Events

WP Watershed-wide Calendar of Events

May 13, 2025

  • I&E Committee Monthly Meeting

    May 13, 2025  5:00 pm - 6:15 pm

    Online

    See more details

May 21, 2025

  • Leave it to the Beavers: A Journey into the Heart of the Henne

    May 21, 2025  10:00 am - 12:00 pm
    113 Babcock Rd, North Stonington, CT 06359, USA

    Join naturalist Bruce Fellman for a special exploration, co-hosted by Avalonia and the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers, of the Henne Preserve’s 100 acres of uplands and wetlands, which include an abundance of ecological diversity. We’ll comb the uplands for its array of wildflowers and ferns; vernal pools filled with amphibians, gray tree frogs in particular; reptiles such as nest-making Snapping turtles and territory defending Black racers; and colorful songbirds, from Baltimore orioles and Yellowthroat warblers, to Tree swallows and various woodpeckers. We’ll also learn how to convert bird calls into accessible and identifiable sound prints, and examine the beaver-created wetlands to see, first hand, how these “eager” rodents have transformed local habitats throughout North America.
    At Henne, beavers have helped make the preserve home to numerous dragonflies and butterflies, geese and ducks, and wetlands plants, as well as the site of a large and thriving Great Blue Heron rookery—more than 22 active and noisy nests, according to a recent count.
    The refuge, and its Shunock River centerpiece, is part of an integrated system of the adjoining Babcock Ridge and Erisman preserves that together emphasize the critical importance of protecting intact watershed ecosystems. We’ll get to see this up close and personal along the trail.

    Meet at 113 Babcock Road (0.9 miles from Wyassup Road or 0.8 miles from Route 49). The parking area is on the north side of the road. The trailhead for the Henne walk is nearby. Bring binoculars, camera gear, hand lenses, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen, and please download the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app to your smartphone in advance of our walk. (merlin.allaboutbirds.org/download/) To register, visit: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Q30NdrXaDVxKb64vJMFw6w

    See more details

May 28, 2025

  • Stewardship Council Monthly Meeting

    May 28, 2025  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
    Westerly Land Trust, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA

    Hybrid optional. Email coordinator@wpwildrivers.org for zoom credentials.

    See more details

May 29, 2025

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Recent Events

River Stewardship Celebration – The Stewardship Council celebrated our Community Grant recipients and partners on Sunday, Sept 22 at Grey Sail Brewing in Westerly, RI.

Thank you to the Appalachian Mountain Club Narragansett Chapter, Avalonia Land Conservancy, RI DEM, Save the Bay, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, Tomaquag Museum, Trout Unlimited Chapter 225, and the Westerly Land Trust. And huge thank you to Grey Sail Brewing for hosting all of us!

7 Rivers Festival – Hosted by the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers program, the first 7 Rivers Festival was a success throughout the 12 towns of the Watershed. Many thanks to partners and local business owners who provided wonderful programming and special offers for the 500+ attendees. Thirty separate events celebrated the your rivers during the weekend of the Festival. Photos, press and a partners list highlighting the festivities are below.

Photos highlighting 7 Rivers Festival partners

(Photo Credit: Gillian Gordon unless otherwise noted)

Exeter Public Library, RI Wild Plant Society
The Mushroom Hunting Foundation
South Kingstown Land Trust
Louttit Library, West Greenwich
Event Leads were given Wild and Scenic hats as a “thank-you!”
Painted Turtle,
Hewitt Farm, North Stonington
Newly acquired Cottrell Family Preserve, Westerly Land Trust
Shunock River, North Stonington
Westerly Land Trust
Westerly’s River Days,
Southern RI Conservation District
​Musicians including Emmye Vernet and Will Platt at Westerly’s River Days,
Southern RI Conservation District
Save the Bay at Westerly’s River Days, Southern RI Conservation District
North Stonington Milltown Arts

“Fresh Water Fly Tying” with
RI DEM, Division of Fish and Wildlife
(Photo Credit: Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed 7 Rivers Festival)
North Stonington Milltown Arts
Stewardship Council Member provides education at Westerly’s River Days
“Sheets Family Forest Grand Opening,” Avalonia Land Conservancy
“The Rivers Connect Us” with Cassius Spears and the Tomaquag Museum (Photo Credit: Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed 7 Rivers Festival)
“Narragansett Trail Hike” with Appalachian Mountain Club and
The Nature Conservancy
(Photo Credit: Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed 7 Rivers Festival)
“Muddy Amphibians” with
Mystic Aquarium
(Photo Credit: Hugh Markey)
“Stream Insects in our Neighborhood” with the Hopkinton Land Trust
(Photo Credit: Hugh Markey)
Kenyon’s Grist Mill Co-Owner provides a lesson and “Free Paddle” with
Queen’s River Kayaks
Viewing moths captured with the Southern RI Conservation District
(Photo Credit Hugh Markey)
Baby bats hidden in the shingles, Audubon Society of RI
(Photo Credit: Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed 7 Rivers Festival)

Press around the 7 Rivers Festival

Photos: Inaugural 7 Rivers Festival a success (The Westerly Sun, June 30, 2022)

7 Rivers Festival emphasizes interconnected nature of the watershed (The Day, News from southeastern Connecticut, June 26, 2022)

Amy Russo tests the waters with a kayak trip on RI’s ‘wild and scenic’ Wood River (Providence Journal June 24 and Sunday, June 26, 2022)

Finding Paradise on the Wood River (Providence Journal, video, June 24, 2022)

One weekend + 12 towns + 7 rivers = 7 Rivers Festival (The Westerly Sun, June 23, 2022)

South County Has Rhode Island’s Only Officially “Wild and Scenic” Rivers (Rhode Island Monthly, June 21, 2022)

First ‘7 Rivers Festival’ Celebrates Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed (ecoRI News, June 20, 2022)

Seven Rivers Festival this Weekend (The Day, June 20, 2022)

Celebrating our rivers: 7 Rivers Festival, June 25-26 (What’s Up Newp, June 13, 2022)

Watershed Association Partnership during National Rivers Month! (Narrow River Notes, Newsletter of the Narrow River Preservation Association, June 2022)

RICKA/SNEP Joint Paddle at the 7 Rivers Festival (Paddler, Newsletter of the Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association, June 2022)

7 Rivers Festival – Hike At Carter Preserve (Charlestown Citizens Alliance, June 10, 2022)

7 Rivers Festival Highlights Wild and Scenic Rivers (SO Rhode Island, May 31, 2022)

Resiliency Radio Hour (WBLQ, April 21, 2022)

The First Annual 7 Rivers Festival (The North Stonington Quarterly, Spring 2022)

An event brochure was published by the 7 Rivers Festival coordinating team (May, 2022)

Partners of the 7 Rivers Festival

Coordinating events throughout the 12-town area would not have been possible without our partners who are listed below. Are you interested in more hiking, paddling or education programs? Be sure to look up these organizations, many host events throughout the year.

Organizations

  • Appalachian Mountain Club, Narragansett Chapter
  • Audubon Society of Rhode Island
  • Avalonia Land Conservancy
  • Cross’ Mills Public Library
  • Cross Road Blues
  • Emmye Vernet and Will Platt, Musicians
  • Exeter Boy Scouts, Pack 45
  • Exeter Historical Association
  • Exeter Public Library
  • Friends of Pachaug Forest
  • Hopkinton Land Trust
  • Kingston Free Library
  • Leave No Trace RI
  • Louttit Library
  • Milltown Arts North Stonington
  • Mystic Aquarium
  • North Stonington Conservation Commission
  • Ocean State Bird Club
  • Queen’s River Kayaks and Kenyon’s Grist Mill
  • RI Canoe and Kayak Association
  • RI Department of Environmental Management, Fish and Wildlife
  • Save the Bay
  • South Kingstown Land Trust
  • Southern New England Paddlers
  • Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
  • Stonington Free Library
  • Stonington Human Services, Recreation Division
  • The Mushroom Hunting Foundation
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Watch Hill Conservancy
  • Tomaquag Museum
  • Trout Unlimited, Narragansett Chapter
  • Voluntown Public Library
  • Westerly Land Trust
  • Wheeler Library
  • Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association

Local Businesses

  • Knead Doughnuts, Westerly, RI
  • Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery, West Greenwich, RI
  • Little Country Pizza & BBQ, Exeter, RI
  • Mama Emily’s Sweet Treats, Stonington and surrounding towns, CT
  • Mechanic Street Marina, Pawcatuck, CT
  • Mia’s Cafe, Pawcatuck, CT
  • Next to Nowhere Creamery, Exeter, RI
  • Shaidzon Beer Company, West Kingston, RI
  • St Clair Annex, Watch Hill, RI
  • Stagecoach House Inn, Wyoming, RI

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