United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service

Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
50 Bend Rd., Charlestown, RI 02813
Phone (401) 364-9124
Fax (401) 364-0170

March 12, 2020

Dear members and fellow Rhode Islanders,

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to support the Third Beach Project facilitated by the Scenic Aquidneck Coalition. We are strongly in favor of the enhancement of the area's scenic appeal and admire the efforts to restore the historic landscape and protect wildlife in our community for years to come.

Following a successful and similar project we oversaw near Second Beach in 2017, the Scenic Aquidneck Coalition has shown their ongoing commitment to the entire Rhode Island community, facilitating projects to enhance the visual quality of Aquidneck Island's natural resources. Specifically, the Third Beach Project will bury powerlines along a 1.2 mile stretch of Third Beach Road and Indian A venue. The collaboration of Preserve Rhode Island, The Preservation Society of Newport Country and the Aquidneck Land Trust is particularly reassuring, knowing the important work that each organization contributes to our communities.

As an organization committed to conserving our nation's resources and improving resiliency in the area, we are pleased to see movement towards improving Aquidneck Island for visitors and locals to enjoy. Paradise Valley, home to the Sachuest Point National Refuge, remains a special and extraordinary place rich with history and wildlife. Our 242-acre refuge is an important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds and other wildlife, as well as a popular location for visitors to learn about nature firsthand in a beautiful environment. The Third Beach Project is instrumental in enhancing the scenic quality of our refuge so we can continue educating our community and restore our view to its original, historic landscape.

We look forward to the benefits this project will bring to not only our organization, but to Paradise Valley, Aquidneck Island and Rhode Island as a whole.

Sincerely,

Charlie Vandemoer
Project Leader
Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex