Construction of artificial reef off East Providence to start Thursday

EAST PROVIDENCE -- Construction of an artificial reef off Sabin Point is set to take place this week.

The reef will be made of precast concrete balls with holes in them that are intended to become habitat for tautog, black sea bass, scup and other fish that live in Narragansett Bay.

The Nature Conservancy and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management are partners on the $47,000 project, which is being funded largely through the federal Sports Fish Restoration Program, as well as through a grant from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association.

The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council approved the project in June.

Specialty Diving Services, of North Kingstown, is installing the reef balls Thursday and Friday.

The effort to create more fish habitat in the upper Bay comes after recent improvements in water quality due in large part to tighter restrictions on wastewater treatment plants and better management of stormwater runoff.