LARGEST CONSERVATION EASEMENT DEAL EVER ON AQUIDNECK ISLAND COMPLETED 

On Thursday, May 25, 2006, conservation history was made when the largest Conservation Easement deal ever on Aquidneck Island was completed.  The Aquidneck Land Trust closed on a Conservation Easement with the City of Newport and the Town of Portsmouth that covers and permanently protects a 404.21-acre area in Portsmouth and Middletown which includes three of Aquidneck Island’s seven public water reservoirs and associated buffer lands. 

In July 2005, Governor Donald Carcieri, officials from Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport, representatives from the Aquidneck Land Trust, leaders in Rhode Island’s environmental community, and others gathered to announce and celebrate an agreement signed by the Land Trust, the City of Newport, and the Town of Portsmouth under which the City of Newport would convey a perpetual Conservation Easement to the Land Trust on an area in Portsmouth and Middletown which includes Lawton Valley Reservoir, Sisson Pond, St. Mary’s Pond and associated buffer lands all owned by the City of Newport.  After that preliminary agreement was signed, the three parties undertook months and months of work, including extensive survey and baseline documentation work, to finalize the Conservation Easement that the parties closed on this past Thursday.

View along eastern edge of Sisson Pond

The baseline documentation work on the 404.21-acre area identified the incredible conservation values that are now protected by the Conservation Easement completed on May 25,2006.  The area has critical water resource values because it contains three public water reservoirs that residents from Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport depend upon for their water needs.  This area, which includes a lot of forest land, also has important wildlife habitat values.  For example, Great Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons, both listed as species of conservation concern in Rhode Island, have been sighted there.  The area also affords beautiful scenic vistas to passersby on West Main Road, Jepson Lane, Union Street and elsewhere.  Furthermore, through the Conservation Easement now held by the Aquidneck Land Trust, the Land Trust reserved the right to construct and maintain public trails subject to certain limitations.  

Ted Clement, Executive Director for the Aquidneck Land Trust stated, “The successful closure on this Conservation Easement is a major accomplishment.  It is the largest Conservation Easement deal ever completed on our Island.  With this closing, the Land Trust’s conserved acreage moved to over 1,826 acres.  That number amazes me because when I started working for the Land Trust in August 2000, the Land Trust’s total conserved acreage stood at about 500 acres.  What a positive difference a committed organization with terrific supporters and partners, like the Town of Portsmouth and the City of Newport, can make!  We salute the long-term vision demonstrated by the Town of Portsmouth and the City of Newport in completing this Conservation Easement with us.”

Regarding the transaction, Mayor John Trifero of the City of Newport stated, “A wonderful working partnership accomplishment!”

Portsmouth Town Council President Mary Ann Edwards stated that she “was delighted” by the completion of the Conservation Easement.  She thanked the City of Newport, Ted Clement, and the Aquidneck Land Trust for their vision and hard work.  “Once again we are reminded of how valuable the Land Trust is to Aquidneck Island.  Without the Land Trust’s dogged determination any number of things could have prevented this from being finalized.”

 The Aquidneck Land Trust’s mission is to preserve Aquidneck Island’s open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community.  The Land Trust has conserved over 1,826 acres on Aquidneck Island.  The Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  For more information, visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org or call (401) 849-2799.