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News Advisory
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
FOR AP AND METRO NEWS DAYBOOKS:
Date: Friday, December 5, 2003

Time:

 11 a.m.
Location: Cumberland Town Hall, Council Chambers
45 Broad Street, Cumberland
Event: Announcement of Open Space Preservation in Cumberland

For Release:

 December 3, 2003
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

SNEECH POND CONSERVATION EASEMENT WILL PROTECT 105 ACRES OF LAND WITHIN TWO PUBLIC DRINKING WATERSHEDS IN CUMBERLAND

PROVIDENCE - Through a cooperative partnership effort between the Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Water Resources Board, the Town of Cumberland and the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, more than 105 acres of forested land in Cumberland will be protected from development. A conservation easement has been entered between the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Cumberland to protect the property, which is located on the northerly side of Staples Road.

The protected land falls within two public drinking watersheds - the Sneech Pond watershed, which is managed by the Cumberland Water Department, and the Arnold Mills watershed, managed by the Pawtucket Water Supply Board. The property is predominantly an oak-hickory forest, and will remain as such.

DEM awarded the Town of Cumberland an open space grant for $357,500 in November 2002 to purchase the property. The Rhode Island Water Resources Board provided $253,349 through the RI Public Drinking Water Protection Bond Program, and the Pawtucket Water Supply Board provided $100,000.

Participating in the announcement will be DEM Legal Counsel Mary Kay; RI Water Resources Board Chairman Daniel Varin and M. Paul Sams, Water Resources Board General Manager; Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee; and Pamela Marchand, Chief Engineer of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board.

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