CouncilNotes
Resolution

2026-111

Council Resolution No. 2026-111 authorizes an application to FEMA's BRIC Program for the South Easton's Pond Dam Flood Resiliency Project. The dam is a High Hazard reservoir serving Newport Water Division's 40,000 residents. Improvements are high priority per the 2025 Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The project aims to reduce disaster risk and protect drinking water supplies from coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion. The Council approved requesting $20 million in federal funding. Additionally, it acknowledged the required 25% non-federal cost share of approximately $7.144 million. This amount was authorized by the Director of Finance based on a Match Commitment Letter from the Department of Utilities. Resolution passed June 24, 2026.

Key topics

  • South Easton's Pond Dam Flood Resiliency Project
  • FEMA BRIC Program Funding Request
  • Non-Federal Cost Share Allocation
Read the full text the original record, verbatim

RESOLUTION

OF THE
COUNCIL
No. 2026-111

WHEREAS, the Newport Water Division provides drinking water service to approximately 40,000 residents in Newport, Middletown, and portions of Portsmouth, and serves Naval Station Newport, regional healthcare facilities, educational institutions, businesses, and critical public safety operations; and

WHEREAS, South Easton's Pond serves as the primary source reservoir within Newport's public water supply system, and South Easton's Pond Dam is classified as a High Hazard Dam, meaning failure could result in loss of life and significant damage to downstream infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Improvements to South Easton's Pond Dam were identified as a High Action Priority mitigation measure in the 2025 Aquidneck Island Regional Hazard Mitigation and Flood Management Plan, adopted by the City Council through Resolution No. 2026-17; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program supports projects that reduce disaster risk and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the proposed South Easton's Pond Dam Flood Resiliency Project will reduce the risk of dam failure, protect regional drinking water supplies, reduce vulnerability to coastal flooding and saltwater intrusion, and enhance the resilience of critical public infrastructure. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: that the City Council hereby authorizes the Grants Office within the Department of Resilience & Sustainability, in collaboration with the Department of Utilities, to submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting $20 million through the FY 2026 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program for the South Easton's Pond Dam Flood Resiliency Project; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that the City Council acknowledges the required 25 percent non-federal cost share, estimated at $7.144 million, as identified in the Department of Utilities Match Commitment Letter, and authorizes the Director of Finance to take all necessary actions to allocate and reserve such funds.

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
JUNE 24, 2026

Laura C