Opinion: The High Stakes Of Appropriate Coastal Management

By Rep. Lauren Carson

In my district in Newport, it is easy to see the importance and value of the Narragansett Bay and
all our precious coastal resources. The Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) was
created by the General Assembly in 1971 as a means to protect, restore and responsibly develop
coastal lands because lawmakers recognized that these areas are as vulnerable as they are critical
to the identity, economy and environmental integrity of the Ocean State.

In the half-century since, much has changed, and our interest in protecting our coastal resources
has intensified under pressure from higher population, greater understanding of environmental
issues and of course, rising seas. It is for that reason that the General Assembly this year has
committed to studying CRMC to determine whether we could improve its effectiveness at
stewarding one of our most critical resources.

I’m proud to be a member of this study commission, which is currently meeting around the state
and collecting input about how CRMC serves the people of Rhode Island. Led by my dedicated
colleague, Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), we have been diving
deep into CRMC’s jurisdiction, the qualifications required of those who serve on it, and its
policies to ensure fairness and transparency and balance the competing interests of development
and conservation. I am very grateful to Chairwoman Ruggiero and my fellow commission
members, as well as to the CRMC staff and others who have helped us in this exploration. I am
looking forward to future meetings that will be scheduled soon to provide the public
opportunities to weigh in on their priorities for CRMC and the future of coastal management in
the Ocean State. We hope to wrap up our study by the start of the 2022 legislative session in
January so we can offer legislation to implement recommended changes.

As a representative for Newport, I am keenly aware of the high stakes of appropriate coastal
management. Whether CRMC is studying sea rise or making decisions on permits or harbor
plans, its work is important, and I am dedicated to ensuring it is performed with the highest
standards. I invite anyone is who would like to discuss this study to either contact me at rep-
carson@rilegislature.gov or at (401) 523-1143, or to testify at our public hearings when they are
announced.