Outdoors in RI: Drought – Hands Off the Deer – Swim – Vineyard Music – Ice Cream Time

by RINewsToday News Team

Rhode Island is in a Drought Advisory

RI issued a statewide drought advisory, as recommended by the state’s Drought Steering Committee. The Committee determined that three scientific indices – precipitation, ground water and stream flow levels – met the drought advisory criteria across most of Rhode Island.

An advisory is the first of four progressive drought declarations: 1) advisory, 2) watch, 3) warning, and 4) emergency.

Precipitation deficits dating back to November 2025, record breaking low stream flows, rapidly declining groundwater levels across the state, and dry conditions on the cusp of the months with the highest water use all informed the Committee’s recommendation.

Residents and businesses can voluntarily conserve water by: 

Fixing any leaky faucets and pipes.

Selecting appropriate washing machine and dishwasher load sizes to conserve water.

Heeding fire danger warnings.

Hand watering flower and vegetable gardens.

For more ways to save water see EPA’s 100+ Water-Saving Tips.

While conservation measures are not required statewide in Rhode Island, individual municipalities may have water restrictions in place. Residents are advised to check with their water supplier for further guidance.

An advisory is the first of four progressive drought declarations: 1) advisory, 2) watch, 3) warning, and 4) emergency.

Consistent with the State’s Drought Plan, “Water 2030,” a drought advisory level will not be lifted until the State has had three consecutive months of normal/near normal precipitation and two continuous months of normal groundwater levels. The Drought Steering Committee will reconvene in June 2026 to re-evaluate Rhode Island’s water supply conditions.

A list of major water suppliers to Rhode Island can be found on the Water Resources Board website at http://www.wrb.ri.gov/data_watersuppliers.html

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Join Sakonnet Vineyard

Located at 162 West Main Road in Little Compton, free live music and community events this summer will be a great place to go, bring guests, and enjoy wine tastings in the tasting room.

• Friday, June 5: Trivia Night with Gary Farias

  • 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Saturday, June 6: Stefan Couture (modern acoustic)

• Sunday, June 7:  Mary McAvoy (RnB, pop, songwriter)

• Saturday, June 13: Ruby Mac (pop, songwriter)

• Sunday, June 14: Grace Cooper Hall (pop, rock)

• Saturday, June 20: Frank Foot (rock, reggae, country, blues, Top 40)

• Sunday, June 21: Avi Jacob (folk, Americana, R&B)

• Saturday, June 27: Ruby Mac (pop, songwriter)

• Sunday, June 28: Helger Classic Car Show

  • 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• Sunday, June 28:  Mary McAvoy (R&B, pop, songwriter)

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FDA Approval to Boost Marketability of Rhode Island-Caught Fish

Scup (Wiki)

Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow scup, a fish widely caught and sold in Rhode Island, to be marketed as “Golden Sea Bream” – a change expected to improve marketability and help bring higher profits home to Rhode Island fishermen.

The FDA regulates market names for certain food products to ensure accurate labeling, consumer transparency, and public safety. Through the enacted funding package, Magaziner successfully secured language directing the FDA to approve the additional market name for scup. The FDA subsequently confirmed that “Golden Sea Bream” is an acceptable name, and the update will be reflected in the July 2026 Seafood List publication.

“Hardworking fishermen deserve a fair price for their catch, and I am proud to have passed this legislation that will help open new markets and bring more profits home to Rhode Island,” said Magaziner. “I will always fight to support the local fishing industry and the workers who keep it alive. Rhode Island’s fishing industry is central to our economy, culture, and way of life.”

“We are so grateful to Congressman Magaziner for enacting this legislation. Being able to market scup as golden sea bream will go a long way towards developing stronger demand for this delicious native species and providing better returns for our hardworking Rhode Island commercial fishermen.” said Meghan Lapp, Fisheries Liaison, Seafreeze Ltd.

“The new brand name for unknowing consumers of Golden Sea Bream will be appealing at retail and especially on menus instead of Scup! Thank you to the FDA and our Rhode Island Congressional delegation for making a change,” said Fred Mattera, Executive Director at the Commercial Fisheries Center of RI.

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Respect Wildlife – Don’t Touch!

A fawn standing near spring vegetation, waiting for its mother to return. DEM biologists are not fawn’d of removing babies from the wild. Credit: Dean Birch

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) asks the public to give baby wildlife some space, especially fawns – the tiny spotted deer that are often mistakenly thought to be “abandoned” when they’re right where Mom left them. As tempting as it may be to “rescue” a lone fawn, touching or moving it is putting its survival at risk.

“In nature, it’s normal for a fawn to be hidden in grass or brush for the first week after birth, as it can’t yet follow its mother,” said Dylan Ferreira, a wildlife biologist in DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). “Sometimes well-intentioned people wrongly assume that a fawn is abandoned and take it home and try to rescue it, but the mother is usually nearby and returns to feed it. If you see a fawn alone, please leave it alone – it does not need help and should not be handled.”

“DEM stresses that wildlife is beautiful but should always be enjoyed from afar,” said RI State Veterinarian Dr. Scott Marshall. “Never approach wild animals and certainly never touch them. Handling mammals is always a potential rabies exposure. Once people handle or have contact with these animals, public health officials are compelled to test the animal for rabies, which requires that the animal be humanely dispatched because testing requires brain tissue.”

Removing wildlife from the wild and feeding wildlife is illegal in Rhode Island and harmful. It can cause digestive problems, spread disease, attract more wildlife than the area can support, and lead to conflicts with humans.

If you find a fawn, leave it alone, leave the area immediately, and avoid disturbing it. Unless a dead doe is nearby, the fawn is not abandoned. Fawns hide to avoid predators but may approach people or pets out of curiosity. If you see a fawn in immediate danger – like lying in a road – monitor from a safe distance. It may move once you back away. If it stays in a hazardous spot, call DEM Environmental Police at 401-222-3070. For visibly injured fawns, contact the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island at 401-294-6363.

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And…coming up!

Munroe Dairy Welcomes Food Trucks to East Providence on Sunday, June 7^th

Partnership with PVD Food Trucks will bring a dozen craveable vendors to headquarters for a family-friendly Sunday

Munroe Dairy, New England’s trusted choice for farm fresh dairy and groceries, will partner with PVD Food Trucks for a family-friendly food truck event on Sunday, June 7, 3pm to 10pm at The Sacred Cow Scoop Shop and Market 187 North Brow Street, in East Providence.

Guests will enjoy a variety of foods from:

• Alaina’s – American street food
• A Mano – wood-fired pizza
• Binge BBQ – meats cooked low and slow
• Blount Clam Shack – seafood shack favorites
• Championship Melt – twists on the traditional grilled cheese
• Cluck Truck – chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, and more
• Friskie Fries – fresh, loaded fries
• GG’s Pretzels – sweet and savory soft pretzels
• Incredabowl – bold and flavorful bowls
• Kroffle Kreations – sweet and savory kroffles (a cross between a croissant and a waffle)
• La Loncherita – Spanish and American food
• Wiener Wagon – smash burgers and hot dogs

About Munroe Dairy

Founded in 1881, A.B. Munroe Dairy is a family-owned dairy and grocery delivery company based in East Providence, Rhode Island, committed to providing the finest quality products delivered with exceptional customer service.  Acquired by the Armstrong family in 1936 and now guided by the fourth generation, Munroe Dairy has grown from traditional milk delivery into a one-stop grocery service offering more than 450+ items, including baked goods, meat and poultry, prepared and frozen foods, and products from local vendors such as Narragansett Creamery, Venda Ravioli, Naked Fig Artisanal Mediterranean Foods and Sacred Cow Granola.

Munroe Dairy’s milk is locally sourced from family-owned farms in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is minimally processed, with no additives, stabilizers, antibiotics, or growth hormones, and goes from cow to customer in approximately 48 hours. Munroe Dairy’s milk is bottled in eco-friendly glass bottles, which can be reused up to 50 times.

Munroe Dairy also operates the Sacred Cow Scoop Shop and Market, featuring premium hard and soft-serve ice cream and select grocery items. For more information, visit www.cowtruck.com.

Do you have information on outdoor activities or issues related to Rhode Island?  If so, send them to us at [email protected].