Title 46
Waters and Navigation

Chapter 23.3
The Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund

§ 46-23.3-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(1) “Adaptation and resilience projects” means those projects on public land that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address climate change impacts. Adaptation and resilience projects include, but are not limited to: those projects that reduce the vulnerability of low-lying infrastructure on public land through measures that include removal and relocation of infrastructure; restoration of river and stream floodplains, including regrading of banks; revegetation; acquisition of that area of land necessary to maintain and preserve public access; and redesigning, resizing, and replacing culverts and bridge spans at existing wetland crossings.

(2) “Bank” means the Rhode Island infrastructure bank.

(3) “Climate change impacts” means and includes, but is not limited to: flooding, erosion, sea level rise, and storm surge.

(4) “Council” means the coastal resources management council.

(5) “Department” means the department of environmental management.

(6) “Director” means the director of the department of environmental management.

(7) “Infrastructure” means and includes, but is not limited to: roads, parking lots, and other paved surfaces; shoreline protection structures; buildings; water control structures; culverts; other structures; and remnants of development.

(8) “Public land(s)” means property owned by state or municipal governments, including any quasi-public agencies thereof, public and private lands dedicated to public use, including lands that provide access to shorelines and riverbanks. Public lands include properties where the state or municipality holds an easement for public purposes.

(9) “Shoreline protection structures” means and includes, but is not limited to: revetments, bulkheads, seawalls and floodwalls, breakwaters, jetties, and other structures, the purpose or effect of which is to control the erosion of coastal or river features, and includes, but is not limited to, any sheet pile walls, concrete or stone walls.