Wood-Pawcatuck Stewardship Council Opens New Round of Grant Funding

Another round of local funding

ecoRI News staff

The Stewardship Council of the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers is back with a new round of community grants to support projects that protect and enhance wild and scenic rivers. From Oct. 1 through Dec. 29, 2024, organizations can apply for grans of up to $4,000.

Last year’s grant round provided funding to 10 projects across eight towns. Funded projects included support for the acquisition of open space along rivers; invasive species management; new educational trailhead signs; and school programs to teach young students the ABC’s of watershed stewardship. This year, thanks to the U.S. National Park Service’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, the council has a total of $30,000 to distribute. 

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations; local, state, and regional governmental agencies and commissions; tribal and First nations; public schools; and other educational institutions. 

All other groups, individuals and businesses interested in applying for funding should partner with an eligible entity.

The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed, which encompasses the towns of Westerly, Stonington, Charlestown, North Stonington, Mystic, Richmond and Hopkinton, includes 24 miles of “wild” river segments – the second-most “wild” miles of any wild and scenic river system in the U.S.; the longest wild and scenic river system in New England with 110 miles. 

In the watershed, 87% of the land is undeveloped or in agriculture and about 75% is forested land, and 75% of all animal species found in R.I. occur within this watershed.

For more information and to access the application go to https://wpwildrivers.org/wild-and-scenic-community-grants.