Coastal Resilience in Warren, RI

This plan will serve as an example of how to combine green infrastructure and climate change actions, such as retreat, in a manner that attracts a shift in private investment while improving the overall resilience of the neighborhood. The project will objectively analyze, quantify and determine the feasibility of adaptation to climate change impacts in the threatened low-lying Market Street area which are balanced with redevelopment/stormwater improvements in the Metacom Avenue corridor. This project is an opportunity to authentically engage the community in discussions about long-term retreat and ecological restoration and at the same time to reimagine the development of an auto-centric commercial zone into a true mixed-use, sustainably re-designed neighborhood.

The Municipal Resilience Program (MRP) provides direct support to cities and towns to complete a municipal-driven process that will bring together climate change information and local knowledge to identify top hazards, current challenges, and community strengths. This process identifies priority projects and strategies to improve the municipality’s resilience to all natural and climate-related hazards using a flexible, tested approach called Community Resilience Building (CRB). To open Warren's MRP Summary Report,  CLICK HERE 

Responses to climate change and implementation of appropriate adaptation strategies

will vary depending on coastal setting, development type, and development intensity,

thus the selection of natural, urban, and mixed-use sites. This brief document reports on

activities and accomplishments of the Barrington–Warren Mixed-Use Demonstration

Site since inception in late 2016, followed by a discussion of planned directions over the

next 12-18 months. Barrington and Warren are currently taking strides to enhance

resiliency and it is anticipated that the activities of the demonstration site will serve to

further highlight the urgency to plan now for nuisance and catastrophic flooding and

implement bold adaption measures. This document will be periodically updated as the

demonstration site initiative continues to move forward.

Rhode Island’s relationship with water has long been a defining portion of the state’s identity. However, the towns, industries, and communities that were formed around the advantages of being close to the Narragansett Bay are now threatened by the results of climate change including sea level rise, storm surge, and coastal erosion. The state’s progressive policies on sea level rise and climate change put it at the forefront of research, data analysis, and policies that address climate change. This plan aims to add to this body of knowledge and action by assessing the impacts of coastal risks in the towns of Warren and Barrington Rhode Island and providing adaptation strategies that promote equity while preserving the economic vitality and rich cultural heritage of these coastal towns.

When evaluating vulnerability to coastal flooding and suggesting adaptation strategies,

there are numerous topic areas to consider, each intended to keep group discussion and

deliberation focused. These topic areas can include public infrastructure (transportation

network, utilities, sewer lines and pump stations, emergency response routes, etc.),

vulnerable populations, historic properties, land-use policies, and natural resources,

among others. Based on conversations among the demonstration site project team

members, the first two topic-focused workshops were convened to address “land use

planning” and “transportation.” Depending on the workshop topic the project team

invited appropriate municipal officials, town boards, state agency personnel, citizen

groups, stakeholders, and others to participate.

One of the challenges facing coastal zone managers and municipal planners is the development of an objective, quantitative assessment of the risk to structures, infrastructure, and public safety that coastal communities face from storm surge in the presence of changing climatic conditions, particularly sea level rise and coastal erosion. Here we use state of the art modeling tool (ADCIRC and STWAVE) to predict storm surge and wave, combined with shoreline change maps (erosion), and damage functions to construct a Coastal Environmental Risk Index (CERI). 

Major Issues Addressed by Upgrades

-Reduces the amount of nitrogen discharged which will improve water quality in the Warren River

-Makes the treatment facility more energy efficient and reliable

-Replaces old worn-out equipment

-Improves safety for treatment facility operators

-Makes the facility more resilient to storms and flooding