CLF will continue to advocate for the long-term health of Mashapaug Pond and track the implementation of the pollution permit. Photo: James Crowley
February 19, 2026 (Providence, RI) – The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has issued a long-awaited Clean Water Act permit requiring industrial and commercial facilities in the Mashapaug Pond watershed to clean up their stormwater pollution. The new permit is an important step toward addressing the chronic contamination that has plagued the pond for decades, though more work lies ahead. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has pushed for years for stronger pollution controls to combat the harmful stormwater runoff that causes toxic algae blooms, degrades aquatic ecosystems, and makes Mashapaug Pond unfit for human use.
“Unchecked stormwater runoff has plagued Mashapaug Pond for decades, fueling toxic algae blooms that choke aquatic life and make the water unsafe for people,” said James Crowley, senior attorney for CLF. “This action will require commercial and industrial polluters to clean up their acts and reduce the pollution that flows into the pond. It’s an important step forward in the fight for cleaner, healthier waters in Rhode Island.”
Mashapaug Pond has been unsafe for drinking, fishing, or swimming for decades. During rain or snowmelt, water runoff from urban streets, parking lots, and construction sites carries oil, grease, sediment, and other pollutants into the Providence waterbody.
CLF’s commitment to water quality goes beyond Mashapaug Pond. Petitions filed by CLF in 2018 urged DEM to take similar actions to address stormwater pollution in Bailey’s Brook and North Easton Pond on Aquidneck Island. While action on these waters is still pending, CLF remains dedicated to securing protections and improvements for these waterbodies.
Just as CLF monitors ongoing cleanup efforts for Lake Champlain and Cape Cod, the organization will continue to advocate for the long-term health of Mashapaug Pond and track the implementation of the pollution permit.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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