Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive PlanThe Rhode Island Rivers Council (RIRC) published a report in January 2005 entitled, Establishment ofRiparian and Shoreline Buffers and the Taxation of Property Included in the Buffers: A Report to the Governor,President of the Senate and Speaker of the House. The findings and recommendations in the reportidentify weaknesses in the RIDEM and CRMC buffer regulatory programs. Failure to enforcecompliance with these existing regulations due to staffing and other constraints was identified as amajor obstacle for buffer protection. Additionally, existing programs do not restore buffers inalready built and urban areas. The report outlines a series of recommendations for the improvedprotection of riparian and shoreline buffers. Some of the recommendations relevant to thedevelopment of this Westerly Comprehensive Plan include:• Private land owners, watershed councils, land trusts and municipalities are encouraged toprotect critical riparian areas through the following programs:o Land conservation and acquisitiono Flexible urban development standards and tax incentives to encourage restoration ofriparian vegetation during the redevelopment of urban parcelso Conservation development strategies• Provide tax incentives to encourage protection of buffer areas:o Designation by municipalities of riparian buffer corridors as open space land in theircommunity comprehensive plans, which would open up the opportunity to providetemporary buffer protection through the Farm, Forest, and Open Space Act• Promote education as to the importance of buffers and the tax benefits of donatingconservation easements• Seek state bond monies through RIDEM for riparian buffer restorationIn September 2005 (revised March 2006), the RIDEM initiated a new effort to monitor and assessthe ecological health of freshwater wetlands, the Rhode Island Freshwater Wetland Monitoring andAssessment Plan. Some of the objectives in this plan seem to be designed to address concernsoutlined in RIRC’s buffer report. This RIDEM program is in the development phase and willhopefully contribute to the protection and restoration of riparian and shoreline buffers. Thewetland monitoring and assessment activities will be phased in over the next five years.4.6.3 Terrestrial HabitatTrees and woody shrubs are an essential component of wildlife habitat, producing vegetativematerials in the form of nuts, seeds, fruits, twigs, buds and foliage for consumption by herbivorouswildlife. In addition, trees and shrubs themselves provide habitat for insects and other prey animalsthat are consumed by many other forms of wildlife. The diversity and pattern of forests is one ofthe primary factors determining which types and where wildlife live in a terrestrial environment.The structure and form of the vegetation in the forest and other early successional habitats is thecritical component of habitat for wildlife. Few wildlife species live exclusively in terrestrial upland.Most utilize adjacent wetlands in some way that may include a source of drinking water, a travelcorridor, or an escape cover when disturbed by predators. 38Forested conservation areas in Westerly include the Town Forest, Riverwood, Bradford Dye/GrillsPreserve, Newton Swamp Management Area and Woody Hill Management Area. Management and38 …Ernst, Laura M., Laura K. Miguel, and Jeff Willis, April 1999, Rhode Island’s Salt Pond Region: A Special Area Management Plan (Maschaug toPoint Judith Ponds), Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Chapter 5, p. 25Westerly, Rhode Island 55