On Aquidneck Island, which at 37.8 square miles is the largest island in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, rain gardens are crucial to reducing downstream flood risk and improving stormwater management by redirecting stormwater pollution away from the island’s water sources. Aquidneck Island is home to three towns and over 60,000 people. Over the last 18 months, the Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition, with the help of its partners including the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, Clean Ocean Access and Aquidneck Island Land Trust, has engaged residents in stormwater management practices, including the successful installation and maintenance of nine residential rain gardens.
This webinar will feature the Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition’s effective community engagement process, including educational workshops, surveys, a rain barrel program, installation assistance, and rain garden maintenance training. Speakers will discuss strategies to engage the public and amplify understanding about rain gardens and stormwater management. The webinar will cover lessons learned and provide recommendations for encouraging residents to take an active role in managing their stormwater and protecting their environment.
Presenters
Sara Churgin and Lauren Carson, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District and the RI Green Infrastructure Coalition
