
The Land to Sea Speaker Series is a monthly initiative aiming to inspire and empower the local community in actionable steps to improve our local environment. Prominent figures from our RI environmental network will share their work, leaving our Aquidneck Island community members with background knowledge of our vibrant coastal ecosystems and the tools to change our behaviors from “normal” to responsible. Speakers will highlight projects and policies that discuss local water quality impairments and improvements, how composting can be used as a tool to improve ocean health, and how nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies are working together to address these issues.
Thank you to the Island Foundation and Amgen Foundation for funding the Land to Sea Speaker Series and making it possible to highlight the amazing and important work that is being accomplished within our community to improve ocean health!
About the Series
Below is the information for each speaker, and the date that they will be speaking. Click the link to sign up for the virtual webinar!
- Watch a recording of this event here
- Click here for Christine's presentation slides
- Useful Links from this Installment:
Environmental Protection Agency:
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- Christine Beling, Team Leader for Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)

- Watch a recording of this event here
- Click here for Jenny's Presentation Slides
- Useful Links from this installment:
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- Jenny Paquet, Senior Environmental Planner, RIDEM Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program
Jennifer Paquet is a senior environmental planner with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (RIDEM) Office of Water Resources. She is in the Nonpoint Source Pollution Program where she focuses on watershed planning and policies and regulations pertaining to low-impact development. Prior to joining RIDEM, she was the town planner for the rural town of West Greenwich for 15 years where, among many other things, she reviewed site plans, visited construction sites to see the plans come to fruition, managed the MS4 Stormwater Program, and worked with the planning board on various updates to the land development regulations. Paquet holds a B.A. in geology from Mount Holyoke College and a master of community planning with a concentration in environmental and land use planning from the University of Rhode Island.
- Watch a recording of this event here
- Click here for the presentation slides
- Useful links from this installment:
- The Maidford River Watershed Pilot Project
- Aquidneck Land Trust- Watershed
- Aquidneck Land Trust- Trails and Maps
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- Chuck Allott, Executive Director

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- Elizabeth Scott, Owner of Elizabeth Scott Consulting

- Watch a recording of this event here
- Click here for the presentation slides
- Useful links from this installment:
- RIDOT Stormwater Program - Map
- RIDOT Stormwater Program - About
- RIDOT Highway Map - Aquidneck Island
- RIDOT Highway Map - Tiverton and Little Compton
- RIDOT Highway Map - Jamestown
- Map of all State Maintained Roads
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- Brian Moore, Administrator - Office of Stormwater Management

- Watch a recording of this event here
- Click here for Tom's presentation slides
- Useful links from this installment:
- About the SNEP Grant Program
- Grantee and Application Resources
- SNEP Program Map
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- Thomas Ardito, Southeast New England Watershed Grant Program Director

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- Sara Churgin, District Manager

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- Allison McNally, Program Director
- Watch their presentation here.
- Click here to view the slides from the presentation.
- Useful links from this installment:
- Green Golf Course Certification Program
- US EPA Pollution Prevention Program
- US EPA Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
- Save the Bay Bay-Friendly Living Guide
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- Jed Thorp, Advocacy Coordinator

- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management:
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- Ann Battersby, Senior Environmental Scientist
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Ann Battersby is a Senior Environmental Scientist at RIDEM with the Office of Customer and Technical Assistance. Ann has a bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Sciences from UMASS Amherst and a master’s degree in Environmental Science & Policy from Clark University. Ann has experience managing Pollution Prevention (P2) grant programs as evident by the award of the FY 2014, FY 2018, and FY 2020 grant cycles and subsequent on-time completion and delivery of required material. She manages the following programs at RIDEM: P2 Grant Programs, RI Green Golf Course Certification program, Mercury in Products regulatory program, Clean Marina program, Toxics in Packaging (TIP) regulatory program, and Green Hospitality Programs. She has also been an adjunct faculty member at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, CT since 2011 teaching introductory college courses in Biology, Environmental Science, and Ecology.
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- Madison Burke, Education and Outreach Manager

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- Sherry Poucher, Beach Program Coordinator
Speaker Organization Affiliations