Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 650 - Coastal Resources Management Council › Chapter 20 - Coastal Management Program › Subchapter 00 - N/A › Part 1 - Red Book › Section 650-RICR-20-00-1.8 - Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) Maps

Current through June 14, 2024
A.
				  Rhode Island coastal communities
1. The Rhode
				  Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and its partners have
				  developed Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) Maps for the coastal
				  wetlands of all twenty-one (21) Rhode Island coastal communities. The purpose
				  of these SLAMM maps is to show how coastal wetlands will likely transition and
				  migrate onto adjacent upland areas under projected sea level rise scenarios of
				  1, 3 and 5 feet in the coming decades. These maps are intended to support state
				  and local community planning efforts and to help decision makers prepare for
				  and adapt to future coastal wetland conditions despite the inherent
				  uncertainties associated with future rates of sea level rise.
2. The SLAMM maps were developed using a
				  digital wetlands coverage derived from the 2010 National Wetlands Inventory for
				  Rhode Island. The elevation data used in the model was developed from the 2011
				  USGS LIDAR elevation dataset. These maps were developed using the "protection
				  off" mode for the model simulations, thereby depicting the highest potential
				  for marsh migration despite current limitations such as parking lots, roads or
				  other development. In this way the maps illustrate opportunities for
				  conservation and potential land modification to enhance wetland migration and
				  restoration. The SLAMM data do not consider natural processes such as coastal
				  erosion or the impacts of coastal storms that can have significant influence on
				  shoreline location and sediment dynamics. Despite these limitations the data
				  still provide a valuable tool to identify those places that provide the best
				  opportunity for future saltmarsh habitat and conservation priorities, and
				  provide valuable information to help plan for new development and
				  infrastructure. Additional map parameters, data sources and caveats can also be
				  found at
www.crmc.ri.gov
.
3. These SLAMM maps are Geographic
				  Information System (GIS)-based map images exported as PDF files to reduce file
				  size and ease of access. In total there are one hundred forty-nine (149) map
				  panels that cover the entire Rhode Island shoreline and each panel has four
				  maps showing the current wetland condition (as of 2010) followed by 1, 3, and
				  5-foot of sea level rise scenarios.
4. No warranty is expressed or implied by the
				  CRMC and its SLAMM project partners related to the spatial accuracy of these
				  maps and promote no other use of these maps and data other than as a planning
				  tool. These maps should not be used for, and are not intended for, survey and
				  engineering purposes. The data do not take the place of a legal survey or other
				  primary source documentation. They were created for general reference,
				  informational, planning, and guidance use. They are not a legally authoritative
				  source as to the exact location of natural or manmade features.
5. These maps are herein incorporated under
				  §1.2.2(C) of this Part. These maps are very large digital computer files
				  that can be examined on-line at the Council's website:
http://www.crmc.ri.gov/maps/maps_slamm.html
.