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SNEP Partnerships:

FY 2020

SNEP

Southeast New England Program

Year in Review: 2020

This year has been unlike any other; but for all of its challenges, our Program
and partners have continued to serve the southeast New England region. This
document highlights a few of those accomplishments and links out to more in-
depth interviews with our partners in each title.

Our Program

Staff Changes. Though we were sad to see her go, we are happy to report
that Karen Simpson is doing well in her new position in EPA Region 8. Since
her departure, Ian Dombroski has stepped into her formal role as our new
Program Coordinator. This year, we were also happy to welcome Adam
Reilly into our Program as the new SNEP Communications Coordinator, and
Shasten Sherwell as our new ORISE Fellow.

Community Outreach. 2020 gave rise to our bi-monthly programmatic digital
newsletter, which we use to share information about what's happening in
the SNEP region, not only with us at EPA, but among our partners and other
stakeholders too. Every other month we have highlighted new-
environmental advancements, introduced you to one of our partner
organizations, spotlighted SNEP projects taking place in the region, and
shared news about upcoming events. Last year, we also kicked off quarterly
webinars focusing on compelling regional topics, which we plan to continue
into the new year. We also launched the SNEP Network to bring expert
technical assistance to municipalities, tribes and other organizations to help
them with environmental restoration financing, stormwater mitigation,
smart growth planning, watershed planning, and site design. Together with
our SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants (SWIG) program, the SNEP
Network provides unique, coordinated access to help meet community and
environmental needs across the region.

Planning for the Future. We have recently completed our strategic plan,
which is now posted on our website. The Program has set the following
priority actions for the next five years: 1) increase local capacity, 2) increase
available solutions toward water quality restoration, 3) ensure diverse
representation in programmatic decision-making, 4) demonstrate ways to
address common challenges at a watershed level, and 5) increase local buy-
in by working with community leaders to demonstrate and quantify the
direct and indirect benefits of restoration efforts.

U.S. Geological Survey
Buzzards Bay NEP
Narragansett Bay

Estuary Program
SNEP Watershed Grants

New England Environmental
Finance Center

SNEP TEAM:

MaryJo Feuerbach, SNEP Manager
Ian Dombroski, Program Coordinator
Adam Reilly, Communications Coordinator
Margherita Pryor, Watershed Implementation
Grants and Policy Coordinator

ORiSE Fellows:

David Morgan
Shasten Sherwell


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USCS - EPA Collaborative Projects

The EPA, 'r coHaboratjoji writh the USGS, has performed
critical work in the SNEP region throughout fiscal year 2020
(FY20), tackling nitrogen pollution in ground and surface
water with a range of new and exciting tools. The
collaborative effort is continuing an ongoing study of water
quality changes in shallow groundwater before and after a
local neighborhood is switched from reliance on septic
systems to a public wastewater system on Cape Cod, and is
beginning a similar project in Wickford, Rl where a sewering
project is underway. The team is also working to identify
high-priority targets for nitrogen abatement to more
effectively address nutrients discharging to rivers
throughout Cape Cod; and is continuing their monitoring
efforts in the Three Bays watershed to support nutrient
management activities.

Established in 1985 as the Buzzards Bay Project, the mission of the Buzzards Bay
National Estuary Program (BBNEP) is to protect and restore water quality and
living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed through the
implementation of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan (CCMP). Even with the added challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic, FY20 has been a productive time for the BBNEP. With the support of the
SNEP, the BBNEP has funded engineering plans for a series of stormwater
treatment projects: administered a mini-grant program for local municipalities that
awarded six grants across five towns; initiated four new projects in nitrogen
pollution monitoring, treatment, and abatement in stormwater and wastewater;
and continued their partnership with the Mass Maritime Academy and the
Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative to map and monitor discharges from
stormwater networks, particularly those contributing to the closure of shellfish
beds. The BBNEP also continued their work with regional partners to better
understand and halt salt marsh degradation in an ongoing watershed-wide salt
marsh study. The results from this study will help town officials, state, and federal
mangers develop possible mitigation strategies to protect and restore salt
marshes.

The BBNEP has also invested considerable time and effort into providing high-
quality technical assistance to communities throughout the watershed. Over the
past year, the BBNEP has provided more than 675 map and GIS products to the
Buzzards Bay Coalition, area land trusts, and municipalities in their efforts to
protect important habitat and open space in Buzzards Bay; and continued to assist
municipalities and other partners with GIS analysis, proposal development,
technical support to SNEP studies, review of local projects, and training and
support for municipal stormwater permits (MS4) compliance. For the coming year,
the BBNEP will be developing and implementing a work plan for $1 million in
federal funding, which includes $250,000 from SNEP, which will be applied toward
new targeted awards and municipal grants. The BBNEP will continue its core
mission to support municipalities and their partners throughout the Buzzards Bay
watershed in implementing activities that support the goals of the Buzzards Bay
CCMP. For more information, please visit https://buzzardsbav.org/

Salt Marsh Study in Westport, MA
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Photo credit: BBNEP


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Mike Gerel, Director

Established in 1985, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) catalyzes scientific inquiry and collective action to restore
and protect the water quality, wildlife, and quality of life in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island's Coastal Salt Ponds, and Little
Narragansett Bay and their watersheds. The NBEP fulfills its mission through implementation of its CCMP. Currently under
revision, the progress made during 2020 has also helped NBEP expand partnerships and assess actions to implement in the
future.

NBEP has accomplished quite a lot during 2020 despite setbacks and challenges presented with COVID-19. SNEP funds were
used to support a variety of shovel-ready and planning projects throughout the watershed. The shovel-ready projects include
improving hydrology in Rhode Island salt marshes and retaining and treating stormwater along the banks of the Providence
River Estuary. The planning grants allow organizations to prepare for shovel-ready projects by funding important site
assessments, design plans for projects, and provide information needed for the permitting process. These planning projects
include designs to return natural hydrology coupled with improvements to create open space for locals to enjoy at Broad
Meadow Brook and Mill Brook Bogs in Massachusetts to design fish passage, create a restoration plan, and implement
stormwater plans and upgrades in Rhode Island. All projects will wrap up in 2021, providing the region with improved
hydrology of salt marshes, stormwater abatement, and plans ready to be used for the next round of shovel-ready project
grants.

SNEP is currently supporting a Blackstone Needs Assessment, which will develop a comprehensive assessment to identify
priority needs for advancing the health of the Blackstone River watershed (in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island). In 2020,
the NBEP continued to add to the list of potential participants, existing regional planning documents to consider, and the
results of compiled priority needs across different issues. NBEP gathered information for a framework needs assessment,
developed a website, and gathered more interest (140+ people on the mailing list). Additionally, small grants were
competitively awarded to Blackstone River Watershed groups to increase capacity in advancing needs identified during the
assessment process.

For more information, please visit, https://www.nbep.org/

Town of North Kingstown, Rl: This series of photos showing the improving hydrology and
footbridge pilings being installed for the Mill Cove Causeway Channel, Bank, and Footbridge

Project. Photo taken by Cidget Loomis.


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SNEP Watershed Grants

Tom Ardito, Program Director

$8.3 Mllon
in Project
Fund ng since
2018

Since 2018, SNEP Watershed Grants has provided
more than $8.3 million in grants to fund high-impact
projects, programs and technology at local,
watershed and regional scales, including:

•	Greening the Greenway - Grants to
several organizations working along
the Woonasquatucket River in
Providence, restoring clean water,
developing outdoor recreation access,
providing job training and enhancing
food security for disadvantaged
communities.

•	Pleasant Bay Alliance - Supporting a
partnership among four municipalities
working together to restore Cape
Cod's largest estuary.

•	Stormwater Innovation Center -
Establishing a regional center for
innovative water quality solutions and
training at Roger Williams Park in
Providence

•	Cranberry Bog Restoration -
Restoring clean water, wetland and
trout stream habitat on Cape Cod by
converting abandoned cranberry bogs
back to the type of natural wetland
systems that existed there prior to
agricultural development.

•	Permeable Reactive Barriers - An
innovative technology being tested on
Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod, in
which a biodegradable carbon source
is injected into the ground to remove
nutrients from groundwater, reducing
pollution of coastal waters.

SNEP supports community-based solutions to regional challenges through SNEP
Watershed Grants, which is managed by Restore America's Estuaries. This is an
annual, competitive program that funds projects, programs and partnerships
among municipalities, non-profit organizations, universities and others working
to restore clean water and healthy coastal ecosystems. SNEP Watershed Grants is
managed as a collaboration between EPA and Restore America's Estuaries, a non-
profit network dedicated to restoration and protection of the nation's coastal
environment.

All of the grants contribute toward building capacity - improving our region's
ability to respond to environmental challenges such as water pollution and
climate change - by ensuring that lessons learned from each project are available
to stakeholders throughout the SNEP region and beyond.

In 2021, SNEP Watershed Grants expects to award about $1.7 million to continue
supporting innovative, effective partnerships, programs and projects that restore
clean water and healthy coastal ecosystems. For more information, including the
2021

Request for Proposals - available early in the New Year - see
www.snepgrants.org

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Providence Stormwater Innovation Center
Photo credit: Will Helt


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SNEP Ne

Martha Sheils, Director

The mission of the SNEP Network is to empower communities to achieve healthy watersheds, sustainable financing and long-term
climate resilience through management of stormwater and watershed restoration projects. The SNEP Network kicked off in 2020 and
provides training and technical assistance to municipalities, organizations, and tribes in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts
to advance the capacity for these communities to develop sustainable financing systems and plan for stormwater and watershed
management, ecological restoration, and climate resilience.

During its first year, the SNEP Network established its organizational foundation to promote communication and collaboration among
its 16 diverse technical assistance partners. The New England Environmental Finance Center coordinates program cohesion, provides
programmatic direction and technical support, and oversees budgets and fiscal resources for the entire Network. The majority of
Network funds from EPA are allocated to technical assistance partners to work with local towns, tribes and other organizations. These
partners are the key to on-the-ground implementation that directly benefit environmental, social and economic needs of communities.
In addition, the Network Advisory Committee provides strategic input that enhances the Network's reach to communities throughout
the SNEP Region, and coordination with agencies and organizations having management responsibilities for the region's water and
coastal resources.

The Network is implementing 12 distinct community projects that were solicited through a call-for-participants process, and that is
augmented with free consulting services when needed to advance project needs. There are also two pilot watershed projects, one in
Rhode Island to restore the Maidford River on Aquidneck Island, and one in Massachusetts to restore water quality and quantity in the
Canoe River Watershed. In addition, two projects that will result in regional capacity building products are the Stewardship Mapping
project that is designed to help map activities and networks with the goal of strengthening community capacity in the SNEP area, and a
stormwater retrofit manual that will aid green infrastructure practice in the area and beyond.

In its first year alone, the Network has:

•	Begun working one-on-one with twelve communities to provide expertise in financing, mapping, planning, stormwater siting and
design, and other project needs;

•	Offered "on-call" technical assistance to five communities in the SNEP region;

•	Completed two in-person trainings and ten webinars reaching over 600 people;

•	Helped launch the Providence Stormwater Innovation Center to provide stormwater management training; and

•	Begun two large-scale pilot projects to highlight restoration techniques, one on Aquidneck Island (Rhode Island) and the other in the
Taunton River watershed (Massachusetts).

For more information, please visit https://www.snepnetwork.org

Virtual meetings have become the new normal for the SNEP Network quarterly
meetings. The upside is that the Network's trainings and webinars have reached a
wider SNEP audience than live events could have.


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