Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan - Existing Conditions | Page 190

Newport Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Stormwater Violations

In August of 2011, the City of Newport agreed to settle sewer and stormwater violations in a proposed consent
decree lodged in federal court. Under the settlement’s terms, the city agreed to spend approximately $25 million to
reduce stormwater discharges to Easton’s Beach, eliminate illegal discharges of sewage to Narragansett Bay from its
wastewater treatment plant and wastewater collection systems, purchase and distribute rain barrels to residents to
capture stormwater for reuse, and take other actions to encourage low-impact development.

Flooding

As a coastal community, Newport is extremely susceptible to flooding. Certain areas that are more prone to flash
flooding during storm events include properties in the Eustis / Easton’s Pond neighborhood surrounding Easton Pond;
nearly all of Goat Island, Long Warf, and Harbor / Lower Thames neighborhoods; as well as many properties along
Newport’s eastern and southern coast. For more information about flooding, see Chapter 14, Natural Hazards and
Climate Change.

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Draft Existing Conditions (March 2016)