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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
LONSDALE DRIVE-IN RESTORATION PROJECT TEAM RECOGNIZED BY COASTAL AMERICA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUCCESSES PROVIDENCE - Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director W. Michael Sullivan and J. P. Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, today joined federal, state and local officials to present Coastal America awards to the key agencies and individuals behind the successful completion of the Lonsdale Drive-In Restoration Project in Lincoln, Rhode Island.The Lonsdale Drive-In Restoration Project was identified through a comprehensive watershed evaluation of ecological restoration opportunities in the Blackstone River Watershed, aimed at restoring and linking key habitats to enhance overall watershed functioning. The project involved the restoration of 17 acres of habitat by removing a former drive-in theater within a heavily urbanized watershed. Ten acres of riparian habitat and a 7-acre wetland composed of 3.6 acres of emergent and open water habitat and 3.4 acres of shrub and forested swamp, replaced the asphalt paved drive-in. "The Department of Environmental Management is pleased to have been a partner in the collaborative effort to restore, protect and preserve these important wetland and wildlife habitat areas in the Blackstone River Valley," said DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. "We are honored that Coastal America is recognizing the success of this important environmental restoration project through its prestigious national awards program." J. P. Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works said, "Our partnership on this environmental restoration project has been impressive. The teams from the federal, state and local governments and private agencies which have worked on this project deserve the credit. I'm proud that the Army Corps of Engineers has been a part of this worthwhile environmental restoration effort and I'm gratified that Coastal America is able to recognize such excellent work." "Protecting and restoring wetlands is very important for maintaining healthy ecosystems," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England office. "Healthy wetlands provide many benefits to people and our communities, such as helping to reduce flooding impacts during heavy rainfall. We applaud the good work being done down here in the Lonsdale Drive-In Restoration Project." Located within the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor near the Valley Falls marshes, the site is one of the most highly valued freshwater wetlands in Rhode Island. The land was used as a pasture for many years until the early 1950s, when 23 acres were paved to construct the drive-in. The theater was closed in the early 1980s, and vestiges of the old drive-in, including two dilapidated movie screens, a 75-foot tall radio antenna and several other small structures, remained on site. DEM purchased the property in 1998, with the intention of restoring wetlands and riparian habitat. Twenty-three acres of asphalt were removed, two movie screens, speaker stands and other equipment were demolished, and about 60,000 cubic yards of material were excavated from the site. The project created a continuous wooded riparian buffer along the Blackstone River, linking important upstream and downstream habitats for the watershed's wildlife community. In a parallel effort the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is building a bicycle trail adjacent to the restoration site, linking the river and restoration site for the community. In its highly accessible location, the restored wetland will demonstrate how underused, incompatible development can be replaced by a sustainable and compatible land use. It took the collaboration of Rhode Island state agencies, the Corps of Engineers, the Coastal America Northeast Regional Implementation Team (NERIT), the Rhode Island Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) and the Blackstone/Woonasquatucket American Heritage Rivers Initiative to deliver this important project. The CWRP contributed the key cost-share funding that allowed this project to be completed on time. "The CRMC is pleased to be recognized by Coastal America as one of the agencies that helped see this beneficial project to its completion through allocation of monies through the state's Rhode Island Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration and Trust Fund," said Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) Chairman Michael M. Tikoian. "Furthermore, the CRMC recognizes the cooperative effort among the Rhode Island Habitat Restoration Team members and other agencies and groups which made this project possible. This project is a shining example of what the Trust Fund monies and federal, state and local groups can accomplish to improve Rhode Island's precious natural resources." Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated, "Restoring the Lonsdale wetlands and woodlands is a great gift to our children and will benefit generations of Rhode Islanders. Wetlands are critical to maintaining water quality, preventing flooding in the Blackstone Valley, and to providing critical habitats to many species. This project would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work and vision of many people. I am pleased that we were able to work together at the federal, state, and local level to make this restoration a reality." "I join Coastal America in recognizing the critical work and partnership that went into assuring the success of the Lonsdale Wetlands Restoration Project," said Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI). "This incredible team effort is a true example of what can be accomplished when all of the stakeholders come to the table with one goal in mind. Habitat restoration is essential to preserving the Blackstone Valley's great environmental treasures and wildlife. I am inspired by all of the hard work that continues to take place to protect our nation's coast and I'm pleased to have secured some of the funds necessary to support the vision of so many." The restoration plan was developed by an interdisciplinary team of engineers, hydrologists, ecologists and economists from DEM, the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program, the University of Rhode Island, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The area now provides shelter to waterfowl and habitat for declining glassland bird species. Numerous deer, foxes and coyotes have been sighted on the premises. The scattered trees and shrubs that were planted on the property provide shelter and nesting habitat for songbirds. The total cost of the restoration project was $2.6 million, with the Corps of Engineers providing 65 percent of the project cost. As part of the 35 percent non-federal sponsor share, the state's share was about $950,000, which included the value of the land and $245,128 from joint settlement funds awarded to the state and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to compensate for the wetlands loss at the Landfill and Resource Recovery, Inc. Superfund Site in North Smithfield. Also, the Coastal Resources Management Council provided $152,963 for the restoration project from the Rhode Island Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration and Trust Fund, which is financed by a portion of the fees collected under the oil spill prevention and response statute. "The Lonsdale restoration is another extraordinary example of the successes that result from the solid federal/state/local partnership we enjoy in New England," said Michael Bartlett, supervisor of the New England Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to be a member of that partnership." Coastal America Director Virginia K Tippie said, "The Coastal America Partnership Award recognizes collaborative efforts to restore and protect the coastal environment. By working together in partnership we all benefit." "The Lonsdale Drive-In Restoration Project and the partnership that made it happen are the model for future habitat restoration throughout the Blackstone River watershed. It is just such projects, one by one, that will help achieve the goal of a Fishable and Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015," said Donna Williams, a commissioner with the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and a spokesperson for the Blackstone River Coalition. "It is an important step in naturalizing the river and it further enhances the Valley Falls marsh in preparation for anadromous fish passage at the four lower-most dams. The new marsh passed the test of the October 15 flood with flying colors: it is an excellent illustration of the benefit of unpaving and restoring wetlands and floodplain. Our Blackstone River Coalition hats are off to all of the partners of this fabulous restoration project." The Rhode Island Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership donated $30,000 through corporate donations of Arch Chemicals, Inc., of East Providence and North Kingstown, and Battelle, of Columbus, Ohio, as an additional part of the state match for the restoration project. The RICWRP is a public-private partnership between Rhode Island corporations, government agencies and non-profit environmental groups working together to fund the restoration of degraded wetlands, rivers and fish and wildlife habitat throughout the Ocean State. Charlie Natale, President and CEO of ESS Group, Inc., will accept the award on behalf of the Rhode Island Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership. Charter Environmental, Inc., of Chelsea, MA, was the project contractor and DEM's Office of Planning and Development assisted the Corps of Engineers in project planning and design. The Coastal America Partnership was established in 1992 to protect, preserve and restore U.S. coastal watersheds by integrating federal actions with state and local government and non-governmental efforts. To recognize outstanding partnership efforts, Coastal America established a national awards program in 1997. The Lonsdale Drive-In Restoration Team is one of six projects to receive the 2005 partnership award. -30- |
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