A closure is determined if a water sample exceeds 60 colony forming units per 100 milliliters. The Harmony Hill School beach exceeded 300. (Harmony Hill School)

A closure is determined if a water sample exceeds 60 colony forming units per 100 milliliters. The Harmony Hill School beach exceeded 300. (Harmony Hill School)

A little-known beach at a private school in Chepachet has been closed since July 18 because of unsafe levels of bacteria. Overall, however, Ocean State beach closures are in decline this summer after two years of higher numbers.

A manta trawl, so named because it resembles a manta ray, is a net system for sampling the surface of the ocean. It has found an unexpected amount of plastic pollution in local waters. (Frank Carini/ecoRI News)

A manta trawl, so named because it resembles a manta ray, is a net system for sampling the surface of the ocean. It has found an unexpected amount of plastic pollution in local waters. (Frank Carini/ecoRI News)

NARRAGANSETT BAY — Save The Bay is playing a leading role in establishing baseline data on the amount of microplastics within the Narragansett Bay watershed. The goal is to highlight this growing problem and draw attention to regional efforts to eliminate single-use plastics.

Great Initiative to Improve Providence Transit Options

PROVIDENCE — Last month city officials unveiled a draft master plan for an initiative that would guide efforts to create a street system that is safe and inclusive.

The burning of high-polluting trash and wood accounted for about 80 percent of the renewable energy used during the two days of heat and humidity. (ISO New England)

The burning of high-polluting trash and wood accounted for about 80 percent of the renewable energy used during the two days of heat and humidity. (ISO New England)

A petition signed by 20,000 Massachusetts residents was recently delivered to state officials asking them to restrict the use of bee-killing pesticides known as neonicotinoids. (ecoRI News)

A petition signed by 20,000 Massachusetts residents was recently delivered to state officials asking them to restrict the use of bee-killing pesticides known as neonicotinoids. (ecoRI News)

The plant is a highly aggressive, invasive species that threatens a healthy balance of native plants, and impedes fishing and boating opportunities. (DEM)

The plant is a highly aggressive, invasive species that threatens a healthy balance of native plants, and impedes fishing and boating opportunities. (DEM)

Time to Build Compost: R.I. Unnecessarily Shortening Life of Food It Wastes

There is a lot going on in Rhode Island at the grassroots level to segregate wasted food and get it put to beneficial reuse. Unfortunately, enthusiasm isn’t likely to be sufficient to induce the creation of composting facilities. Opinion

Timber Harvesting Planned for Arcadia Management Area

EXETER, R.I. — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will conduct a forest health project later this summer on about 200 acres in the Arcadia Management Area.