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The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island Rhode Island Home Places We Protect Nature Programs Ways of Giving Sakonnet Campaign Press Releases Volunteer Contact |
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Matunuck Hills Preserve
A Chain of Ancient Ponds
 Matunuck Hills Pond © The Nature Conservancy |
Why Matunuck is Unique
Nestled deep in the hills, Matunuck's dozen ponds - or kettles - were formed by ancient glaciers. Today, their water levels fluctuate dramatically each season and year, depending on the area's precipitation. In times of low rainfall a rare coastal shoreline habitat prevails, and a distinctive shoreline flora surrounds the kettles.
Location
South Kingstown, in southern Rhode Island
Size
250 acres
Visiting the Preserve
Because of its fragility, the preserve is managed for educational and scientific purposes and is not open to the public except on guided walks. Contact the Rhode Island field office for information on scheduled field trips.
What to See: Plants
Several of Matunuck's plants are unique to New England shoreline and are considered state and globally rare. Open shore flora ranges from grasses, sedges and rushes to more showy herbaceous plants like rose coreopsis. The rolling, hilly woodlands surrounding the ponds are composed primarily of pitch pine and black oak with magnificent displays of mountain laurel.
What to See: Animals
Fields at Matunuck Hills
© The Nature Conservancy
A diverse and healthy insect fauna live at Matunuck, including two species of rare damselflies: the New England bluet and the pine barrens bluet.
Why the Conservancy Selected this Site
The co-occurrence of at least 15 rare plants and two rare insects, in a habitat which is itself vulnerable and rare, necessitated preserving this area.
What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect the Matunuck Hills Ponds area since 1982, when it was identified as a top-priority natural area in Rhode Island.
Many of the area's landowners are the ones to thank for making Matunuck Hills a Nature Conservancy preserve, including:
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Ivory Littlefield
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Frederick Lippitt
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Virginia Kittredge
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Mansfield Sprague
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Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sharpe
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Weeden Farms, Inc.
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In 1990, Edmund Kittredge added 27 acres in a bargain sale arrangement with The Nature Conservancy. A matching gift from The Champlin Foundations plus several donations from dedicated neighbors made this addition possible.
