Exciting and Busy Times for the Rehoboth Land Trust!
Donated picnic table at the Ephraim Hunt Ministerial Land, with the moving crew!
We recently shared the wonderful news that Rehoboth Land Trust (RLT) had received a grant to aid in the Phase 1 planning for a project at our 80 Mason Street property. It is one of several active RLT projects, each of which will include improvements to the community’s access and experience of the natural resources found in Rehoboth.
The Mason Street Conservation Area is an excellent example of a riparian environment surrounded by productive farmlands through which the Palmer River meanders within the flood plain approaching Narragansett Bay. The tidal tributary on our property needs maintenance that includes replacement of degraded culverts and improvements to restore native ecology. We hope to also provide better access to the river for kayaks. We will retain an engineering firm to create a plan that will address the maintenance work and provide options for additional elements. For example, seating near the river’s edge would provide an outstanding view of sunsets and excellent birdwatching opportunities. The grant helps fund only the Phase 1 plan. Completing the project will require the time and effort of volunteers and, likely, significant funding; funding that is beyond our usual annual goal. In our Spring 2023 Newsletter we communicated this year’s fundraising goal of $30,000. As of this writing we have raised less than $7,500, but this is already more than in many years past and we are deeply grateful. As we apply for grants and continue with projects to fulfil the mission of RLT, we will also need help from the community as we do not receive town funding.
The Roy Wheaton Horton Preserve comprises over 400 acres and abuts conserved town-owned property. Found within is the Squannakonk Swamp, integral to the history of Rehoboth and home to impressive biological diversity. But public access is, at best, a challenge. In recent years, RLT has incurred unplanned expenses in excess of $40,000 to create a framework to improve public access to this tremendous asset. We are now able to begin planning trails and parking to accomplish this. However it will take time and require additional funding. Notably, we need to design, permit and construct a wetlands crossing. We are hopeful that community volunteers can join RLT members in the build phase. Get involved!
The Reynolds Avenue Conservation Area contains tributaries of the Segregansett River on course to the Taunton River. This property, which lies among the highest elevations in Rehoboth, is surrounded by undeveloped land giving visitors the feeling of a much larger preserve. This newer asset of RLT presently has a single trail. We have engaged a cartographer to create a current trail map until we create more.
At the Ephraim Hunt Ministerial Land, RLT members Michael Zeug and Lisa Reigel graciously donated a large and very sturdy picnic table, which a team of volunteers led by Scott Martin and Nick Carruthers placed in the pine grove. We also acknowledge John and Cynthia Rourke for multiple repairs of the boardwalk. These are great examples of the help we will be needing in the coming months.
Please visit our properties. Little can improve the quality of life as much as time spent in the natural world. This is one reason why RLT is so important to our community.
And please help. If you have not done so, please get involved! We need more members, more volunteers, and more ideas. To the extent that you are able, please make a contribution. A special request to business owners: Yes, cash donations are greatly appreciated, but a “donation in kind” of materials and/or equipment deployed can be timely and beneficial. We are a nonprofit corporation established under Internal Revenue code 501(c)(3).
Thank you very much and we hope to see you on the trails soon!