ESS involvement with the project is through the Rhode Island Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership (RI-CWRP).  The RI-CWRP is an established public-private partnership to restore degraded wetlands, rivers and fish, and wildlife habitats in Rhode Island.  ESS is a lead sponsor for the RI-CWRP and facilitates the participation of Rhode Island corporations, government environmental programs, and non-profit environmental groups.
 

Walker’s Farm is part of the Hundred Acre Cove Estuary at the northern end of the Barrington River.  The marsh lies to the east of Route 114, the Wampanoag Trail.  The present 45-acre site was historically a salt marsh that was altered by a number of roads and dam structures that restricted the amount of salt water entering the marsh.  Restricted tidal flow, decreasing salinity in the marsh, and impoundment of open water is proposed as the cause of an invasion of Common Reed, Phragmites australis, throughout the wetland.  Other wetland habitats include salt marsh meadow, open water, mudflats, and brackish marsh.
 

ESS donated in-kind services for project management and permitting to facilitate the completion of the Walker’s Farm restoration project.  ESS utilized its experience with the regulatory agencies and knowledge of the permitting process to ensure that all pertinent data is collected and included as part of the permit applications.  ESS goal is to obtain the required permits as efficiently as possible to ensure project completion.  ESS facilitated site visits and coordination meetings between the project partners and provided technical support for vegetation mapping.  To complete the project, environmental permits are required from the State of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Department of Environmental Management, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.