The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is committed to preserving the quality of Rhode Island's environment, maintaining the health and safety of its residents, and protecting the natural systems upon which life depends. Together with many partners, they offer assistance to individuals, business and municipalities, conduct research, find solutions, and enforce laws created to protect the environment.

Their work toward clean air, clean water, livable communities, healthy ecosystems, viable natural resource-based industries, abundant open space and recreational opportunities, and managing natural resources on a watershed-wide basis is performed in a spirit of open and effective government.

RIDEM Office of Water Resources

The Office of Water Resources implements a variety of programs aimed at protecting and restoring the state's surface waters, groundwaters and wetlands. These programs include publications such as the List of Impaired Waters report and the State of the State's Waters report, waste-water permitting, wetlands conservation, Watershed Partnership, shellfish monitoring, financial assistance, and professional licensing.

Rhode Island Water Partnership

The Rhode Island Watershed Partnership aims to coordinate what have traditionally been separate government programs to use existing resources more effectively. The goal of the program is to preserve, protect, and restore Rhode Island's environment by the involvement of those who live, work and play in the watershed. The Partnership brings additional resources, expertise, and different perspectives to the table to identify, prioritize and solve complex environmental issues.
The following are some of the programs the partnership aims to coordinate:

• Brownfields Program
• Superfund (CERCLA)
• Coastal Habitat Restoration
• Public Rights-of-Way
• Dam Safety
• RIPDES Stormwater
• Fresh and Marine Fisheries Management
• Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
• Alternative Forest Uses
• Wellhead Protection Program
• Land Acquisition and Preservation Programs
• Natural Heritage Program
• Pollution Prevention Program
• TMDL Program
• Lead Abatement
• Sustainable Watersheds Program
• Integrated Pest Management

DEM Division of Agriculture

The Division of Agriculture is a subset of RIDEM whose responsibilities include a broad range of agriculture-related functions and others traditionally associated with agricultural agencies nationally. There are six primary program areas:

• Animal Health Unit
• Mosquito Abatement Coordination Unit
• Pesticide Unit
• Agriculture/Marketing and Promotion Unit
• Farmland Ecology Unit
• Plant Industry Unit

Department of Environmental Management