Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Charlestown and other South County towns get open space grants

Apparently the state isn’t so evil when it’s handing out money
By Will Collette

One thing Charlestown won’t get after it secedes from the rest of the state (no doubt with help from our new secessionist state Representative Flip Filippi), is money and support for projects it likes. For example, on December 8, the RI Department of Environmental Management awarded 15 matching grants totaling $3.85 million.

Five of those grants, totaling $1.33 million went to South County groups, including $328,500 to the Charlestown Land Trust for a 50 acre parcel along the Pawcatuck in Carolina.

DEM Director Janet Coit said "These grants are an important investment in the future of our beautiful state, and represent another milestone in our efforts to help protect and preserve Rhode Island’s open spaces and natural heritage."

The grants provide up to 50 percent of funding, up to a maximum of $400,000, to preserve open space lands that possess significant natural, ecological, agricultural or scenic values, by direct purchase or conservation easements. Special consideration was given to projects that provide linkages between or expansion of existing preserved lands.

Here is the DEM description of the five South County projects it is funding:



CHARLESTOWN LAND TRUST: $328,250 to protect over 50 acres of land and nearly 4,000 feet of riverfront along a pristine section of the Pawcatuck River in the Village of Carolina. The project includes the purchase by the land trust of a 24-acre parcel at 425 Carolina Back Road, and the donation of development rights and a conservation easement on a contiguous 28-acre lot at 487 Carolina Back Road. 

Together, the properties contain vernal pools, fertile meadows, open fields, forest, spectacular views and impressive cliffs over the river. Contact person: Karen Jarret, 742-6954.

NORTH KINGSTOWN: $124,500 to acquire a 5.32-acre vegetated peninsula on Gilbert Stuart Road that extends into Carr Pond. This coastal wooded habitat is extremely important to migratory birds as well as many other species of birds and common Rhode Island mammals including the gray squirrel, chipmunk, raccoon, and white-tailed deer. 

The property is located in an area with significant protected open space and its acquisition fills in the last remaining gap around Carr Pond with a ring of protected land. Contact: Planning Department, 294-3331 ext. 310.

RICHMOND RURAL PRESERVATION LAND TRUST: $176,750 to acquire 112 acres of forestland on Corey Trail. The property contains mature stands of oak and beech trees with understories of high bush blueberry and other native vegetation; wetland complexes, including forested red maple and shrub swamps; conifer stands dominated by white pine; and stands of mountain laurel. 

Almost all of the property is part of an aquifer recharge area for the Wood River, and it also bisects a wellhead protection area for a non-community well. The state-owned Carolina Management Area is located 1,400 feet south of the property. Contact person: Denise Poyer, 374-2722.

SOUTH KINGSTOWN LAND TRUST: $300,000 to acquire 22.7 acres of forest and open meadow on Torrey and Middlebridge Roads within the Narrow River Watershed. The land is located in a focus area identified by the US Fish & Wildlife Service as important for conservation of the New England Cottontail, and it may also provide habitat for the bald eagle, eastern box turtle, migrating warblers and other birds.

Surrounded by a densely developed residential area, the land is contiguous (across Middlebridge Road) to protected land owned by the Narrow River Land Trust and its preservation will prevent the increase of surface runoff into the Narrow River. Contact person: Joanne Riccitelli, 789-0962 ext. 2.

WESTERLY: $400,000 to acquire a 433-acre forested parcel within a natural resource corridor that is contiguous to active farm fields and large tracts of undeveloped woodland, including the state’s Woody Hill Management Area. The property is comprised primarily of mature oak and red maple forest, wetlands and small ponds, and provides potential habitat for breeding amphibians and contiguous travel corridors for a diversity of species including forest interior birds. 

Among the species recently identified on-site via vocalizations were the scarlet tanager, red-eyed vireo, oven bird, eastern wood pewee and great crested flycatcher. Contact person: Amy Grzybowski, 348-2617.


DEM received 22 applications for the current round of grants, which were reviewed and ranked by the Natural Heritage Preservation Advisory Committee with final awards made by the State Natural Heritage Preservation Commission. The Commission then recommended awards to DEM Director Janet Coit for review and approval. DEM is administering the grants.