Rhode Island's John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

In February 2009, we facilitated the protection of 120 acres of wildlife habitat in southern Rhode Island. The unique conservation deal involved two separate state-owned properties: the 48-acre Camp Pastore property and the 72-acre Stedman property.

Located in Charlestown, the Pastore property sits along the northwestern shore of Watchaug Pond. The Stedman property in South Kingstown fronts Pettaquamscutt Cove and is adjacent to John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge, which is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The Pastore property was originally part of the Burlingame State Park and was acquired by Rhode Island’s Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) in 1986. In 2007, MHRH had recommended selling the Pastore property in an effort to address a budget deficit. Citing the property’s origin, natural resource value and proximity to existing protected lands, Rhode Island’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) opposed the sale and worked with others to devise a plan that would allow the land to be conserved and, at the same time, help MHRH close its budget gap.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service agreed to purchase from the state the Stedman property because of its proximity to the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge. Rhode Island’s congressional delegation secured the federal money for the purchase from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Stedman property will be added to John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge and protected in perpetuity.

In exchange for USFWS’ purchase of the Stedman property, the state agreed to grant a conservation easement on the Pastore property to The Nature Conservancy. The conservation easement protects the property’s natural resources and ensures the property’s permanent protection.