Good Dirt

Dear Supporters:

There was a time, a time of innocence, when we thought our public water reservoir areas, parks and other public conservation areas were out of harm’s way and would always be there for us.  The beginning of a new era could not have been more clearly heralded than when it was announced on March 25, 2008 that the City of Providence is considering selling its water system, which includes reservoirs and buffer lands covering about 4,600 acres that serve the water needs of about two-thirds of Rhode Island’s residents, in order to pay down the huge debt in the City’s pension system.

In 2005, Rhode Island considered developing a portion of the proposed Big River Water Reservoir Area into a State police headquarters and unfortunately there are many more Rhode Island examples of public conservation areas that were lost or almost lost to development.  This should not be a surprise considering that Rhode Island is the second most densely developed State in our Nation and is a State with substantial economic woes. 

In 2004, the Aquidneck Land Trust saw the writing on the wall and began to actively work to place perpetual Conservation Easements on public conservation areas that lacked adequate protections.  It was understood that like good government good conservation also requires checks and balances.  Conservation Easements and other strategies can provide checks and balances against the mounting development and financial pressures on our public conservation areas.  The Land Trust has now placed perpetual Conservation Easements on almost twenty public conservation areas.  The most significant of these was the Conservation Easement placed on an over 400-acre area that includes three of Aquidneck Island’s seven public water reservoirs and many of the associated buffer lands.  Clean water is basic to life itself, and the enlightened leadership in the City of Newport and Town of Portsmouth recognized this and demonstrated long-term vision by working with the Land Trust to complete this important conservation transaction. 

On Wednesday, April 2, 2008, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, at the CCRI Newport Campus Auditorium, on One John H. Chafee Boulevard in Newport, a panel of people with expertise in water issues, conservation, government and planning will discuss “Our Water Future – Rhode Island and Aquidneck Island.”  The timing of this presentation, which will focus on our long-term water needs and security, could not be better so we encourage you to attend.

Sincerely,

Ted Clement

Executive Director, Aquidneck Land Trust

ALT’s mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island’s open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community.  The organization has conserved 1,971.67 acres on Aquidneck Island.  ALT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  For more information about ALT, visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org.

As always, thank you for your continued support
for conservation on our Island.

This email update has been sent to the entire Aquidneck Land Trust email list. Please let us know if you do not wish to receive these email updates by replying to this message. If you have any questions or comments, please call 401-849-2799 x18 or email jpohl@ailt.org.