Welcome!
The Coalition sponsors a number of events, including the
following:
2015
- 2015 18th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Weekend
Celebration - Saturday, April 18, 2015 (9:00 a.m. -
noon)
In addition to the 17 non-registered people from the Conimicut Village Association and Woodbury Church who cleaned up around Conimicut Village, there were 52 registered volunteers (35 coming from Buttonwoods Scout Troop 7 and Warwick Scout Troop 183 and Pack 1) participating in the 2015 Earth Day Clean Up Event! We are especially thankful for their efforts.
Altogether we removed approximately 1,500 pounds of litter from the streets and waterways of Buckeye Brook. Sites included Old Warwick Avenue and Warwick Avenue where they are near the brook, including a very nice clean up of the Steve Insana memorial. Secondly along West Shore Road where the restored marsh is located. A third site was on West Shore Road between the Elk’s Club and Oakland Beach Avenue. Finally, Point Avenue towards Conimicut Point was once again made spotless of litter.
We also thank the City of Warwick Public Works and Sanitation Departments for their quick action in removing the trash, D’Ambra Construction for the use of their signage and traffic cones, and to the Knights of Columbus for use of their property.
- 2015 Annual Fish Count Program - April 1 - May 15,
2015
It is almost time to start the annual fish
count, which runs from April 1 until about May 15! A short,
10 minute training session for new volunteers is required at
either of these times
- Thursday, March 26, 2015 anytime between 5:00 and
6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 28, 2015 anytime between 10:00 and
11 a.m.
The training is done by Phil Edwards from the RI Department
of Environmental Management.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Bill
Aldrich (Phone) 401-785-1596 or email
Jennifer Brooks before March 14 and provide your
name, phone, email address, days of the week you are
available, and times (AM or PM) when you are available.
If you have done it before, you don’t have to attend, but
you must obtain a waiver form, which all participants must
sign. You can
click here to email Jennifer Brooks directly to
obtain a waiver form on line.
The training will be held at the Fish Count location. Park
in the northwest corner (near the charity collection box) of
the Knights of Columbus Parking lot, 475 Sandy Lane, Warwick,
RI. Proceed towards the brook if nobody is present at the
parking area because training may be taking place. Training
is either individual or is done in groups, depending on who is
present at any given moment throughout the hour. It is easy
and fun!
For those who have not participated before, the commitment
once you are trained is only to show up once or twice per week
on the appointed day (either some time before noon or sometime
after noon, as requested on the schedule). You will watch for
fish for 10 minutes, and jot down a few other observations.
Once again, it is easy and it is fun, and provides very
valuable data from year to year!
2014
- Riding the Tide 2014 - Saturday, June 28 (8:30
AM - ?)
Finally it's almost summer. The days are
getting warmer which means the water is too. June is
recognized as R.I. Rivers month. To celebrate that, the
Coalition is inviting you to participate in a paddle on lower
Buckeye Brook and a portion of upper Narragansett Bay.
This year’s event will likely take about 3-4 hours to
complete the full round trip. On Saturday, June 28th at 8:30
AM, we will launch from an undisclosed location and travel
along the coast line and proceed up the brook. For those who
have not traveled this water way before, you are going to be
surprised by what you experience. The scenic beauty is
remarkable. After traversing the brook we will take a short
15 minute pit stop to stretch our legs and have a chance for a
bathroom break. Then we shall proceed to Narragansett Bay for
a while, where we will explore some of the bay's rocky coast
before finishing the trip back where we started.
Advanced registration is required. Experience with
paddling in open bay water and rivers is essential. Proper
safety gear, especially a life jacket, is required.
Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak (no paddle
boards). Bring lots of water and have some sun protection.
Call evenings at 401-739-6592 or email Paul Earnshaw at
brookeye10@gmail.com to get all the details and to be screened
for your ability to participate.
- 2014 Fresh Water Forum - Wednesday, April 9,
2014 (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm) -
Save the Lakes is
sponsoring a public meeting with Department of Environmental
Management (DEM) Director Janet Coit who will discuss DEM
strategic priorities and current lake management issues in RI.
A question and answer period will follow. This is a great
opportunity to meet and interact with Director Coit and other
freshwater stewards to discuss our vital fresh water
resources. Click on this link for more information about Save the Lakes 2014 Fresh Water
Forum.
- 2014 17th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Weekend
Celebration - April 5, 2014 (9:00 a.m. -
noon)
(Rain date is Sunday April 6, 2014 (1:00 pm -
4:00 pm) Registration starts at 8:30 on Saturday (12:30 on
Sunday if we get rained out on Saturday) This event was
supported and done in collaboration with The City of Warwick
and Mill Cove Conservancy.
- 2014 Annual Fish Count Program - April 1 - May 15, 2015
The 2014 annual fish count, which ran from April 1
until about May 15, 2014. Training was done by Phil Edwards
from the RI Department of Environmental Management at the Fish
Count location at the northwest corner (near the charity
collection box) of the Knights of Columbus Parking lot, 475
Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI. This event provided very valuable
fish population data
2013
-
- 2013 BBC Fundraiser - Cocktails by the Cove
- Saturday - September 28, 2013 (6:00 pm to 8:00
pm)
Enjoy local beer & wine and hors d’oeuvres with a view
of Mill Cove, Narragansett Bay, and Conimicut Light, while
helping to raise funds to protect and preserve your local
watershed. This event will be hosted at the Whelk Home at 15
River Vue Avenue, in Warwick and tickets are $20 per person.
Click here to see the 2013 Cocktails by the Cove Notice
for more details
- 2013 Winter Water Quality Testing -
August 29th, 2013 (6:00-8:30 PM)
Buckeye Brook Coalition is recruiting at least 12
volunteers for 6 monitoring sites along the watershed for
winter water monitoring program. Training will be held on on
August 29th, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Saint Benedict
Church School on Transit St off West Shore Road in Conimicut
Village. All training and testing equipment will be supplied
free of charge. Volunteers will be paired up with an
assistant. Each pair of trained monitors will handle one
location for air temperature, water temperature, dissolved
oxygen, and propylene glycol (deicing fluid for aircraft).
Testing will be done bi-monthly from November-March, as well
shortly after winter storm events.
This is really a big opportunity for members and the
general public to do something to support the health of
Buckeye Brook. I assure that the Coalition has never given up
hope that this resource can be protected and preserved. . Even
if you have never been involved in water quality testing, this
is for you! You can do it!
More info or registration for training call me Paul
Earnshaw 401-739-6592 or Linda Green URI Watershed Watch
Program Manager @ 401-874-4561
- 2013 BBC Watershed Storm Drain Marking
- Sunday - August 25, 2013 (10:00 am to 12:00 pm)
What: Help protect water quality in the watershed
and Greenwich Bay from non-point sources. In conjunction with
the Save the Bay, Buckeye Brook members will be marking storm
drain inlets in the watershed area with distinctive notices
advising that they drain into the brook and bay.
Where: Meet at the Coastway Community Bank located
at 2089 Warwick Avenue in Warwick, RI
Requirements: Volunteers must be 10 years of age or
older to participate in this storm drain marking. All
volunteers under the age of 16 must participate with an adult.
Volunteers must have their own transportation to and from the
storm drain marking site. All volunteers must be able to do
two hours of walking and moderate bending and lifting.
Volunteers must wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes.
What to Wear/Bring: All volunteers should wear
clothes they don't mind getting dirty, and dress for the
weather. Volunteers are encouraged to bring sunscreen and a
reusable water bottle.
Note: Service hours will be given for this cleanup.
Sign Up: Please send your name, email and a cell or
home phone number you can be reached at during the day to
volunteer@savebay.org or call and leave this information at
401.272.3540 x 130.
Click here to see the Storm Drain Marking Notice
for more details
- 2013 Picnic At The Point - Saturday -
August 17, 2013 (12:00 pm to 5:00 pm)
Join friends and neighbors at the annual Conimicut Picnic
at the Point. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, bring a lunch
or buy one there and enjoy the afternoon enjoying vendors and
live music at the shore. This event is held at Conimicut Point
Park in Warwick, RI.
Click here to see the Picnic at the Park Notice for more
details
- 2013 Riding the Tide Paddle Adventure -
Saturday - June 1, 2013 (7:30 am to 10:30 am)
Explore
the salt marshes at the mouth of Buckeye Brook as well as
Conimicut Point and Rocky Point on this paddle with the
Buckeye Brook Coalition. The trip offers scenic views, and
education about the local communities, the environment and its
history.
This trip will require a bit more paddling experience than
on previous Buckeye Brook trips because it is mostly in
Narragansett Bay, although not too far from shore. We will
launch from a central location, travel to Conimicut Point and
the salt Marsh, then backtrack and continue on to Rocky
Point, and then return to the starting point. Anyone who is
not up for the entire trip can cut it short before continuing
on to Rocky Point.
Click here to see Riding the Tide Paddle Adventure
for details
- Steve Insana Memorial Dedication - March
24, 2013 (2:30 PM)
The location is on Warwick Avenue,
near the parking lot area of the Knights of Columbus building,
475 Sandy Lane, in Warwick.
On August 30, 2009 the world lost someone who was truly
special. Steve Insana, the founder of the Buckeye Brook
Coalition, was taken from us far too early. His leadership
and advocacy for the protection of Buckeye Brook was a passion
that he shared with all who knew him. The Coalition has been
working on a fitting memorial to Steve since the time of his
passing.
The Buckeye Brook Coalition would like to invite everyone
who knew Steve to attend the dedication of a special site
that will serve as a permanent memorial to a man that did so
much for this small watershed in our community.
- 2013 16th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Weekend
Celebration! - April 20, 2013 (9:00 a.m. -
noon)
(Rain date was Sunday April 21, 2013 (1:00 pm -
4:00 pm) Registration starts at 8:30 on Saturday (12:30 on
Sunday if we get rained out on Saturday) This is an excellent
opportunity to share your appreciation of our planet with
your families, children and neighbors. Plan to meet us at the
Warwick Knights of Columbus Hall at 475 Sandy Lane in
Warwick, RI. Supported and done in collaboration with The
City of Warwick and Mill Cove Conservancy.
2012
- Buckeye Brook Watershed - Paddle Maps - All Year Long
Grab your paddles and get ready for a fantastic
summer on the brook! In partnership with the Rhode Island
Blueways Alliance and with grant funding from The Rhode Island
Foundation the Buckeye Brook Coalition has produced its first
official paddle maps. Buckeye Brook Coalition is one of 10
Rhode Island watershed organizations that are creating paddle
maps as part of this project. Even if you are familiar with
Buckeye Brook, you may be surprised to learn some new things
about its historic and natural significance. Check back for
other maps being produced in this series and always remember
to wear lifejackets, sunscreen and take all other appropriate
safety precautions!
Click on a link below to view and print the maps and to
plan your paddles in the Buckeye Brook watershed.
- 2012 Ride the Tide with the Buckeye Brook
Coalition - Sunday June 3, 2012
Buckeye Brook is a
jewel within the urban city of Warwick. Explore one of
Warwick’s hidden treasures with the Buckeye Brook Coalition as
we celebrate R.I. Rivers Month. This paddling event is open to
people with all levels of experience. The event is free.
However, donations are greatly appreciated. Join us for a
casual paddle where we will explore the lower reaches of
Buckeye Brook. Pre-Registration is required as the trip
has a maximum capacity of 20 vessels.
We will launch at about 7:30 A.M. Paul Earnshaw will lead
the trip making several stops along the way to discuss over
300 years of history. Explore the wildlife & picturesque
scenery. Learn about environmental issues impacting many of
our water ways. See the progress of the brackish marsh
restoration project which the Coalition started 2 years ago.
Learn about the river herring and why declines of 95% exist.
The trip should take only about 2 hours, & will start with
the incoming high tide, and will complete with the outgoing
tide returning you back into Narragansett Bay. Come enjoy
wildlife, history, & the beauty that Buckeye Brook has to
offer. Bring your own canoe or kayak, refreshments,
binoculars, & maybe some bug spray.
LIFE JACKETS ARE REQUIRED and PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
To find details of the launch location, contact Paul Earnshaw
at 401-739-6592 or by email at brookeye10@gmail.com.
- 2012 15th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Weekend
Celebration! - April 21 and 22, 2012
This
Rain or Shine event takes place Saturday, April 21, 2012 (9:00
a.m. - noon) and (for those who can't make it on Saturday
morning) Sunday April 22, 2012 (1:00 p.m. - 4:00)
Supported and done in collaboration with The City of
Warwick and Mill Cove Conservancy, this exciting event is an
educational & rewarding experience.
- 2012 Tenth Annual Fish Count Program - April 1 - May
15, 2012
It is almost time to start the annual fish
count, which runs from April 1 until about May 15! A short,
10 minute training session for new volunteers is required at
either of these times
- Thursday, March 22, 2012 anytime between 5:00 and
6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 24, 2012 anytime between 10:00 and
11 a.m.
- Phragmites Control Project
- Saturday, February 25, 2012 (1:00 p.m. - 4:00)
The
Buckeye Brook Coalition is half way through a three year
restoration project of a brackish marsh along West Shore
Road. We need some volunteers on to meet at the brackish marsh
where Buckeye Brook intersects with West Shore Road on
Saturday, February 25th, at 1:00 p.m. for a couple of hours
to manually cut an invasive plant known as phragmites australis or common
reed. This cutting needs to be done before the
vegetation begins to reemerge in the spring.
You will need cutting tools such as manual or gas powered
hedge clippers, gloves, and waterproof boots. Because it is
unlikely that there will be a freezing condition to harden the
marsh, be prepared for very wet conditions. Only adults in
good physical condition should attend.
If you can help, give Paul Earnshaw a call at 401-739-6592
or
click here to email him with your contact
information.
More information about this important project can be found
in this article by the Warwick Beacon Online published
October 12, 2010 - First Steps Taken to Poison Invasive
Wetland Reeds
2011
- 2011 Annual Fund Raiser -
September 18, 2011 (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
Please join the
Buckeye Brook Coalition at 15 River Vue Avenue, Warwick, RI on
Sunday, September 18th and help raise funds to protect and
preserve your local watershed. Come enjoy burgers, hot dogs,
soft drinks, desserts and music by classical guitarist Scott
Dagget at the home of Mr. & Mrs. George W. Shuster, Jr. on
the south bank of Mill Cove. Our guest speaker this year is
Mr. Tom Ardito who will present on the Pawtuxet River dam
removal project. Cost is $10 for BBC members / $15 for
non-BBC members. Free for children under 12. All are welcome
and tickets available at the event, or reserve in advance by
emailing
Stephanie Van Patten or by phone at 401.737.1278.
Click on the link above for our flyer.
- 2011 Ride the Tide with the Buckeye Brook Coalition
- Saturday, June 18, 2011
Explore the
wildlife and picturesque scenery of Buckeye Brook, a jewel
within the urban city of Warwick. This paddling event,
sponsored by the Buckeye Brook Coalition, is free and open to
people with all levels of experience. Registration starts at
9:30 a.m. and launch is about 10 a.m. Participants will hear
about the 300 years of history made along this beautiful
watershed. It is the home to one of Rhode Island's only
natural free flowing herring runs in the state. The trip will
take about 2 hours and start just prior to the incoming high
tide. The event is free; bring your own canoe or kayak,
refreshments, binoculars, & bug spray. Life jackets are
required. Contact Paul Earnshaw to pre-register and find the
launch location at 401.739.6592, or email him
by clicking on this link.
- 2011 14th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Weekend
Celebration! - April 9 and 10, 2011
This
event was held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 and Sunday April
10, 2011 and was supported by and done in collaboration with
The City of Warwick and Mill Cove Conservancy.
- 2011 Ninth Annual Fish Count
Program - April 1 - May 15, 2011
This
important program runs April 1st through early May and we need
volunteers! A short, 10 minute training session for new
volunteers is required at either of these times:
- Thursday, March 24, 2011 anytime between 5:00 and
6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 26, 2011 anytime between 10:00 and
11 a.m.
Please click here for more
information from Bill Aldrich about the 2011 Annual Fish Count
Event..
- Rock and Roll Night - March 12, 2011 For
those who are interested, Bonnie and Christopher Donahue,
supporters of the Coalition, are inviting Buckeye Brook
Coalition members to a night of rock and roll by Mark Cutler
on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Eddies 529 Club at 529 Warwick
Avenue, Warwick, RI from 9-12:30. Those who come will have
some fun and, hopefully, learn something about Buckeye Brook
and the Coalition. Cash bar will be
available.
2010
2009
- The 2009 Buckeye Brook Coalition Fundraiser -
September 20,2009 The Buckeye Brook Coalition held a fund
raiser on September 20, 2009 from 4:00PM - 6:30PMat 15 River
Vue Avenue, Warwick, RI. There was a hamburger & hot dog
cookout, soft drinks, live band, games and activities for
children. Other community & environmental organizations
participated and offered information and displays about their
exciting programs. Our Key Note Speaker was Michael Sullivan,
Director of the RI Department of Environmental Management.
Event sponsors were: Sandy Lane Meat Market, Home Loan Bank,
Picasso's Pizza, Twinns Karate. (Rain Date Sept 27 same
time).
- 2009 Seventh Annual Direct Fish Count - April -
May 2009
This program runs April through early May
and we need volunteers! Please contact Steve Insana
(401-737-1342) as soon as possible if you want to be a fish
count monitor. 2009 Training dates for new people will be held
before this event. Stay posted for the dates. Click here to
read an article in the Warwick Beacon about our 2008 Training Program.
- 2009 12th Annual Earth Day Clean Up
Celebration - April 18, 2009
Will be
held Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Plan to
meet us at the Warwick Knights of Columbus Hall at 475
Sandy Lane in Warwick. Dress warmly and wear waterproof
boots if possible. (Rain date - Sunday, April 19, 2009).
2008
2007
- 2007 10th Annual Earth Day Clean Up Celebration
Was held Saturday, April 14, 2007. Click here to see
images of and read about our 2007 event in the Warwick Beacon and Providence Journal.
- 2007 Fifth Annual Direct Fish Count
This program ran April through early May 2007. Click here to
read an article in the Warwick Beacon about the exciting 2007 Fish Count Program.
- 2007 URI Watershed Watch
Was held in May
2007. We will need contacts and volunteers for people
interested in this program for 2008. Click here for details.
- 2007 Water Quality Monitoring May -
October 2007
This event also runs May through early
October and more water quality volunteers are needed for the
URI Watershed Watch. We have four sites to monitor in the
Buckeye Brook watershed. Please contact Steve if you are
interested in particating. Click here and wait patiently for a
large detailed map of the water quality montioring stations to
load. 2006
- Buckeye Brook Coalition Boat Trip,
Members met on April 22, 2006 for a
memorable and informal canoe and kayak paddle down Buckeye
Brook.
- Historical Cemetary Clean Up ,
January 14, 2006.
Grab your tools and a warm coat and
join us as we work with the Warwick Historical Cemetary
Committee and the Knights of Columbus. We meet at the Knights
of Columbus parking lot at 9AM.
- 9th Annual Earth Day Clean Up and
Breakfast April 1, 2006
Was be held
Saturday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Click here to
see images of our 2005 8th Annual Earth Day Clean Up
Event 2005
- Buckeye Brook Cultural Historic Tour
Last year we met on Saturday, June 18, 2005 for a
facinating tour of the cultural assests of the Buckeye Brook
Watershed and Old Mill Cove, including discussion of the old
mill, the Shawomet Indian summer camp, and the old Warner
sites (house and grave site). We will post dates for the 2008
tour when they are set. 2004
2003
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