Environmental status of Narragansett Bay and its watershed

Numerous organizations have worked together for decades to reverse trends of declining environmental conditions in Narragansett Bay and to understand new threats such as those associated with climate change. The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program brought together more than 50 practitioners from universities, organizations, and agencies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to collaborate on the State of Narragansett Bay and Its Watershed report. We were engaged to help shape the information submitted by diverse contributors into a cohesive, consistent, reader-friendly document.

Working closely with NBEP staff over a period of 8 months, we carefully crafted the language in all 24 chapters of the report, as well as ancillary materials. We edited, revised, and rewrote the submitted material as needed to ensure that the information was clear, compelling, and cohesive.

The 500-page report provides an unprecedented, in-depth examination of climate change, oceanography, land use, animal and plant life, and water quality in the bay and the lands that drain into it. The 28-page summary report and the 4-page overview share the key findings. By fostering a common understanding of historical trends and the present status, the report supports decision-making to protect, maintain, and restore the Narragansett Bay ecosystem and the benefits that it provides for people.