ENVIRONMENT

July 23, 2008
Providence

Save The Bay Center
Narragansett Bay

Description

How do we preserve and protect our freshwater, land and bay? What environmental threats do we need to contend with? What are the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, businesses, community organizations, and individuals in helping to preserve the natural resources we all rely upon? This session explores Rhode Island’s most precious natural resources, and the challenge of balancing the use, development and preservation of those resources.

This session we reviewed Rhode Island’s plan for land development and conservation in the 21st century, and considered how you get a community to change its view of land use. We also examined challenges to our drinking and fresh water system. We also heard and asked questions about wind power development in our state - its potential costs and benefits, and its impact on our energy supply, and its potential impact on tourism and the environment. The it was out on boats to explore the challenges and gems of the Narragansett Bay.

Guest Presenters

Michael Gerhardt '89
Interim Executive Director
Save The Bay

Kevin Flynn
Associate Director for Planning
RI Department of Administration

Juan Mariscal, P.E.
General Manager
RI Water Resources Board

Sheila Dormody
RI Director
Clean Water Action
Coordinator
Coalition for Water Security

Al Bettencourt
Executive Director
RI Farm Bureau

Alicia Good
Assistant Director, Water Resources
RI Department of Environmental Management

Curt Spalding ’94
Environmental Advocate
Former Director, Save The Bay

Jennifer McCann
Leader for the US Coastal Program
URI Coastal Resources Center and RI Sea Grant

John Torgan
Narragansett Baykeeper
Save The Bay

Scott Wolf ’87
Executive Director
Grow Smart Rhode Island

Alumni Subcommittee: Environment Session

Annette Bourne ’07
Rhode Island Housing

Thomas Brendler ’06
Environmental Activist

Terry Gray ’01
RI Department of Environmental Management

Deb O’Brien ’06
The Providence Center

Laurie Petrone ’05
RI Department of MHRH

Rick Smith ’06
Sovereign Bank

Jill Tobak ’06
The C.J. Fox Company