WATER
WILDLIFE
WAY OF LIFE
We envision clean water and habitat that sustain all who live, work, and play in the tri-state Narragansett Bay region
Data
Explore our GIS Data Hub. We make data available across Narragansett Bay, Little Narragansett Bay, the Rhode Island Coastal Ponds and their watersheds.
Science
We convene more than 50 organizations, agencies, and universities to track the social and environmental health of our region. Head to our Science pages to learn more.
Grants
Check out recent awards. Explore our open grant opportunities for pre-project planning, research, and implementation. Find out more about past NBEP-funded projects.
News & Announcements
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP), through its host, Roger Williams University (RWU), is issuing an RFP for aquatic habitat connectivity with climate resilience benefits projects from the Narragansett Bay Region.
Are you an upper-level undergraduate or graduate student interested in watershed research? NBEP is hiring a Literature Review Analysis Intern!
NBEP seeks proposals for professional writing services to complete a revision of its Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (Vision 2034).
Join us on Wednesday, January 31 from 11:30a-1:30p for a webinar highlighting the awardees from our 2021 Green Infrastructure Planning Grants.
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program has released an update to the Seagrass Indicator for Narragansett Bay, Little Narragansett Bay, and the Rhode Island Coastal Ponds.
Roger Williams University seeks candidates for the Executive Director of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.
Registration is live for NBEP’s 2023 Symposium: Wild Things in the Narragansett Bay Region on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Roger Williams University.
NBEP seeks proposals for planning activities that will advance efforts to improve freshwater and estuarine habitat quality and public access in the Narragansett Bay Region.
The Stormwater Master Plan for Westerly, RI’s Main Street will help reinvigorate the downtown thoroughfare by removing pavement, increasing green space, and improving walkability.
Fifteen speakers and seventy-one event attendees discussed local sources of plastic pollution, impacts of plastic pollution on Narragansett Bay habitats and wildlife, and next steps for local research on plastic pollution.
NBEP’s recent event, “Macro to Microplastic in Narragansett Bay,” features in this EcoRI News piece highlighting the environmental dangers of - and challenges in reducing - plastic production and pollution.
Join NBEP for the Annual NBEP Science Event: Macro to Microplastic in Narragansett Bay on Friday, October 7, 2022 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI.
ecoRI News reporter Colleen Cronin joins the Blackstone River Commons paddlers for Day 2 of their 60-mile journey from Worcester to Providence in August 2022.
NBEP’s staff scientist discusses value of urban watersheds with Veronica Berounsky of URI
NBEP’s staff scientist, fishermen, and social scientists discuss the changing Narragansett Bay ecosystem.
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program Awards $649,000 in Grants for Green Project Planning in RI and MA
Blackstone Watershed Collaborative seeks to reverse decades of river pollution.
A new report sets the course for a more coordinated approach to the comeback of the Blackstone River Watershed between the many parties that have been working for decades to restore it.
This new partnership will leverage faculty and student expertise and research, while preparing RWU’s graduates for careers in the blue economy and environmental-related work.
A data-first approach has been fundamental to the NBEP since its founding as a federally funded estuarine pilot study in 1985. Over the years, as one of the EPA’s 28 National Estuary Programs, NBEP has funded more than 150 science and policy studies into all aspects of estuarine resources, use and management.
The National Estuary Program (NEP) exemplifies the benefits of partnerships for addressing impacts of the climate crisis. Section 320 of the Clean Water Act established the NEP as a non-regulatory program that employs a unique management approach to improve the waters and habitats of 28 estuaries of national significance.
A network of streams and ponds once cut through the East Side of Providence. When rain fell, runoff followed the topography down through a watershed that encompassed the area around what is now Blackstone Boulevard.
Bill Napolitano, a long time partner of the NBEP was recently featured in an article about the vision of a 22-mile-long Taunton River Trail for walkers, joggers and bicyclists coming closer to reality.
Courtney Schmidt, NBEP Staff Scientist was recently featured in ecoRI’s news article, “R.I. Beach Health Responds to Better Stormwater Management.” Open this post for the full article.
Julia Twichell, NBEP Watershed & GIS Specialist was recently featured in ecoRI’s news article, “Ocean State Confronts Environmental Justice Along Its Coast.” Open this post for the full article.
NBEP partnered with the Salt Ponds Coalition to launch a StoryMap spotlighting Rhode Island’s unique coastal salt ponds and the Coalition’s successful Pond Watchers program.
Indelible patterns in our landscape and waters reveal the inequitable benefits and burdens on our communities—legacies of our shared history.
The Association of National Estuary Programs showcases National Estuary Program projects and initiatives across the United States in new short video.