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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 5, 2004
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

WALK IN THE WOODS WITH FORESTERS
Annual Forestry Program Will Be Held on October 19 by the Scituate Reservoir

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Chapter of the Society of American Foresters (RISAF) and the Department of Environmental Management have announced their 12th annual "Walk in the Forest" program and invite school classes and the general public to participate. The program is designed to educate the public about the benefits of healthy forests and how foresters care for them.

"The 'Walk in the Forest' program is scheduled in the fall because it is such a beautiful time to be in the woods," said DEM principal forester Paul Dolan, education coordinator of RISAF. Foresters will lead small groups through the woods on hour-long tours, and explain what participants see around them. "Rhode Islanders are interested in learning about their environmental surroundings," Dolan said. "With 55 percent of Rhode Island covered by forests," he added, "this educational program has always drawn a good response."

This year's walks will be held on Tuesday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to noon on Providence Water Supply Board land in Scituate. The Providence Water Supply, which provides water from the Scituate Reservoir to 60 percent of the state's population, owns over 17,000 acres in the towns of Scituate, Foster, Glocester, Smithfield and Johnston. In order to make way for the reservoir, 1,500 structures were condemned and seven hamlets disappeared forever. Those participating in this year's 'Walk in the Forest' will travel through an area where three of those hamlets were located. There will be many historical reminders, as the walk will go past historic cemeteries, roadways, and forest plantings from the early days of the reservoir. The reservoir is also the site of the bald eagle's return to Rhode Island, as well as many more rare and endangered species.

"Participants in the walks are invited to bring a bag lunch and enjoy the pristine area," Dolan says, "as it is not often that we are invited onto Providence Water Supply Board land." The area that will be utilized for the walks is west of the Ashland causeway on Route 14.

School groups of more than five students must make reservations by Wednesday, October 13. The general public should come at the top of the hours to be included in school tours or with a special group for adults. To make reservations or ask questions, contact Dolan at DEM's Division of Forest Environment at 647-3367 or via e-mail at pdolan@ridem.necoxmail.com.

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