Rhode Island NRCS announces funding for flood reduction in the Pocasset River Watershed in Cranston and Johnston

The Pocasset River floods portions of the Town of Johnston and the City of Cranston regularly, with flooding becoming more frequent and widespread in recent years. Property damages are recurrent and costly where severe flooding occurs. The Pocasset River Flood Damage Reduction Project aims to reduce flood damages in Cranston, Johnston, and adjacent un-incorporated areas resulting from floods on the Pocasset River for magnitudes up to and including the 100-year flood event.

This project was authorized through the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program (WFPO or PL-566) and will be used to restore the Pocasset River’s 100-year floodplain by offering homeowners in Johnston and Cranston neighborhoods voluntary property buy outs, allowing them to relocate out of flood-prone areas. Restored floodplain areas would provide flood attenuation, community open space, recreational benefits, and wildlife habitat. 

PL-566 authorizes NRCS to provide technical and financial assistance to States, local governments and Tribal organizations to help plan and implement authorized watershed projects for the purpose of flood prevention, watershed protection, public recreation, public fish and wildlife, agricultural water management, municipal and industrial water supply, and water quality management. 

NRCS has worked with local and Congressional representatives for decades to address flood concerns in the watershed, beginning with the Pocasset River Floodplain Management Study initiated in 2001 and completed in 2008. That study provided the baseline for the technical Watershed Plan/Environmental Impact Statement that began in July 2009 with additional PL-566 funding, and was completed in May 2020.  

The total authorized project cost is estimated at $48.5 million to help prevent and mitigate damage to homes within critical flooding areas along the Pocasset River. An initial tranche of $12 million was made available this year thanks to Congressionally directed funding secured by Senator Reed in fiscal year 2022, 2023, and 2024 appropriations laws. 

The Town of Johnston and City of Cranston have teamed up to sponsor this project, which will be implemented by the Rhode Island Association of Conservation Districts (RIACD) in partnership with Rhode Island NRCS.

“Floodplains can provide significant protection from flood damages to downstream landowners,” said Phou Vongkhamdy, Rhode Island State Conservationist for NRCS. “This project would significantly limit future uses of land in the floodplain to make it available to store flood water and provide open space and other community benefits.”

“RIACD looks forward to helping Pocasset River watershed residents get relief from flooding problems that have plagued them for a number of years," said Richard Went, RIACD President.

NRCS estimates that the project will help nearly 1,000 residents and reduce average annual flood damages in impacted neighborhoods by around $3.1 million. As recently as this January, flooding from the Pocasset River displaced or cut off access to dozens of Rhode Islanders from their homes in Johnston and Cranston and resulted in millions of dollars in damages to homes and properties. 

Specifically, the project will include:

• Acquisition of more than 100 properties located within the 100-year floodplain and demolition of ~134 structures located on the properties, resulting in a net restoration of 38.5 acres of floodplain;
• Dry floodproofing of ~25 structures;
• Construction of a bypass culvert along Simmons Brook; and
• Removal of a debris dam at the confluence of Simmons Brook and the Pocasset River.

NRCS is a federal agency that works hand-in-hand with conservation districts and the people of Rhode Island to improve and protect soil, water and other natural resources.

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