Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	Blackstone River Reconnaissance Study
Region	North Eastern
State	MA/RI
Location
Date of this update	2/3/00

Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)

3. Project description (100 words or less)

This study seeks to identify a plan to mitigate some of the historic degradation that has occurred to the Blackstone River which flows through the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Due to long-term industrial uses of the river, including the disposal of untreated discharges, contaminated river bottom and stream bank sediments have been identified as a major sources of pollution to the river and ultimately to Narragansett Bay. Additionally, contaminated sediments have directly resulted in the loss of fish and wildlife habitat. A study conducted for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1981 identified the sediments in the Blackstone River as "grossly polluted with heavy metals" and the "most severely contaminated sediments in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The study also evaluated various abatement strategies and recommended a sediment management plan including dredging and disposal, and sediment and bank stabilization.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), assisted by the States, recently performed extensive testing of the chemistry and toxicity of the water column and the sediments in the Blackstone River as part of the "Blackstone River Initiative". The Corps reconnaissance study effort shall piggyback upon the EPA work, as well as that of the 1994 Corps of Engineers Planning Assistance to States Program (Section 22, WRDA 1974) study (50% Corps-funded) that summarized the problems of the mainstem and developed a scope for a comprehensive study of the entire watershed. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the NPS contributed the remaining 50% of the study costs.

The COE Reconnaissance Investigation of the entire Blackstone River watershed is being conducted to comprehensively examine restoring fish and wildlife habitat via flow regulation; restoring fish spawning habitat, wetland systems, and waterfowl nesting areas; constructing fish passage facilities; and remediating the contaminated sediments. The COE will also examining the potential of using its Section 1135 of WRDA 1986 authority to modify existing project features and/or their operations.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

		Corps of Engineers PAS Investigation:

	  Cash	Federal	$55,000
			Non Federal 	$35,000
					
			Total		$90,000
		Corps of Engineers Reconnaissance Investigation:
	  Cash	Federal	$400,000 
			Non Federal 	
					
			Total		$400,000 
	  In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar 	value)
		

	  Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date: June 1996
• Completion date:
• Current stage (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10.Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments