“We hope to raise funds to complete restoration and improvement projects in the watershed.””

Robert Nero

The Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council (PRAWC) will kick-off its birthday celebration in May with a series of events. This year will mark the 50th anniversary since its establishment by the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1972. As one part of its mission to create opportunities for public recreation, PRAWC is launching a virtual challenge to “Take Five Outside” in the Pawtuxet River Watershed. The public is encouraged to register for the free challenge and participate in outdoor activities scheduled throughout the summer. Registrants who check-in to five events by October 18, 2022, will be entered into a raffle for prizes. Research has shown spending time outside not only has public health benefits through physical activity, but being in nature can also help to relieve stress, improve memory, increase creativity and promote mental well-being. The PRAWC hopes to bring attention to the beautiful places to visit in the Pawtuxet River Watershed where residents can get outside.

“We are proud to celebrate our 50th Anniversary this year and showcase the conservation areas we own and maintain, and the canoe launch we developed on the main stem of the river,” said Robert Nero, Chairman of the PRAWC Board Membership. “In addition to highlighting our properties, promoting recreation, and raising awareness of the river and its watershed, we hope to raise funds to complete restoration and improvement projects in the watershed, such as our Randall Pond fishing area in Cranston.”

The ‘Take Five Outside’ challenge aims to connect the community with green spaces in their watershed. Participants will complete five activities in the Pawtuxet watershed in areas such as public spaces, parks, bike paths, preserves, lakes, ponds, rivers, conservation lands, or management areas. The PRAWC will offer several events where participants can officially check-in but interested ‘Takers’ can also complete outings on their own and “check-in” online and by posting to social media. Any passive leisure activity outside in the watershed counts toward the five outings including walking, hiking, reading, crafting art, photographing nature, bird watching, running, biking, picnicking, flying a kite, and paddling or fishing in any lake, pond or river. The PRAWC hopes to reinforce the idea that participants of all abilities can join many of the events, and by offering free registration, aims to remove some potential barriers to participation and recruit as many people to participate as possible.

“We look forward to partnering with the Cranston and North Scituate Public Libraries for “#TakeABook reading events in July, encourage birders or photographers to #TakeALook, or anglers can #TakeTheBait at our 7th Annual Family Fishing Derby at Tiogue Lake on June 4,” said Stan Brittsan of West Warwick, Vice Chairman of the PRAWC Board. “Passive recreation generally refers to non-consumptive activities that require minimal materials, and less energy [to make those materials] so they are more sustainable and have the least impact on our conservation areas and water resources. We’ll be treading lightly on the trails in Warwick during our #TakeAHike event on May 10!”

According to their bylaws, principal goals of PRAWC are to restore, conserve and protect land and waterways within the watershed; enhance water quality and wildlife habitats; create opportunities for public passive recreation and appreciation of the watershed’s natural resources; and to advance public education as to the environmental importance, cultural and historic significance of the river and its watershed. Since PRAWC’s anniversary coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Federal Clean Water Act, PRAWC seeks to kick off the Take Five Outside event on their birthday, May 1, and it will run until October 18, the date the Clean Water Act was passed.  The federal Clean Water Act made possible many of the clean-water success stories in Rhode Island touted by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. It lead to dramatic reductions of nutrients in the Pawtuxet River due to upgrades at the waste water treatment facilities, and recently this year, RIDEM recommended the mainstem of the Pawtuxet River be removed from the state list of impaired waters for high phosphorus levels. The PRAWC hopes to bring attention to these types of success stories as it celebrates throughout the year.

Interested parties hoping to participate in the Take Five Outside Challenge can sign-up online here: https://forms.gle/mEQupLDgx74kHj1WA For more information visit the PRAWC website, www.Pawtuxet.org and for an updated list of “Take Five Outside” Challenge events please see their Facebook page for rain date announcements. The non-profit is raising funds via monetary donations and sales of commemorative tee shirts, sweatshirts and tank tops, and all proceeds benefit PRAWC. PRAWC serves each community through which the Pawtuxet River and its two main branches pass: Coventry, Cranston, Scituate, Warwick and West Warwick. Any local businesses interested in sponsoring the event and/or donating to the raffle prizes is welcome to contact PRATakeFiveChallenge@gmail.com.