Outdoors in RI: Go Fish! – Big Tree Needed – Harvest Fest (TODAY) – Parks Advent Calendar

24 Waterways to be Stocked with Trout

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is stocking brook and rainbow trout in selected areas throughout RI starting Friday, Oct. 17, through Thursday, Oct. 23. Some previously stocked ponds and lakes cannot be stocked due to cyanobacteria alerts.

The following areas will be stocked:

• Alton Pond, Richmond
• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Blackstone River, Lincoln
• Bradford Fishing Area, Westerly
• Browning Mill Pond, Exeter
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
• Carolina Trout Pond, Richmond
• Cronan Landing, Richmond
• Eight Rod Farm Pond, Tiverton
• Grantville to Rt. 95, Hopkinton
• Hope Valley Fishing Area, Hopkinton
• Kings Factory Bridge, Charlestown
• Lower Shannock, Charlestown
• Meadow Brook Pond, Richmond
• Wood River from Rt. 165 to Barberville, Exeter, Hopkinton
• Round Top Ponds, Burrillville
• Shippee Sawmill Pond, Foster
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown
• Spring Grove Pond, Glocester
• Stafford Pond, Tiverton
• Upper Pawtuxet, (Hope), Scituate
• Upper Melville (Thurston Gray Pond)
• Willet Pond, East Providence
• Woodville, Richmond, Hopkinton

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

A 2025 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older. To keep trout, a Trout Conservation Stamp is required, unless it’s from a lake or pond bordering Rhode Island. Licenses and stamps are available on DEM’s Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) portal.

DEM reminds anglers of the following changes in the Freshwater Fishing Regulations:

• From April 12 to Nov. 30, 2025, you can keep up to five trout and/or salmon per day, but no more than two can be salmon. From Dec. 1, 2025 to Feb. 28, 2026, the limit is two trout and/or salmon per day, with no more than two salmon.
• From the second Saturday in May through the end of February, you can keep up to two fish from  the section of the Falls River, between the bridge at Austin Farm Road to the bridge at Brook Trail, is a catch and release.
• The area where the Beaver River meets the Pawcatuck River, up to New London Turnpike, is catch and release only and is no longer stocked.
• You can keep up to two landlocked Atlantic Salmon per day statewide until Feb. 28, 2026. These count toward the  overall five fish limit for trout and salmon.
• There is an 8-inch minimum size for any trout caught in any state waters. The minimum size limit for domestic (landlocked) Atlantic salmon is 11 inches.

The following activities are prohibited:

• Felt soled waders or boots or any footwear with porous soles that can absorb water, are not allowed in any freshwater in Rhode Island, including shared waters with adjacent states where Rhode Island rules apply.
• You cannot enter or leave a state boat ramp with any vegetation on your boat, motor, trailer, or   equipment. This helps prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species.

Information about stocked freshwaters, size and creel limits for all freshwater fish species is available in the 2025-2026 Freshwater Fishing Abstract, or by calling DEM’s Great Swamp Field Office at 401-789-0281, or the DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education office at 401-539-0019.

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Track 15’s Harvest Fest this Weekend – Starts TODAY

Celebrate all things fall during the two-day celebration on the plaza

 Track 15, is located at 1 Union Station in downtown Providence. The 2-day Harvest Fest will be held TODAY from 5-10pm and Saturday, October 18th from noon to 10pm.

This all-ages gathering at the Food Hall’s outdoor plaza will feature seasonal brews from a special beer cart, family-friendly activities and games. On Friday night, guests can enjoy live music from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. as part of the Motif Friday Night Concert Series, gourmet popcorn from POPPORIUM, and gifts from Handmade by Keisha.

On Saturday, guests can enjoy face painting (3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.), KettleCorn Express, a tarot card and palm reader (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.), DIY flower bouquets from Bloom Flowers, sweet treats from Babes Pie Co., and more.

In addition, fall flavors from each of Track 15’s vendors will be available, such as There, There’s Bacon Royale Burger with thick-cut bacon from New Hampshire’s North Country Smokehouse, Mother Pizzeria’s Sass Squash Pie,  Dune Brothers’ customizable Crab Boil; and Bar Romolo’s Frozen Pumpkin Spice Latte and Fall Sangria, among many other handcrafted cocktails.

About Track 15:

Track 15, located at 1 Union Station in Providence, RI, is a vibrant, 18,000 square-foot food hall located in the historic Union Station in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Built in 1898, the original Union Station consisted of 14 intercity rail lines and operated until 1986, when the smaller Amtrak station was built. The food hall’s name Track 15 is a nod to Union Station’s earliest days as the hub of southeastern New England’s transportation network, supporting the machinery, textile, and jewelry industries that fueled the growth and future of Providence.

A haven for foodies, Track 15 is home to seven Rhode Island-based restaurateurs each offering a unique and delicious concept. Guests can try modern Indian from Little Chaska, Middle Eastern cuisine from Tolia, seafood from Dune Brothers, Mexican from Dolores, burgers from There, There, Italian from Giusto PVD, and pizza from Mother Pizzeria PVD, all while enjoying a large central bar, indoor and outdoor seating for approximately 600 patrons, an entertainment venue, and a 10,000 square foot plaza for outdoor seating and special events.  Track 15 is open Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.track15RI.com.

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Order a Holiday Gift that Outdoorsy People will Love – the National Parks – the Advent Calendar

Somehow we came across this beautiful Advent Calendar. Count down the 25 days of Christmas in style – each day with its own “mystery door” and each with its own beautiful National Park ornament. 24 featues!

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Infrastructure Bank in 2025 funded $200 Million for Clean Water, Infrastructure, Resilience

The Bank provided $202 million in grants and loans for clean water, drinking water, emerging contaminants, community septic systems, municipal resilience, clean energy, and road and bridge projects across the state. The Bank has now provided a total of $3.1 billion in project financing since its inception in 1989.

“During a time of great uncertainty surrounding infrastructure funding, Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is proud to have provided our municipal and other clients with over $200 million in low-cost financing and grants during fiscal year 2025,” said Executive Director William Fazioli. “From helping Providence Water replace customers lead service lines, to addressing chronic road flooding in Cranston, to removing PFAS contamination impacting drinking water systems, to providing $100 million in low-cost financing for the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow Phase III, we are providing the financial resources needed to get projects, both big and small, done.”

FY 2025 Impact Highlights

• $202 million in total projects financed (grants and loans)
• $34.6 million in total grants
• $100.5 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans
• $34 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loans
• $15.5 million in Emerging Contaminants grants
• $2.4 million in Community Septic System Loan Program loans
• $7.6 million in Municipal Resiliency Program Action Grants
• $31.4 million in Clean Energy loans
• $1 million in Road and Bridge Program loans
• $2 million in Resilient Rhody Infrastructure Fund loans
• $26.1 million in total principal forgiveness
• Passage of legislation creating the Resilient Rhody Infrastructure Fund, a reliable, renewable, and affordable funding option to invest in resilient infrastructure projects

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City of Providence Looks for a Christmas Tree

In advance of the City’s festive winter programming, the City of Providence is searching for two spruce or fir trees: a 35-foot to 45-foot tree to grace the front steps at City Hall and a 15-foot to 20-foot tree for the Providence Rink. The selected trees will be displayed throughout the holiday season.

Residents can nominate their tree by sending an e-mail with a description and photo of the tree to Allison Barry, Cultural Affairs Manager of Art, Culture and Tourism at abarry@providenceri.gov. The Forestry Division of the Parks Department will cut the winning tree down and haul it away free of charge. Stanley Tree Service will provide crane service for the trees, as they have in past years. Submissions must be received by Friday, November 7, 2025. 

The Providence Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 6 and feature family-friendly activities, refreshments and music. Additional programming details will be announced in the coming weeks.