Rivers Know No Bounds

by Josh Wood Monday August 4, 2008

Rivers are slippery folk. They refuse to adhere to political boundaries, as much as we’d like them to. (Pictured to the left, a river refusing to adhere to political boundaries).

Such is the case of the Pocasset. The river enjoys residency in both Cranston and Johnston, and has a reputation of flooding its banks.

A 115 acre development on the banks of the Pocasset in Johnston is making waves downstream in Cranston. Cranston residents are concerned about the increased risk of flooding due to the loss of 50 acres of permeable landscape in the what will be a Wall-Mart Super Store. In a 2001 report, the US Department of Agriculture stated that the flooding along the Pocasset has worsened in recent years, something that Cranston residents can attest to.

Cranston Citizens for Responsible Zoning & Development (CCRZD) is urging Cranston planning officials and lawmakers to attend the next Johnston Public Hearing on August 5th, at 7:00 PM. Ultimately, fate of the project will rely on the support from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Ironically, it was the DEM that granted Cullion the clearance to build the now infamous Concrete Plant – a project that the CCRZD has bitterly fought.

So far the worst flooding that has occurred is the flood of car dealerships and shopping mall projects in Johnston.

[where: 02910]

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