakwaters at the entrance to Wickford acres in area, adjacent to the head of the channel in Harbor. The north breakwater, located off Sauga Mill Cove and cast of Rabbit Island. Point, is about 1130 feet long, and the south break- The 0.8-mile-long channel through Wickford Cove was water, located off Poplar Point, is about 825 feet long. completed in 1900. The remainder of the work was com- � A 0.8-mile-long channel through Wickford Cove, end- pleted in 1963 as a small project under Section 107 of the ing at the Hamilton Avenue Bridge. The channel has Continuing Authorities Program. a depth of nine feet and a width of 60 feet, wider at the bends. � A 2600-foot-long channel, 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide, extending frorn the outer harbor through Fishing Cove and into Mill Cove. Rhode Island '1991 Shore and Bank Protection Rhode Island's shoreline, including Block Island and Nar- tion projects in Rhode Island to stem erosion of the shore- ragansett Bay, is approximately 340 miles long. About 280 line and riverbanks. Four of these projects were built to miles are privately owned, 50 miles are owned by state and protect the shoreline and one was constructed to strength- local government, and 10 miles are owned by the federal en an inland streambank. Total construction costs amount government. There are about 724 miles of rivers and to $2.4 million. streams in the state, the lowest number of all the New The following pages describe the Corps' shore and bank England states. protection projects in Rhode Island. The Corps has constructed five shore and bank protec- WWW -A i Aw'"W" h "Avow & RIC- IOU v Im- _VW -_ - - -@ The shore can take a beatingfrom storm driven winds and waves. In September 1961, Hurricane Fsther raised havoc with Rhode Island's Narragansett Pier, slamming waves against the seawall andflooding adjacent streets. (Copyright 1961 The Providence journal Company). US Army Corps of Engineers Shore and Bank Protection Projects I in Rhode Island Clear River, Burrillville Cliff Walk I- Misquamicut Beach Oakland Beach Sand Hill Cove Beach Rhode Island 1991m Clear River, Burrillville Cliff Walk The Clear River originates in the northwest corner of Cliff Walk in Newport is a popular scenic and historical the state and flows easterly for eight miles to its confluence walkway bordering the edge of eroding bluffs and cliffs with the Branch River. Located about 15 miles northwest of along the city's southeastern shoreline. Extending 3.5 miles Providence in the Harrisville section of Burrillville, the pro- southerly from Newport (Eastons) Beach, around Lands ject site is situated on the Clear River's northern bank, di- End, and ending near Bailey Beach, Cliff Walk overlooks rectly behind the Burrillville Ambulance Association (BAA) Rhode Island Sound and traverses privately-owned land building and immediately upstream of the Railroad Avenue surrounding many of Newport's showplace mansions. The Bridge. The BAA is a nonprofit volunteer organization that public footpath is situated about three miles east of Brenton provides emergency medical care and transport for town Point in Newport and 25 miles south of Providence. residents. The project originally called for the construction of In 1965, private interests constructed a 140-foot-long shore protection measures along much of the the walk- stone retaining wall behind the BAA building to control way's 18,000 feet. Due to a limitation of local funding erosion of the river's northern bank and safeguard the available at that time, only 70 percent of the project was BAA building. Eventually, about 60 feet of the wall weak- completed. The completed work covered a total area of ened and collapsed, allowing riverbank erosion to creep approximately 9200 feet between Newport Beach and the within six feet of the BAA building. If this section of wall west property line of the Marble House at Sheep Point. had been left unrepaired, severe flooding would have struc- This work involved constructing stone breakwaters and turally undermined the BAA building and the adjoining stone slope protection, repairing existing seawalls, using parking lot. fill to strengthen Cliff Walk's intermittent reaches, and The Corps responded to the problem by replacing the grading and surfacing the walk. This part of the project 60 feet of failed wall with a 15-foot-high stone retaining began in May 1971 and was completed in September 1972 wall, and removing a wooden footbridge and its abutment at a cost of $1.4 million. The uncompleted 30 percent, that had restricted the river flow and contributed to the much of which was situated near Salve Regina College, erosion process. was placed in an "inactive" status until such time as addi- The project was constructed between September- tional local funding was available. October 1986 at a cost of $161,000. JV4W K Ift- Cliff Walk in Newport (above left), a popular scenic and historical walkway bordering the edge oferoding bluffs and cliffs, traverses privately-owned land sur- rounding many ofNewport's showplace mansions. Also located on this publicfootpath is Salve Regina College (above right). US Army Corps of Engineers 2E OaklandBeach in Wanvick. L Misquamicut Beach in Westerly. In the early 1980's, local officials indicated a desire and Oakland Beach willingness to resume construction of that part of the unfinished project situated near Salve Regina College. Oakland Beach, part of Oakland Beach Park, is located After receiving appropriate funding in 1982, the Corps in Warwick along the northern shore of Greenwich Bay. completed design plans for the additional work. However, Bordered by Brush Neck Cove on the west and Warwick because the city planned to use funding provided by the Cove on the east, Oakland Beach Park offers the public a National Park Service to construct the work, further variety of recreational opportunities, such as swimming, Corps' involvement was precluded. The Corps gave its boating, fishing, clamming, and sporting activities. design plans to the city in 1984, allowing Newport to com- The project involved widening a total of 200 feet of plete construction on this additional segment. This part of beach along each side of the existing seawall by the direct the project was completed in 1985. placement of sand; constructing five stone groins; and con- structing stone slope protection in front of the seawall. The work at Oakland Beach cost $740,000 and was com- Misquamicut Beach pleted in 1981 as a small project under Section 103 of the Misquarnicut Beach is located in the Misquamicut sec- Continuing Authorities Program. tion of Westerly, about five miles east of the Rhode Island- Connecticut state line. The project involved widening 3250 feet of beach to 150 feet by the direct placement of sand, and installing nearly 4075 feet of sand fences. Work was completed in 1960 at a cost of $44,000. Rh.d. W.nd 1991 Sand Hill Cove Beach i d, Sand Hill Cove Beach in Narragansett is located im- mediately east of the entrance to PointJudith Pond. It is about 31 miles south of Providence. The project, completed in 1955 at a cost of $122,000, involved widening one mile of beach an additional 65 feet by the direct placement of sand, construction of five stone groins and construction of a steel bulkhead behind the eastern half of the beach. The bulkhead forms a bar- rier that prevents beach sand from moving inland. Sand Hill Cove Beach in Narragansett. The Corps constructed thefive stone groins and widened one mile ofthe beach by the direct placement ofsand M US Army Corps of Engineers STUDIES I Rh.d. W..d 1991 M Studies Before taking measures to resolve a water resources prob- Point Judith Pond and Harbor of Refuge lem, the Corps will study the affected area to determine if a At the request of local officials, the Corps studied the project is feasible. The study examines a wide range of po- feasibility of making improvements to PointJudith Pond tential solutions based on their economic and engineering and Harbor of Refuge in the interest of commercial'and practicality, acceptability, and impact on the environment. recreational navigation. A feasibility report, completed Listed below are areas in Rhode Island where the Corps under Section 107 of the Continuing Authorities Program has examined (during the period 1987-9 1) the feasibility of in 1989, recommended improvements around the West building major projects for flood damage reduction, navi- Bulkhead area in Galilee as the basis for project plans and gation, or shore and bank protection purposes. specifications. The proposed project would involve widening the exist- ing West Bulkhead channel from 150 to 200 feet and ex- Flood Damage Reduction tending this same channel into the North Basin area at a width of 150 feet and a depth of 10 feet. Pawcatuck River Basin and Narragansett Bay The project is inactive at time due to the state's inability Because of heavy damages suffered in southeastern New to find a disposal site for previously dredged material cur- England during the storm of March 1968, Congress directed rently occupying the dewatering area needed for this the Corps to study ways to reduce flooding in the Pawcatuck dredging operation. River Basin and Narragansett Bay area. In its flood damage reduction study, Congress also asked the Corps to examine Shore and Bank Protection navigation, water supply, recreation, and other related water uses. From this study came the proposed Big River Reservoir Bullock Neck Project in Coventry and West Greenwich. This multipur- The Corps completed a reconnaissance study of erosion pose project would involve the construction of a dam and problems at Bullock Neck in East Providence. Conducted reservoir on the Big River tributary of the Pawtuxet River under Section 103 of the Continuing Authorities Program, that would reduce flood damage, supply water for munici- the study found no plans of improvement which were eco- pal and industrial use, and provide recreational benefits. nomicallyjustified. Further study is not warranted. Once completed, the project would yield 27 million gallons of water per day. In 1986, Congress authorized the con- City Park Beach and Conimicut Point Beach struction of the Big River Project, but to date no funds The Corps studied the feasibility of constructing shore have been appropriated for its design or construction. protection projects at two Warwick beaches under Section (Also from this study came the Pawtuxet River Flood 103 of the Corps' Continuing Authorities Program. The Damage Reduction Project in Warwick, which was com- proposed plans call for widening of City Park Beach and pleted injuly 1985. Conimicut Point Beach by the direct placement of sand and construction of groins to reduce erosion. Further study for strengthening these beaches has Navigation been terminated because of the low priority assigned by the Corps of Engineers to projects having predominantly Block Island Harbor of Refuge recreational benefits. A Congressional resolution for a study of potential navi- gation improvements at Block Island Harbor of Refuge was passed by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on April 24,1990. The Federally funded reconnaissance study will start late in FYI 993 and be com- pleted within one year. US Army Corps of Engineers APPENDIX Rhode Island 1991 m Communities with Corps Projects The communities listed below have either Corps' lands or Reduction, Navigation, or Shore and Bank Protection), and Corps-built projects lying within their borders. The listing the page number in this booklet where the project is indicates the project name, its purpose (Flood Damage described. Community Project Name Ban,ington Bullocks Point Cove (Navigation) 38 Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Warren River (Navigation) 45 Bristol Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Burrillville Clear River (Shore and Bank Protection) 50 Cranston Pawtuxet Cove (Navigation) 41 Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 East Greenwich Greenwich Bay (Navigation) 39 East Providence Bullocks Point Cove (Navigation) 38 Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Seekonk River (Navigation) 45 Little Compton Sakonnet Harbor (Navigation) 44 Narragansett Point PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge (Navigation) 42 Sand Hill Cove Beach (Shore and Bank Protection) 52 New Shoreham Block Island Harbor of Refuge (Navigation) 38 Great Salt Pond (Navigation) 39 Newport Cliff Walk (Shore and Bank Protection) 50 Coasters Harbor (Navigation) 39 Newport Harbor (Navigation) 40 North Kingstown Potowomut River (Navigation) 43 Wickford Harbor (Navigation) 46 North Smithfield Woonsocket Local Protection Project (Flood Damage Reduction) 34 North Stonington, CT Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay (Navigation) 41 Pawtucket Seekonk River (Navigation) 45 Portsmouth Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Sakonnet River (Navigation) 44 Providence Fox Point Hurricane Protection Barrier Damage ( Flood Reduction) 30 Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Seekonk River (Navigation) 45 South Kingstown PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge (Navigation) 42 Stonington, CT Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay (Navigation) 41 Tiverton Sakonnet River (Navigation) 44 Warren Warren River (Navigation) 45 US Army Corps of Engineers Community Project Name Wanvick Apponaug Cove (Navigation) 38 Greenwich Bay (Navigation) 39 Oakland Beach (Shore and Bank Protection) 51 Pawtuxet Cove (Navigation) 41 Pawtuxet River Local Protection Project (Flood Damage Reduction) 33 Potowomut River (Navigation) 43 Providence River and Harbor (Navigation) 43 Warwick Cove (Navigation) 45 Westerly Misquarnicut Beach (Shore and Bank Protection) 51 Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay (Navigation) 41 Woonsocket Lower Woonsocket Local Protection Project (Flood Damage Reduction) 32 Woonsocket Local Protection Project (Flood Damage Reduction) 34 Rhode Island 1991 Glossary Anchorage-an area dredged to a certain depth to allow Floodwalls-reinforced concrete walls that act as barriers boats and ships to moor or anchor. against floodwaters and confine them to the river chan- Bedrock-rock of relatively great thickness lying in its nel, protecting flood prone areas. Floodwalls are usually native location. built in areas with a limited amount of space. Breakwaters-structures, usually built offshore, that pro- Gabion Wall-a retaining wall constructed of stone-filled tect the shoreline, harbor, channels, and anchorages by wire mesh baskets. intercepting the energy of approaching waves. Groins-structures that extend perpendicular from the Bulkheads--steel sheet piling or timber walls that pre- shore in a fingerlikemanner to trap and retain sand, vent sliding of the land and protect the streambank or retarding erosion and maintaining shore alignment and shoreline from erosion. stability. ConduitS--concrete tunnels or pipes that divert floodwa- Hurricane Protection Barriers--structures built across ters around or under potential flood damage sites. harbors or near the shoreline that protect communities Culverts-large pipes, usually constructed below bridges from tidal surges and coastal storm flooding. They are and other water crossings, that allow water to pass often constructed with openings for navigational pur- downstream and provide support to the crossing. poses. Dikes-earthfill barriers that confine floodwaters to the Intake Structure-found at the entrance to a conduit or river channel, protecting flood prone areas. other outlet facility, an intake structure allows water to Drainage Area-the total land area where surface water drain from a reservoir or river and is equipped with a runs off and collects in a stream or series or streams trash rack or other feature that prevents clogging from that make up a single watershed. floating debris. Drop Structure--a device in a stream or channel that Jetties-structures that stabilize a channel by preventing prevents water from rising above a certain elevation. the buildup of sediment and directing and confining Once water reaches a certain level, excess water passes the channel's tidal flow.jetties are usually built at the over the structure and is diverted to another body of mouth of rivers and extend perpendicular from the water. shore. Earthfill-a well graded mixture of soil containing princi- Outlet Works--gated conduits, usually located at the pally gravel, sand, silt, and clay, which is used with base of a dam, that regulate the discharge of water. other materials to construct dams, dikes, and hurricane Pumping Station-a structure containing pumps that protection barriers. discharges floodwaters from a protected area over or Environmental Assessment-an examination of the through a dike or floodwall and into a river or ocean. positive and adverse impacts on the environment of Reconnaissance Study-a preliminary study that exam- a proposed water resources solution and alternative ines a wide range of potential solutions to a water re- solutions. sources problem, each of which is reviewed for its eco- Environmental Impact Statement-a detailed envi- nomic and engineering practicality, acceptability, and ronmental analysis and documentation of a proposed impact on the environment. water resources solution when the proposed solution is Recreation Pool-any permanent body of water im- expected to have a significant effect on the quality of pounded by a dam that offers recreational opportun- the human environment or the area's ecology. ities or promotes fishery and wildlife- habitat. Feasibility Study-a detailed investigation, conducted Retaining Walls-walls made of stone, reinforced con- after the reconnaissance study is completed, that crete, precast concrete blocks, or gabion that support recommends a specific solution to a water resource streambanks weakened by erosion. problem. Revetment-a facing of stone or concrete constructed Floodplain-the land adjoining a river, stream, ocean, or along a backshore or riverbank to protect against ero- lake that is likely to be flooded during periods of excess sion or flooding. precipitation or abnormal high tide. Sand Drain-a layer of pervious materials, such as sand Flood proof i ng-structural measures incorporated in the and gravel, placed beneath the downstream section of a design of planned buildings or alterations added to ex- dam that carries seepage to the dam's downstream lim- isting ones that lessen the potential; for flood damage. its and out into the stream. For example, existing structures could have their base- Sand Replishment--quantities of sand placed on a shore- ment windows blocked, or structures in the design stage line to restore or widen a beach's dimensions. Sand could be built on stilts or high foundations. replenishment strengthens beaches affected by erosion, protects the backshore from wave action, and stops the inland advance of water. US Army Corps of Engineers Seawall-a reinforced concrete wall built along a shore- Training Dike--a structure extending from the shore into line to protect against erosion or flooding. the water that redirects the current, preventing sedi- Snagging and Clearing-the removal of accumulated ment from settling and ensuring that adequate depths snags and debris, such as fallen trees, dead brush, and are maintained. silt, from river and stream channels. Snagging and Training Wall-a structure built along channel banks to clearing improves a channel's flow capacity and elimi- narrow the channel area, thereby controlling the velo- nates a potentially dangerous flood situation. city of the flow of water and preventing the buildup of Spillway-a channel-shaped structure, usually made of sediment. Training walls and training dikes have the concrete or excavatedin rock, that allows water exceed- same purpose: to ensure adequate depths are main- ing the storage capacity of a reservoir to pass through tained. or around a dam instead of overtopping it. Vehicular Gate-an opening in a dike or floodwall that Stone Slope Protection-a layer of large stones, usually allows rail cars or other vehicles to pass over the struc- underlain by a layer of gravel bedding, designed to pre- ture during nonflood periods. Vehicular gates can be vent erosion from strearnflow, wave attack, and runoff. closed during flood periods by either stoplogs or large Stoplog Structure---a designed opening in a floodwall or steel gates. dike that allows the passage of water during non-flood Weir-a concrete structure designed as part of the spill- periods but closes during flood periods to prevent flood- way that allows water to flow from the reservoir and ing downstream. Stoplog structures can be made of over the spillway. wood or steel or concrete beams. Rhode Island 1991 Index Appendix 55 Navigation (General) 36 Apponaug Cove 38 Navigation (Projects) 37 Authorization and Planning Process for Newport Harbor 40 Water Resource Project 6 Oakland Beach 51 Blackstone River Basin 25 Block Island Harbor of Refuge 38 Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay 41 Bullocks Point Cove 38 Pawcatuck River Basin 27 Pawcatuck River Basin and Narragansett Bay Study 54 City Park Beach and Conimicut Point Beach Study 54 Pawtuxet Cove 41 Civil Works Overview 3 Pawtuxet River, Warwick Local Protection Project 33 Clear River, Burrillville 50 PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge 42 Cliff Walk 50 PointJudith Pond and Harbor of Refuge Study 54 Coasters Harbor 39 Potowomut River 43 Communities with Corps'Projects Providence River and Harbor 43 (Alphabetical Listing) 56 Recreation 20 Description of Projects 23 Regulatory Programs 19 River Basins 24 Emergency Response and Recovery 21 Environmental Quality 18 Sakonnet Harbor 44 Sakonnet River 44 Flood Control and Flood Plain Management 7 Sand Hill Cove Beach 52 Flood Damage Reduction (Projects) 28 Seekonk River 45 Flooding in New England 9 Shore and Bank Protection (Projects) 49 Fox Point Hurricane Protection Barrier 30 Studies 53 Glossary 58 Thames River Basin 26 Great Salt Pond 39 Greenwich Bay 39 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Programs and Services I Hurricane Protection Barrier 29 Hydro Power 17 Warren River 45 Warwick Cove 45 Introduction 4 Water Supply 18 Wickford Harbor 46 Local Protection Projects 31 Woonsocket Local Protection Project 34 Lower Woonsocket Local Protection Project 32 Misquarnicut Beach 51 US Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office New England Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 424 Trapelo Road 424 Trapelo Road Waltham, MA 02254-9149 Meter Code 40 Office of Ocean and Resource Management U.S. Dept. of Commerce 3300 Whitehaven St. NW Washington, DC 20235-0001 36608000013088