Warwick Farmland Gets Permanent Conservation Protection

EAST GREENWICH, RI—The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have announced the permanent protection of 125 acres of land in the Potowomut section of Warwick through the purchase of four conservation easements with the financial assistance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Potowomut Farm consists of farmland, salt marsh, and woodlands and provides habitat for many different wildlife species. It overlooks the Potowomut River and is located across Ives Road from Goddard Memorial State Park.

“Potowomut is one of those irreplaceable corners of Rhode Island, with incredible natural beauty and a centuries-old tradition of farming the land,” said John Torgan, TNC’s state director, in a press release.“When TNC looks at areas along the coast that are important for conservation and also at high risk of development, this place pops out as a priority."

The property was a conservation priority for agriculture because of its valuable soil, with 116 acres rated as either prime or statewide important by the NRCS, according to The Nature Conservancy. Through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land.

“We’re pleased to have partnered with The Nature Conservancy and DEM on the preservation of one of the largest remaining farms in the City of Warwick,” said R. Phou Vongkhamdy, Rhode Island State Conservationist for NRCS, in a press release. “By providing funding through the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, we were able to help the landowners and our partners protect working agricultural lands and prime farmland soils, which provide many environmental benefits for the Ocean State."

TNC and DEM purchased the development rights to four adjoining parcels of land for $1,551,000, with $987,000 contributed by the NRCS and $200,000 provided by the Agricultural Land Preservation Commission, according to TNC. The remaining funds were raised through grants from the Bafflin Foundation, the Hope Goddard Iselin Foundation, the Mary Dexter Chafee Fund and private donations.

The owners of the property, a family who has been in possession of the land since shortly after the Revolutionary War, also donated nearly a quarter of the value of the development rights, which were appraised at $1,974,000.

“We’ve had opportunities to develop the farm, but we’ve resisted,” said Fran Gammell-Roach, one of the farm’s owners, in a statement. “The whole family wanted to see it preserved for wildlife and at the same time, help protect the Potowomut River and the scenic ride to Goddard Park. TNC, DEM and NRCS gave us a way to achieve these goals.”

All proceeds from farming efforts on the property will be held in a trust, according to TNC. The funds will be used to manage the land and cover property taxes to ensure that it remains in
agriculture.

“Rachel Carson said, ‘One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seenthis before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’” said DEM Director Janet Coit in a statement.“Once you’ve seen this magnificent parcel overlooking the Potowomut, you can’t imagine not seeing it again in its natural state."