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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401. 222. 4700 | www. dem. ri. gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Wednesday, April 2, 2025 DEM. communications@ dem. ri. gov</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |
<a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov">www.dem.ri.gov</a> | @RhodeIslandDEM<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>CONTACT:</b>
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evan LaCross, 401-799-0100 Wednesday, April 2, 2025<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:Dem.communications@dem.ri.gov">DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>151 ACRES OF FORESTLAND CONSERVED IN BURRILVILLE <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces the conservation of 151 acres of forested land in Burrillville for habitat restoration and public recreational use, including hunting. DEM received
a $911,000 grant from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) through <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-restoration__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!Nuv730rOa-E8W5vhm6pQP1hmqHHXaDcYYgSg6c9se2QeG3TUsfLwZAjIIWfsleqMI9ffpxg2YyFD6WetsziE3wEfH8Q-CrpbR8sB$">
Wildlife Restoration Program [fws.gov]</a> to complete the acquisition. The purchase price of the property was $1,336,500.00. USFWS’s grant provided 75% of the appraisal value of the property at $911,250, matched with $425,250 in
<a href="https://dem.ri.gov/about-us/featured-initiatives/2024-green-bond">Open Space Bond</a> funds.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The St. Angelo property, also known as “Sweet’s Hill”, will be incorporated into DEM’s 1,684-acre Black Hut Management Area, which abuts on three sides. The acquisition will strengthen the boundary of the Management Area, will be open to
the public, provide excellent recreational opportunities, and protect important habitat which includes forested uplands, a series of streams, vernal pools, and old field dense with pollinator-friendly plants. DEM’s
<a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/fish-wildlife">Division of Fish & Wildlife</a> will manage the property for hunting and trapping opportunities as well as for open space and conservation habitat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The conservation of his property as an addition to Black Hut Management Area is another win for expanding recreational opportunities and protecting important habitat,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “DEM appreciates the support of the USFWS
as well as hunters and target shooters, whose purchase of firearms and ammunition in the state is taxed specifically to fund conservation projects like this helping to preserve land for the public.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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AI-generated content may be incorrect." v:shapes="Picture_x0020_6"><![endif]>DEM’s
<a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/planning-development/land-conservation">
Land Conservation Program</a> purchases ecologically valuable land to enhance DEM’s management areas, parks, and forest lands. Funding for these acquisitions is made possible by State Open Space Bonds, with contributions from municipalities, land trusts, and
from various federal programs. The program works to acquire land to add to DEM’s conservation holdings – to protect state forests and open spaces for public recreational use and habitat conservation. Since 1985, over 20,000 acres of land have been protected.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit <a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/">
www.dem.ri.gov</a>. Follow <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!Nuv730rOa-E8W5vhm6pQP1hmqHHXaDcYYgSg6c9se2QeG3TUsfLwZAjIIWfsleqMI9ffpxg2YyFD6WetsziE3wEfH8Q-CkO3PQN8$">DEM on Facebook [facebook.com]</a>, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!Nuv730rOa-E8W5vhm6pQP1hmqHHXaDcYYgSg6c9se2QeG3TUsfLwZAjIIWfsleqMI9ffpxg2YyFD6WetsziE3wEfH8Q-CqKcnrBF$">Sign up here [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a> to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:none">Erica Meier</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:none">(she/her)</span></i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:none">Administrative Officer, Public Affairs</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#004678;mso-ligatures:none">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:none">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:none">401-408-1879 (C)</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:Erica.Meier@dem.ri.gov"><span style="color:blue">Erica.Meier@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:none"> (E); <a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a> (W)<br>
</span><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Follow DEM on <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM/?fref=ts__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MchCkLU_FcyKqx9Lhs45b5w6rBDRUNI7YcG6H0OuENrxUwNAzfrPikuUS3z2Mhpen4i2clh0jKmq2B23$" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Facebook
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[instagram.com]</span></a></i>, and <i><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MchCkLU_FcyKqx9Lhs45b5w6rBDRUNI7YcG6H0OuENrxUwNAzfrPikuUS3z2Mhpen4i2clh0jLvxJU-Z$" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Twitter
[twitter.com]</span></a></i></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#0096D2;mso-ligatures:none">Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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