Almy Pond, located in Newport’s south end not far from the famed Cliff Walk, is often cited as one of the most polluted bodies of freshwater in the state of Rhode Island. A green infrastructure project near the pond, led by Aquidneck Resilience, offers a vision for how this multifaceted community resilience effort will make change in the coming years.  

Plagued by water quality challenges for decades, the pond is surrounded by fertilized gardens, manicured lawns, and aging infrastructure below city streets. Stormwater runoff with high levels of phosphorus enters the pond via several outfalls. Each summer, pollution levels rise, and when heavy rains fall, the pollution problem can overflow onto nearby Bailey’s Beach, resulting in water quality concerns that keep swimmers out of the ocean during peak season. 

And so, Aquidneck Resilience decided to take on its first project: the design of an engineered wetland, a wet-vegetated treatment system (WVTS), near the pond’s largest stormwater outfall that has been shown to contribute the most pollutants. Using layers of gravel and soil, topped with native plants, such a wetland can filter the water, create habitat, and demonstrate the power of green infrastructure. Contracted engineering firm, Pare Corporation, has designed a system that has the potential to reduce Phosphorus levels of stormwater leaving the system by up to 19%, a significant number in context. Previous efforts to clean up the pond have not taken on such heightened efficacy. 

Aquidneck Resilience has been fortunate to partner with an existing coalition, the Almy Pond Watershed Protectors, which includes Salve Regina University, Newport Tree Conservancy, Newport Preservation Society, Save The Bay, Spouting Rock Beach Association Foundation, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the City of Newport. This group raised grant funds to cover the cost of designing the system and applying for permits. 

Almy Pond has been polluted for a long time, and this project isn’t a silver bullet. There are many interventions that need to happen for significant water quality improvements. However, restoring the wetland is a tangible effort that helps demonstrate what’s possible when a community comes together. 

“There is a real love of this place shown by its neighbors,” LeBaron said. “We’re lucky to have a group of people who care very much about this pond and are motivated to make it better.” 

At a recent community meeting to share potential engineering designs for the wetland, neighbors described pollution being dumped in the area long before modern environmental laws were in place, as well as happy memories like ice skating on the pond on crisp winter nights.  

“A lot of the folks near Almy Pond have lived there for decades, or even generations. Their historical knowledge is unique, and that shapes our approach to developing solutions,” Myatt said. 

Once a design is selected and permits are acquired, the coalition will begin supporting fundraising for implementation costs, working closely with the City, with the aim of breaking ground in the near term.

To learn more about the project, visit the Almy Pond webpage on the Aquidneck Resilience website here.