The Narragansett Bay Is Healthier Than It's Been in Decades, and Baykeeper Chris Dodge is Fighting to Keep It That Way

Ep 015: Did you know part of Narragansett Bay was closed to shellfishing since before World War II, and that it only reopened a couple of years ago?I didn't fully understand what that comeback meant until I sat down with Chris Dodge, the Narragansett Baykeeper at Save The Bay. Chris holds one of only about 300 Waterkeeper positions on the planet, which basically makes him the eyes, ears, and voice of the Bay. I wanted to know what that job actually looks like day to day. Somewhere between raw sewage, a secret tunnel under Providence, and what he calls a "biomagnified bomb of bacteria," I ended up way more hopeful about the future of our Rhode Island's bay than when we started.In this episode, we get into:What a Baykeeper actually does all day (spoiler: no two days look alike)Why, in Rhode Island, you often have no way of knowing when sewage hits the water you swim inThe 3-mile tunnel under Providence that brought shellfishing back after 80 yearsHow more than half the Bay's watershed sits in another stateChris's advice for breaking into marine conservation when the big orgs feel out of reachWhether you're chasing a career on the water or just love Narragansett Bay, this one will leave you a little more optimistic about what's possible. 🌊Connect with Chris @narrabaykeeper on Instagram — Chris's weekly beach-closure and bacteria updatesSave The Bay — volunteer, donate, or explore the grounds on the Providence–Cranston borderLooking to break into the world of marine conservation, but don’t know where to start? I’ve got you! Download my free resource, the Aspiring Marine Conservationist’s toolkit at caseysnook.com/toolkit and start making waves in your career today 🌊Podcast websiteCasey's Instagram - @caseysnook_Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservationSay hello! Contact Casey here.SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, it’d mean the world if you took a moment to subscribe and leave a review and/or rating wherever you’re listening! Your support helps this podcast reach more ocean lovers and aspiring marine conservationists just like you. Thank you!