Title 46, Title 46 and Navigation

(a) Rhode Island needs an affirmative, clearly articulated program to plan for, manage and protect its rivers and watershed resources on an integrated, inter-agency basis, that supports systems level planning. (b) Many of the rivers of Rhode Island or sections thereof and related…

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning: (1) “Council” means the Rhode Island rivers council. (2) “River” means a flowing body of water or estuary or a section, portion…

(a) There is hereby authorized, created, and established within the executive department as an associated function, as defined in § 46-28-10, of the water resources board, established pursuant to chapters 15 and 15.1 of this title, a Rhode Island rivers council known as “the Rhod…

Such council shall consist of fifteen (15) members to be appointed in the following manner: (1) Nine (9) public members shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate; one of whom shall be a member of a chamber of commerce within Rhode Island, three…

Members of the council shall be removable by the governor pursuant to § 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

Upon the passage of this act [April 20, 2006], the council shall elect from among the members a chair and a vice-chair. Thereafter, the council shall annually elect in February a chair and vice-chair from among the members. The council may elect from among its members such other …

The council shall have the following powers: (1) To be entitled to ask for and receive from any commission, board, officer, or agency of the state such information, cooperation, assistance, and advice as shall be reasonable and proper in view of the nature of said functions; (2) …

In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the state planning council shall adopt a rivers policy and a classification plan for the state of Rhode Island as elements of the state guide plan in accordance with the provisions of § 42-11-10. The procedure for adoption shall…

(a) The rivers council shall establish and recognize local watershed councils to implement the rivers policy as adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and set forth in the state guide plan. Unless a watershed is solely within one municipality’s boundaries, each…

(a) Annual report. The council shall make an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on or before February 1 of each year. The report shall include a summary of the activities of the council and of each designated local watershed council and a consolidated financia…