<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Impact;
panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Vani;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText
{mso-style-priority:1;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Char";
margin:0in;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.BodyTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Char";
mso-style-priority:1;
mso-style-link:"Body Text";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="714" style="width:535.5pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="115" style="width:1.2in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image001.png@01D82972.DC78BB60" alt="DEM-logo-small"></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="599" style="width:449.1pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p style="margin:0in;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thursday, February 24, 2022 Jay Wegimont, 222-4700, X2772402<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <a href="mailto:Jay.Wegimont@dem.ri.gov">Jay.Wegimont@dem.ri.gov</a><span style="color:#0066FF"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:black">DEM, US FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION PROGRAM, AND LITTLE
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:black">COMPTON TEAM UP TO ACQUIRE, PERMANANENTLY PROTECT
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:black">27 ACRES OF FORESTLAND AT EIGHT ROD MANAGEMENT AREA</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;margin-left:205.6pt;margin-top:2.3pt;width:256.8pt;height:171.35pt;z-index:-251658752;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page' stroked="t" strokecolor="black [3213]">
<v:imagedata src="cid:image002.jpg@01D82972.DC78BB60" o:title="" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="344" height="230" style="width:3.5833in;height:2.3958in" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D82A23.EEAC7090" align="right" hspace="12" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">PROVIDENCE
– The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announces the permanent protection of 26.9 acres of forested land in Little Compton for public recreational use, including hunting. The parcel abuts DEM’s Eight Rod Management Area, which straddles the
boundary of Little Compton and Tiverton and consists of over 600 acres of forestland and farm fields. DEM purchased the property from the Booth family for $435,000. The sum includes $326,500 in US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program funds
and $108,750 from the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust (LCACT).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Green spaces to enjoy nature, clean blue waters to swim and fish in, and sandy beaches to soak up the rays are what we love most about Rhode Island,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I applaud the vision and partnership
of DEM, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust for preserving this special parcel of land and opening it up to recreational opportunities in perpetuity.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Our forestlands face threats on multiple fronts. These threats include development pressures, spread of invasive plants and pests, and wildfire risks,” said DEM Acting Director Terry Gray. “Preserving and
protecting these valuable habitats helps protect drinking water, improve air quality, mitigate climate change, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, promote health, and harbor wildlife. We thank our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife
Restoration Program and Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust for joining us in preserving the Booth family property for generations of Rhode Islanders to come.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">"The Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust appreciates the opportunity to successfully collaborate with RIDEM and federal partners to preserve the Booth property and looks forward to supporting the
conservation and recreational opportunities this land presents," said William Richmond, LCACT Chairman.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The new acquisition abuts Newport Water’s Watson Reservoir, helping to protect drinking water quality for Newport residents. Water quality is closely linked to a waterbody’s surrounding environment and land
use. The Booth property’s position between Eight Rod Management Area to the north and Watson Reservoir to the south strengthens connections for wildlife and enhances their value. The property consists of mixed oaks, American beech, and hickory hardwood forest
with an understory of American holly, which is a relatively rare species in need of protection. Public access will be maintained on the property to provide for recreational use including hunting and hiking.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/wsfrprograms/subpages/grantprograms/wr/wr.htm__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!YYM0XG4wtQDimnZlq5Oa3WYZ1gefRABxfWbHj28EZ1SX0-FEdCBP3z8GcqHas8nHYAOOKEuy$"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">The federal Wildlife Restoration Program</span> [fws.gov]</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">is a user-pay, user-benefit program that is derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, and arrow components, and is apportioned to states. The acquisition of the Booth property exemplifies how
these taxes are used for critical habitat protection as well as additional recreational opportunities for the public. The LCACT stepped in to provide a match.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt">Rhode Island's wealth of historic parks, bikeways, and green spaces provide for public enjoyment – along with improving the health of the environment, strengthening the state's climate resilience,
and supporting the economy. Since 1985, over 10,000<b> </b>acres of land have been protected through</span><span lang="EN" style="color:#0066FF">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">DEM's </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/planning/grants/#ospace"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">Green Space Programs</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, which includes the<span style="color:#0066FF"> </span></span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/planning/grants/#ospace"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">Open
Space Grant Program.</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">. Follow
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!YYM0XG4wtQDimnZlq5Oa3WYZ1gefRABxfWbHj28EZ1SX0-FEdCBP3z8GcqHas8nHYJeCttuz$"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:27.45pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:10.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-.5pt">
<b>###<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0078FF">Jay G. Wegimont | Programming Services Officer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">401-222-4700, X277-2402</span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Email: </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jay.wegimont@dem.ri.gov">jay.wegimont@dem.ri.gov</a></span><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#212121">Web: </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="color:#212121"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="216" height="96" style="width:2.25in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.png@01D82972.DC78BB60"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Vani",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>