Everyone knows how vital Narragansett Bay is to Rhode Island. It drives the seafood and tourism industries, providing thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue for the state. It is hard to imagine that in the 70’s, the Providence sewage treatment facility was dumping millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Bay each year. This week Steve and I spoke with Jonathan Stone, the executive director of Save the Bay. Since 1970, the organization has championed the cause of environmental protection, restoration and stewardship through advocacy, action and education. 
Leading by example, The SaveThe Bay Center was built on a former brownfield site and serves as a great representation of STB’s approach to promoting environmentally smart shoreline development. The building has a “green” roof and the parking lot is surrounded by small ponds that collect runoff, capturing stormwater that would otherwise flood the parking area and mix with road salts and other contaminants that would make their way to the Bay. Anyone can visit the Center and learn more first-hand from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays and the grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. Save The Bay has a great Summer Camp program, and sponsors many family friendly events throughout the year, including the Beach Slam, Taste of the Bay, Carnegie Golf Outing, and the annual Bay Swim. This Week’s Real Estate Insight: Save the Bay works hard to keep home values up in the Ocean State, help support this vital mission by becoming a member today. Join or renew your membership today.
birds eye view
