Update Save Seapowet-Time Sensitive
Dear Save Seapowet Supporters,
The movement to preserve public access to Seapowet continues. Your help is needed once again. Last month, many of you wrote letters in support of Representative Jay Edwards’ House bill (H. 5037) for a 1,000 ft setback for aquaculture on the Sakonnet. This week, Senator Lou DiPalma will present Bill S. 198 to the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture. This bill could protect Seapowet. It’s very important for our community to support the bill by sending in letters for S. 198.
The deadline is short and the number of letters the committee receives makes a difference. The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture will consider the bill and public comments at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 15 at 4pm. Testifying in person at the Rhode Island Statehouse to support this bill with your story would be helpful, too.
Please email:
Senator DiPalma (sen-dipalma@rilegislature.gov)
Senator Felag (sen-felag@rilegislature.gov)
The email must include:
your name
bill number S. 198 testimony
a statement that you are “for” the bill.
It would be best to add a few of your own words or mention why you are writing in support of the bill. It can be short. For example:
Subject: "For" S. 198
Dear Environment and Agriculture Committee Members,
I am for bill number S. 198. This bill addresses my concerns that new commercial aquaculture operations are creating conflict and taking away public access to the waters in the Sakonnet. CRMC is not doing enough to prevent poorly sited aquaculture proposals that are not in the best public interest such as the proposed farm in the waters adjacent to the Seapowet Wildlife Management Area. The bill moves aquaculture gear further away from conflicting use areas of the Sakonnet.
Thank you,
Your name
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Here’s a link to Senator DiPalma’s bill S. 198. In summary, the bill:
Requires all new aquaculture leases in the Sakonnet river area to be located at least one thousand feet (1,000') from the median high tide line.
Does not apply to existing aquaculture leases, and exempts any lease in place before July 2023.
Is a pilot program expiring on July 1, 2025 unless renewed by the state legislature.
Applies only to the Sakonnet River.
Additional reasons to support the bill:
Seapowet waters are threatened by ill-sited commercial aquaculture development.
This will not impact existing aquaculture operations or those in place by July 2023.
This bill is a legislative solution to uphold Rhode Island’s Public Trust Doctrine, preserve public waters like Seapowet, and reduce user conflict.
This bill is a short-term compromise to reduce conflict with aquaculture and other uses of the Sakonnet.
The deadline is short. Please email by Wednesday morning, March 15. Your letters make a difference! Thank you.