T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationThe Conimicut Point Marsh is divided by Point Avenue into northern and southern parts. The larger southernmarsh (Site 12A) is contiguous with the coast and bounded to the north by Point Avenue. The smaller northernpart (Site 12B) is landlocked between Point Avenue and Shawomet Avenue. Site 12A consists of approximately12 acres, two thirds of which is marsh or tidal river. Site 12B consists of approximately six acres, half of which iswet. Tidal restrictions have degraded the quality of the marsh in Site 12B. Mitigation opportunities for thePreferred Alternative will focus on preservation as restoration work could take years of study prior toimplementation.This area was platted out into very small lots in the 1920s and supported dense development of summercottages up until the 1938 hurricane. This area continues to face development pressure due to its high aestheticvalue and precedent set by Rhode Island case law that considers denial of the right to on a non-conformingexisting building lot to be a “taking”. The Mill Cove Conservancy (MCC) was formed to protect and restoreportions of the marsh that be degraded by filling and loss of tide exchange. Together with Save the Bay, theMCC has prepared a program identifying nearly 19 acres of land along the marsh where they wish to purchasedevelopment rights. In addition to the previously stated aesthetic value, the marsh provides wildlife habitat forwaterfowl and wading birds and important fish and shellfish habitat. Recreational values include kayaking andbird watching. Although RIAC could assist the MCC in acquiring between eight to 12 acres of land within theConimicut Point Marsh, focusing on properties that include uplands at risk for development, it would becomplicated by the number of parcels and RIAC’s inability to commit until after ROD issued.6.9.2.2 Estimated Acreage for Alternative B4 Wetland MitigationThe Preferred Alternative would impact 5.0 acres of wetland within the Buckeye Brook Watershed. Except forpreservation proposed at Site 8, all of the proposed mitigation sites are located within the Buckeye Brookwatershed. Table 6-12 provides an assessment of the compensatory wetland mitigation acreage values for thepriority mitigation sites to demonstrate that the mitigation program complies with USACE-recommendedminimum mitigation ratios. 490 Furthermore, the mitigation approach includes preservation sites that areconsistent with the City of Warwick Comprehensive Plan.490 USACE New England District, July 2010. New England District Compensatory Mitigation Guidance.Chapter 6 – Mitigation 6-31 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH06_Mitigation_JUL_2011.doc