NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER WORKS ON THE BLACKSTONE RIVER

The newest Chapter in the Council, the Northern Rhode Island Chapter, has for the past several years, quietly, but effectively, been working on efforts to restore the Blackstone River. Chapter member Roland Gauvin reports that the Chapter has done a survey of 450 stream crossings on the Blackstone and its tributaries, developing information for the Blackstone River Stream Continuity Study.

The Chapter has also collaborated with the Blackstone River Watershed Council, and Friends of the Blackstone, to get fish passes over the first four dams of the river. These passages finally went in, after nearly 40 years of effort, through the combined efforts of the various organizations working together. There is a groundbreaking ceremony on September 20, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Slater Mill. Council members and guests are welcome to attend.

Mr. Gauvin states the Chapter at some point would like to develop a larger stream restoration project with its partners the BRC Blackstone River Watershed Council, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

The Blackstone is an important river for Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It’s headwaters are in Central Massachusetts, and flows all the way to Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Fred Rugo, former Council Chairman, has previously reported that as a result of the work done on the Blackstone in Rhode Island, trout fishing has improved dramatically, and there is good fishing to be had.

For more information, contact Roland Gauvin at ritreeman@cox.net.