The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council has asked us to share the below press release regarding the 7 Rivers Festival:
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Alicia Gordon, media contact: 978.618.4893
Kassi Donnelly, Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council, 401-258-5574
*Town representatives of the Stewardship Council are available to interview with media in their area
The First Annual 7 Rivers Festival presented by the community, for the community
June 25 & 26, 2022
Celebrating the Wild and Scenic Status of the Wood-Pawcatuck Waterways
12 Towns • 7 Rivers • 1 Weekend
During National Rivers Month
Hope Valley, RI – The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council (Stewardship Council) presents the 1st annual 7 Rivers Festival, June 25th and 26th, 2022. Celebrating the Wild and Scenic Rivers Status of the Wood, Beaver, Pawcatuck, Green Fall-Ashaway, Chipuxet, Queen-Usquepaugh and Shunock Rivers in Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, West Greenwich and Westerly, RI and North Stonington, Stonington, Sterling and Voluntown, CT. Within the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed, the 7 Rivers Festival takes place on or around Rhode Island rivers and a rare few in Connecticut now prestigiously designated as unique on a regional and national scale.
“All community members and organizations are encouraged to plan free events - whether family friendly, recreational or restorative. Events can range from ecological, educational, cultural, musical, historical or artistic activities to hiking, cycling, canoe and kayak outings or even picnics and social gatherings,” states Kassi Donnelly, Coordinator of the Stewardship Council. “Whether on a river bank, the water or in your community, your events will highlight special rivers in your 12 towns.”
The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA) will serve as headquarters for the 7 Rivers Festival coordinating support of a wide range of community events within the twelve towns and 7 rivers. Early event commitments include an event by the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, a combined paddle by the Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association and Southern New England Paddlers, and a nature walk with the Audubon Society of RI.
In March 2019, after thousands of hours of community effort, spanning 10 years and led by the WPWA, Rhode Island and Connecticut residents received word that their waterways within the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed received a National Wild and Scenic designation by the Federal Government. This special care and protection status is held by less than 1% of the 3.6 million miles of waterways in the United States.
For more information on the 7 Rivers Festival go to https://wpwildrivers.org/7-rivers-festival
or to schedule an event, call 401-539-9017 or email wildevents@wpwa.org
The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council was established in early 2019 with representatives from twelve towns: Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, West Greenwich, Westerly, RI and North Stonington, Stonington, Sterling and Voluntown, CT in the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed along with environmental state agencies and non-profit conservation organizations. The Council’s mission is to help preserve, protect and enhance the special environmental, cultural and recreational values of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed and its Wild and Scenic Rivers and tributaries in Rhode Island and Connecticut for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
The Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers program employs a collaborative model to manage federally protected rivers. These rivers are managed through long-term partnerships between the National Park Service and local, regional, and state stakeholders. This locally-driven, collaborative planning and management approach to river conservation is an effective alternative to direct federal management and administration.