Outdoors in RI: Farms, Food, Wild Plants Grants – Winter Trout and Salmon Stocking – Fish Passage

$270K Available for Local Farms & Food Organizations

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that $270,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds are availablefor projects that enhance the competitiveness of local specialty crops that are vital to Rhode Islanders’ health and well-being. Specialty crops are fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture.

“This grant program continues to make our food system more resilient, secure, and sustainable while also supporting the farms and small businesses that are cornerstones of our communities,†said Governor Dan McKee. “As part of our broader efforts to support local agriculture, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program benefits our local crop economy and all Rhode Islanders.â€

“When I’m at the grocery store or walking through my local farmers’ market, I’m drawn to fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts, the kinds of foods I rely on to eat healthy,†said DEM Director Terry Gray. “I know many Rhode Islanders are looking for those same options, along with local flowers. That’s why DEM is committed to promoting RI Grown crops by helping local farmers and businesses become more competitive.â€

Rhode Island’s USDA-funded SCBGP supports local crops by increasing consumer awareness and demand for RI Grown produce and plants. Since 2016, DEM has awarded more than $1 million through the program. There is no maximum grant award or matching requirement. Applications are due Feb. 28, 2026. Learn more and apply at https://dem.ri.gov/agriculture/grants/specialty-crop. Questions should be directed to DEM.SpecialtyCrop@dem.ri.gov or (401) 222-2781.

DEM also supports RI’s green economy by helping farmers and fishers grow their businesses, invest in infrastructure, and access incubation space. With more than 1,000 farms and the nation’s highest percentage of beginning farmers (2022 Census of Agriculture), Rhode Island’s agriculture continues to   grow, strengthening the economy, environment, and local food systems.

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Rhode Island Wild Plant Society Grant

The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society offers an annual grant to aid individuals in the study of wild plants and their habitats. This grant amount is up to $2,500 plus a one-year membership in the society. It can be used for project materials, workshops, or courses that will help you carry out a project related to Rhode Island wild plants.

Grant Requirements
To be eligible, you must:
1. An applicant must be a Rhode Island resident or a student at a Rhode Island educational institution. The RI residency requirement does not apply to students.
2. Have a project goal which involves environmental activities or research in any area of study related to wild plants and/or their habitats. These activities may involve such things as installation of gardens, invasives removal, or support for extracurricular activities with a community outreach component.
3. Be an educator, a member of a Rhode Island botanical or environmental association or a student in a field related to botany or environmental studies.
4. Submit 2 letters of recommendation from:
a) your supervisor or an officer of an environmental association of which you are an active member or a recent environmental instructor in a field related to botany.
b) an unrelated adult who is familiar with your plant-related interests
5. Submit an essay describing the goals of your proposed plant-related project and how you plan to use the funding. Describe how you can impact or be involved with RIWPS. Include a budget illustrating how and when the funds will be spent.
6. Upon completion of project, submit a brief written report to RIWPS describing the project and its outcome. Mail to the same address as application materials.

Mail all application materials to:

Rhode Island Wild Plant Society Grant Committee
PO Box 888
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Voicemail: 401-789-7497
e-mail: office@riwps.org

Rhode Island Wild Plant Society Statement of Purpose
The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society, Inc. is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Rhode Island’s native plants and their habitats.

Our goals are:
• To aid in land preservation so that native plants are protected in their natural
habitats;
• To encourage and offer guidance in the cultivation and propagation of wild
plants;
• To educate the public on the scientific and aesthetic values of wild plants;
• To provide opportunities for Rhode Islanders to study and enjoy native plants
in their natural habitats; and
• To offer our knowledge and skills to governmental, civic and corporate
organization

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Winter Trout & Salmon Stocking

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will stock trout and Sebago salmon from Tuesday, Jan. 27, to Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 in the following areas:

• Barber Pond, South Kingstown – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Round Top Ponds, Burrillville – Brook Trout
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Meadow Brook Pond, Richmond – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Simmons Mill Pond, Little Compton – Rainbow Trout, Salmon
• Stafford Pond, Tiverton – Rainbow Trout
• Watchaug Pond, Charlestown – Rainbow Trout
• Willet Pond, East Providence – Rainbow Trout
• Wyoming Pond, Hope Valley – Rainbow Trout
• Peck Pond, Burrillville – Rainbow Trout
• Upper Melville Pond (Thurston Gray) – Golden Rainbow Trout, Salmon

Regular stocking updates will be available on DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife’s (DFW) Facebook Page and www.dem.ri.gov/troutwaters.

A 2025 RI Freshwater Fishing License is required for anglers age 15+ and valid through Feb. 26, 2026. To keep trout, a 2025 RI Trout Conservation Stamp is required, unless fishing in a lake or pond bordering Rhode Island. The Trout Stamp expires March 1, 2026. Licenses and stamps are available through DEM’s Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) portal.

Regulation updates to note:

• Creel limits:
• Dec. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026: two trout and/or salmon per day (max two salmon).
• April 11 – Nov. 30, 2026, five trout and/or salmon per day (max two salmon).
• Falls River: From the second Saturday in May – February, the section between Austin Farm Road and Brook Trail bridges is catch and release only.
• Beaver River/Pawcatuck confluence: catch and release only and no longer stocked.
• Landlocked Atlantic Salmon: Up to two per day statewide through Feb. 28, 2026; count toward the overall trout/salmon limit.
• Size limits: Minimum 8 inches for trout; 11 inches for landlocked Atlantic salmon.

The following activities are prohibited:

• Felt soled waders, boots or any porous-soled footwear that absorbs water, are prohibited in all Rhode Island freshwaters, including shared waters where Rhode Island rules apply.
• Boats, motors, trailers, and equipment must be free of vegetation when entering or leaving state boat ramps to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Stocking information and freshwater size and creel limits are available in the 2025-2026 Freshwater Fishing Abstract, or by calling DEM’s Great Swamp Field Office at 401-789-0281, or DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education office at 401-539-0019.

Anglers should guard against hypothermia by dressing in layers and wearing a warm hat and gloves. Hypothermia can result from cold, wind, rain, or cold water and may cause shivering, dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, poor coordination, rapid heartbeat, and shallow breathing. If hypothermia is suspected, call for help immediately, move the person to a warm area, remove wet clothing, and cover with dry layers or blankets.

DEM reminds the public that no ice is ever 100 percent safe. Ice strength can’t be judged by appearance or conditions, and DEM does not monitor local ice. For updates at Lincoln Woods, Meshanticut, and Goddard Memorial, call the Ice Info Line at 401-667-6222 or visit www.riparks.ri.gov/icesafety.

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Coastal Resilience for Flooding, Dunes and Fish Migration

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr., RIDEM Director Terry Gray, New Shoreham Town Planner Alison Ring, and Pawtuxet River Authority Chairman Bob Nero to celebrate $1,186,200 in federal funding to:

* mitigate flooding in Johnston

* restore dunes near Block Island’s Town Beach

* reopen a fish migration passage in the Pawtuxet River

The two grants for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Pawtuxet River Authority are funded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), which was developed by Senator Whitehouse to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure protecting coastal communities.

The announcement wasmade this week on January 22nd at Johnston Memorial Park in Johnston.

The National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), established in 2018, invests in nature-based solutions that protect coastal communities while enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife. The National Coastal Resilience Fund invests in conservation projects that restore, increase and strengthen natural infrastructure such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, rivers and floodplains, coastal forest, and barrier islands that mitigate the impacts of storms and other coastal hazards to communities.

Coastal communities and ecosystems are under threat from rising sea-levels, more intense storms, and changing rainfall patterns. While almost 40 percent of Americans call the coast home and coastal communities contribute $10 trillion in goods and services annually to the U.S. economy, these areas are increasingly affected by flooding and other coastal hazards. In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28 separate weather and natural disasters costing at least $1 billon, for a total of $92.9 billion.

With sea-level rise and increasing development in coastal areas, the annual cost of flooding in the U.S. is increasing. At the same time, the U.S. is losing valuable coastal ecosystems that help to buffer communities from these impacts and provide important habitats for fish and wildlife. For example, the 2009-2019 Wetlands Status and Trends national report indicates that wetland loss rates have increased by 50 percent over the last decade, with salt marshes experienced the largest reduction. These and other important coastal habitats are “squeezed†by rising sea levels and increasing development on the coast.

The National Coastal Resilience Fund supports the implementation of nature-based solutions to strengthen resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems to these threats. The fund invests in building capacity and plans for coastal resilience, the design of nature-based solutions and implementation of coastal resilience projects to support communities and habitats to withstand, recover and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Nature-based solutions include natural and hybrid (“green-grayâ€) solutions, such as restoring coastal marshes, reconnecting floodplains, rebuilding dunes or other natural buffers, and installing living shorelines. Additionally, NFWF prioritizes investments that are community-led or incorporate direct community outreach and engagement.