SUMMER 2010
Bird Species Inventory Conducted
A bird species inventory was conducted at the Lawton Farm during the summer of 2010. This study was funded thanks to a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, awarded to the Scituate Land Trust in 2002. The grant will provide roughly $30,000 over 10 years for invasive species and brush management, upland and wetland wildlife management, and restoration and management of declining habitats. The list of bird species found at Lawton Farm during the 2010 study is provided on our Publications page.

MARCH 9, 2010
SCC Holds Annual Meeting
The 8th Annual Meeting of the Scituate Conservation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Chopmist Hill Center. Commission Chairperson, Thomas Angell, welcomed about 35 people to the event. The program featured a brief presentation of the Conservation Commission's work and activities in 2009, as well as a presentation from Shannon Donovan who teaches the Environmental Science classes at the Scituate High School. Ms. Donovan spoke about her work with foresters Chris Modisette and Paul Dolan and Northern R.I. Conservation District director, Gina DeMarco, who are teaching her class about forest management plans and how one can be developed for the area around the high school. A goal of the class is to develop a trail which would connect the high school to the Esek Hopkins Field. Ms. Donovan wondered aloud if any resident in the audience might have suggestions for how this dream could become a reality.

The 2010 Alice M. Howland Conservation Award recipient, Hans Bergey, was announced. This award, instituted by the Conservation Commission in 2003, recognizes an individual, group, or organization that has rendered outstanding service, either recently or over a period of years, to natural resource conservation in the Town of Scituate. Unfortunately Mr. Bergey was out of town and not able to receive the award. The actual presentation will take place at a future Conservation Commission meeting. Mr. Bergey, a tree forester and former director of the Providence Water Supply Board, has always generously donated his time in helping the Commission lead their walks. His love of the forest is evident to all who have attended. Past recipients of the award include Alvah Vernava (2003), James Doris (2004), Alfred Hawkes (2005), Diana Reisman (2006), Christopher Modisette (2007), Paul Dolan (2008), and Hope Associates (2009).

The main feature of the evening was a presentation entitled "Historic Barns of Rhode Island: Foster, Glocester, and Scituate Project Kickoff." This project, under the auspices of Rick Greenwood and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, will be documenting barns (both old and new) in R.I., beginning with the pilot areas mentioned above. Because so many of the structures in Scituate relating to farming were lost in the construction of the Reservoir, efforts to document those that do exist are especially important to the town's agricultural roots. The consultant for this project, Stephanie Shaw, is an architectural historian with John Milner Associates. Ms. Shaw's presentation included a discussion of barn structures and how they will be documented. She is seeking volunteers who are willing to help with this survey; she can be contacted at 978-486-0688. Your assistance in this valuable project will be greatly appreciated.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Angell briefly discussed the Property Stewardship Program which was inaugurated in the spring of 2007. Stewards regularly walk the properties at Lawton Farm and Westconnaug Meadows and keep the Commission apprised of the conditions and problems which might be evident there. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer steward should call Ruth Strach at 934-2277.

Upcoming Conservation Commission events include a vernal pools spring walk at Westconnaug Meadows in Clayville (next to the dog pound) on Saturday, April 10 at 9am; a meeting for Property Stewards (and any one interested becoming a steward) on Tuesday, April 13 at 6:30 at the Chopmist Center; and, the Annual Summer Solstice Paddle on the Pawtuxet River on June 26. This last event requires pre-registration. For additional information and to RSVP for all events (always helpful) call Ruth Strach at 934-2277.

MARCH 2005
Conservation Commission Bestows Alice M. Howland Conservation Award
In 2002 the Commission developed the Alice M. Howland Conservation Award to recognize an individual, group or organization that has rendered outstanding service, either recently, or over a period of years, to natural resource conservation in the town of Scituate.

The award is named for Alice M. Howland, formerly of Hope, one of Scituate's conservation pioneers. Ms. Howland, a philanthropic and civic-minded graduate of Vassar College in 1896, made 70 acres and the Hope Barn available for recreation to the residents of Hope during her lifetime. In 1932 she donated her large barn and farm property along Hope Pond to be used by the village as a community and recreational center. Today this facility continues to provide recreational opportunities to the citizens of the town.

Ms. Howland served as the librarian for the Hope library from 1996 to 1945 and she donated the land on which the current day Hope Library stands. In 1951 she became the first certified Tree Farmer in Scituate. Her family's interest in forestry can be traced back to tree planting efforts that they undertook on the family farm as early as 1913.

For her foresight and early and continuous interest in conserving Scituate's natural environment for the benefit of its citizens, the Conservation Commission felt that it was appropriate to honor her lifetime's work through the designation of this award.

Past award winners include Alvah Vernava of North Scituate (2003) and James R. Doris of Potterville (2004)

FEBRUARY 2005
Scituate's Own American Bald Eagles
For the first time in over 200 years, a nesting pair of American Bald Eagles called Rhode Island home -- and specifically Scituate. Although Bald Eagles have been sighted frequently in the state and town, 2003 was the first time in over 200 years that a mature pair of eagles nested in the state. The eagles called the Scituate Reservoir home and have successfully produced offspring in the past two (2) years. Providence Water has been working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor the progress of these extraordinary birds.

NOVEMBER 2004
Town Receives Open Space Grants
The town recently received two (2) grants totaling $550,000 from Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to be used toward the acquisition of an open space parcels in the Potterville section of town. Providence Water has agreed to participate in this project. The Commission prepared the grant on behalf of the town.

NOVEMBER 2003
Conservation Commission Recognized
The Northern Rhode Island Conservation District presented the Conservation Commission with its Partnership Appreciation Award for 2003 for "its continued dedication to the achievement of our shared (conservation) vision" at its annual meeting held on November 13, 2003.

NOVEMBER 2003
Scituate Reservoir Rated One of the Best
The Rhode Island Department of Health in conjunction the USEPA rated the Scituate Reservoir as one of "Best protected watersheds in the state". In part, this rating is due to the town's support in promoting land uses that are compatible with water resource protection. The study was conducted for Providence Water by the University of Rhode Island and involved an assessment of known and potential sources of pollution. The study was released in November 2003. Copies are available from Town Hall at (401) 647-5526.

SEPTEMBER 2003
Statewide Census Turns up Two New Dragon Fly Species — One in Scituate!
Two new dragonflies were discovered in Rhode Island recently by a team of scientists from the RI Natural History Survey that has been collecting dragonflies around the state. Virginia Brown, coordinator of the census, discovered the Umber Shadowdragon, a lake-dwelling species along the Scituate Reservoir. For more information contact the Rhode Island Natural History Survey at (401) 874-5800 or www.rinhs.org.

JANUARY 2001
Acquisition of Tasca Field Approved By Voters

Knowlton Farm

On December 19, 2000 voters unanimously approved funding for the acquisition of Tasca Field and the development rights to Knowlton Farm (photo at right). The Conservation Commission extends a heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the voters, the Scituate Town Council, the Nature Conservancy, the Rhode Island Agricultural Lands Preservation Committee, the Providence Water Supply Board, and all of those individuals whose efforts have enabled these purchases. It has taken several years in order to complete the agreements for these two properties, but the fruits of that labor shall benefit generations of Scituate residents.

SPRING 2000
Environmental Survey Results
A survey was distributed in Spring 2000 that asked Town Residents to prioritize a variety of environmental issues. This survey specifically sought to solicit input from Residents in order to guide the focus of Conservation Commission efforts.

View the Survey Response Summary

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Scituate Town Hall • 195 Danielson Pike / PO Box 328 • No. Scituate, RI 02857
Tel: 401-647-2822 • Fax: 401-647-7220

The Scituate Conservation Commission along with RIDEM, USEPA, RIALPC, and the Scituate Land
Trust promote land protection, land conservation, land preservation, natural resource development,
natural resource preservation, natural resource protection, watershed resource protection, watershed
resource preservation, watershed preservation, watershed protection, environmental management,
environmental protection, environmental activism, nature conservancy, protecting nature, woodland
conservation, wilderness preservation, wilderness conservation, and property management.