The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island is calling all RI voters to action: Please call and e-mail your Rhode Island Representative and Senator and tell them you support the Clean Water and Local Farms, Open Space, and Recreation measures. These funds are an essential investment in Rhode Island’s greatest natural and economic resources, and are needed to provide the foundation for the sustainable future of the Ocean State. In past years, these types of bonds have passed overwhelmingly because Rhode Islanders know the value of our lands and waters.

The Nature Conservancy is working with a coalition of groups including The Rhode Island Land Trust Council, Save The Bay, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Grow Smart, and others to make sure we get these bond issues on the ballot and to urge Rhode Islanders to vote for them. The Clean Water and Local Farms, Open Space, and Recreation measures work together to protect, preserve, and restore lands and waters and uphold the public’s right to use and enjoy them.

A brief summary of the bonds follows:

Clean Water Bond: This $20 million bond will be administered through the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency to support improvements to wastewater treatment ($12M) and drinking water ($8M) in RI cities and towns.

The $25 million Local Farms, Recreation, and Open Space Bond includes:

$4.5 million for Farmland Protection
$2.5 million for Open Space Protection Grants
$2.5 million for RIDEM's Land Acquisition Program
$6.5 million for Local Recreation Development Grants
$5.0 million for capital improvements and renovations for State Parks and Beaches
$4.0 million to protect and restore Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island watersheds

Thank you for your support of clean water, farms, open space, and recreation.

To find your Senator or Representative, click on:http://www.sec.state.ri.us/vic/

The House and Senate leadership are key decision makers on this:
• House Speaker Fox 401-222-2447 rep-fox@rilin.state.ri.us
• House Finance Committee Chair Melo 401-222-8028 rep-melo@rilin.state.ri.us
• Senate President Paiva Weed 401-222-6655 sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us
• Senate Finance Comm. Chair DaPonte 401-222-3438 sen-daponte@rilin.state.ri.us

Thank you for your support of clean water, family farms, open space, and recreation in Rhode Island.

Sincerely, Terry Sullivan, State Director