Pawtuxet River Watershed, Rhode Island
The 231 square mile watershed of the Pawtuxet River, the second largest watershed within Rhode Island's boundaries, spans the center of the state and contains approximately 235,000 Rhode Islanders. The river is made up of two large branches which come together to form the main stem in West Warwick. The watershed is located in parts of the cities and towns of Cranston, Scituate, Warwick, Coventry, West Warwick, Johnston, Foster, Glocester, Exeter, Providence, West Greenwich, East Greenwich, and Smithfield. There are twenty-three dams remaining on the Pawtuxet River which includes the largest dam in the state at the Scituate Reservoir.
The Pawtuxet Watershed is home to the most protected fresh water in the state, the Scituate Reservoir sub-watershed, which provides nationally recognized drinking water to over 60% of Rhode Islanders. Another large reservation protecting Pawtuxet water is the 8,000 acre Big River Management Area in West Greenwich. However, downstream of these areas, the river was historically impacted by a largely urbanized watershed including an intensive textile industry, two of the state's largest chemical manufacturers, three municipal sewage treatment plants and the state's sole operating sanitary landfill. Although once considered RI's dirtiest river by Save the Bay, the water quality of the Pawtuxet has been dramatically improved.
The Pawtuxet Watershed is home to the most protected fresh water in the state, the Scituate Reservoir sub-watershed, which provides nationally recognized drinking water to over 60% of Rhode Islanders. Another large reservation protecting Pawtuxet water is the 8,000 acre Big River Management Area in West Greenwich. However, downstream of these areas, the river was historically impacted by a largely urbanized watershed including an intensive textile industry, two of the state's largest chemical manufacturers, three municipal sewage treatment plants and the state's sole operating sanitary landfill. Although once considered RI's dirtiest river by Save the Bay, the water quality of the Pawtuxet has been dramatically improved.
