Aquidneck Island Land Trust protects land in strategic locations for watershed protection, farmland conservation, creating habitat corridors for wildlife, and parks and trails for public enjoyment. Central to our mission is the restoration of our freshwater bodies, which supply over 70% of the Island’s drinking water.
Aquidneck Island’s farmlands, natural lands, and drinking water supply are under threat. As a hub, we connect and collaborate with individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting Aquidneck Island’s natural environment, including with our four communities; Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, and Naval Station Newport. We work with all of our partners to address the pressing challenges of loss of open space to development and to address flooding, stormwater pollution, and shoreline erosion brought on by a changing climate. Together, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable future.
To preserve and steward Aquidneck Island’s open spaces for the lasting benefit of the community, while connecting people with the land that defines the Island’s natural character.
In 2019, the Land Trust partnered with Sasaki to conduct a Development Impact Analysis of Aquidneck Island.
Aquidneck Resilience is a collaboration between the City of Newport, the Town of Middletown, the Town of Portsmouth, and Naval Station Newport, proudly hosted at the Aquidneck Island Land Trust.
The initiative, Growing Regional Resilience Coordination on Aquidneck Island, is funded by a four-year, $2 million grant from NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. The project builds on years of previous efforts and takes a holistic view of climate resilience, with a focus on supporting projects that protect our island’s waters, land, and people across jurisdictional boundaries. This program is supported by a team of five staff members that make up the Aquidneck Resilience Team.
Learn more, discover ways to get involved, and sign-up for The Droplet, our email newsletter, at aquidneckresilience.org!
CONSERVATION:
HISTORY:
At the end of 2024, the Land Trust worked with the State of Rhode Island’s Agricultural Land Preservation Commission and landowners Bill and Nancy Wilson to conserve a 13-acre portion of the vineyard off Wapping Road in Portsmouth. The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service also contributed a significant grant to the easement. The land has been working farmland for generations and is connected to other conservation properties, adding onto the protected corridor of lands on the eastern side of Aquidneck Island, known as the Sakonnet Greenway.
The Land Trust partnered with the Spring Park Committee, City of Newport, and Church Community Housing on Newport’s newest park, Spring Park, permanently protecting the historic site. Once a gas station, the park is now a gathering place that celebrates the city’s history and religious freedom.
When 25 acres of Lacerda Farm was about to go on the market off Paquins Lane in Portsmouth, the Land Trust partnered with neighbor Paul Zurlo to conserve the farm. The land, located in the St. Mary’s Pond watershed will be farmed sustainably with rotational grazing of grass-fed cattle by Slate Hill Cattle Company.
The Land Trust completed the Glen Farm Stables and Pasture Trail at the end of 2024, adding another mile to the end of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail, now the longest trail on the island at 12 miles. The new trail, completed in partnership with the Town of Portsmouth, has beautiful views of historic Glen Farm Stables.
The Land Trust works with the municipalities, local non-profits, and the community to protect our water resources. Project focuses include protection and restoration of land and riparian buffers in our watersheds, construction of green infrastructure to address stormwater run-off, and community outreach. Recent projects include:
Two Wet Vegetated Treatment Systems were installed along the edge of the meadow at the Land Trust’s Oakland Forest Preserve. These human-made wetlands filter stormwater run-off coming from neighboring subdivisions before entering St. Mary’s Pond, one of our drinking supply reservoirs. This project was completed as part of the Island Waters partnership.
Many organizations, as part of the Almy Pond Watershed Protectors, are working to improve water quality in Almy Pond, one of the most polluted bodies in the state. The City of Newport recently removed pavement alongside Land Trust conserved land on Sprouting Rock Drive and restored the area to meadow. Partners are exploring more green infrastructure projects and holding community meetings to discuss solutions to improve water quality in the pond.
The Land Trust protects farmland and works to help promote and support agricultural viability across Aquidneck Island. Successful farms contribute to our economy, create community, contribute to a healthy food system, and make us more resilient to climate change.
FarmLink Aquidneck: Access to land is a major barrier for prospective and existing farmers in Rhode Island and on Aquidneck Island. There are farmers waiting to get on to land, but the cost of land is often unaffordable, and finding landowners willing to lease land for farming can be difficult. The Land Trust runs a Land-Link database to connect farmers seeking land with local opportunities. If you are a farmer looking for available farmland, please fill out this form for us to understand your needs. If you are a landowner willing to lease land to a farmer, please fill out this form on what you might be willing to provide. We will follow up with any opportunities.
Aquidneck Island Land Trust engages with the Island community in a variety of ways, seeking to educate people of all ages about the work that we do to conserve open space, protect our watershed areas, and steward wildlife habitat. Examples of this include community presentations, outreach to schools, and Walk and Talks on conserved lands. Check out our upcoming events and news feed for more!
The 2026 Merritt Fund cycle is now accepting applications! Please see the full application here. Please note the application deadline is March 13, 2026.
The Merritt Neighborhood Fund was established in 1999 and named after the late Peter Merritt, President Emeritus of the Aquidneck Island Land Trust. The Fund supports neighborhood-based efforts that protect and enhance green spaces through land conservation, beautification projects, and stewardship.
Over the years, the Fund has funded community gardens and the transformation of neglected properties to enhance environmental and recreational benefits in neighborhoods throughout the Island.
Congratulations to the 2025 grantees:
Help us grow the Fund! Donate to the endowed Merritt Neighborhood Fund so more community projects can benefit from these small but impactful grants. With your support, a little goes a long way! Find out more in the brochure here.
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust is pleased to host an annual Art & Writing Contest, sponsored by Sixteen On Center, a competition in which local students reflect on their favorite Aquidneck Island vistas and the changing environment. Thank you to everyone who entered this year's contest!
Winners were awarded generous cash prizes and family memberships to the Land Trust and recognized at our Annual Meeting on January 27, 2026 at The Pennfield School.
Kindergarten–Grade 4
Ethan Earl, first place (Gaudet Learning Academy)
Kolbe Walkusky, second place (Melville Elementary School)
Tessa Schoonmaker, third place (Melville Elementary School)
Lydia Larson, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Haley Chappelle, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Christopher Fillorama-Smith, honorable mention (Melville Elementary School)
Grades 5-8
Isla Ackman, first place (The Pennfield School)
Sidonie Burton, second place (The Pennfield School)
Harper Scholhamer, third place (The Pennfield School)
Aria Gallant, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
Carol Biszko, honorable mention (All Saint's STEAM Academy)
Aden Argante, honorable mention (All Saint's STEAM Academy)
Grades 9-12
Kiyomi Francis, first place (St. George’s School)
Jayda Barsdale, second place (Rogers High School)
Luis Lopez, third place (Rogers High School)
Kyleigh Landers, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
Mari Field, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
Jackson Hernandez, honorable mention (Rogers High School)
Kindergarten-Grade 4
Eloise Pietz, first place (Hathaway Elementary School)
Hutcheon Devaud, second place (All Saint’s STEAM Academy)
Aaron Arruda, third place (All Saint's STEAM Academy)
Annette Biszko, honorable mention (All Saint's STEAM Academy)
Sophye Hansel, honorable mention (All Saint's STEAM Academy)
Grades 5-8
Theo Rosenthal, first place (St. Michael’s Country Day School)
Morgan Rossell, second place (St. Michael's Country Day School)
Graham Laundon, third place (The Pennfield School)
James Hanigan, honorable mention (St. Michael’s Country Day School)
Hadley Botelho, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
Finley Moulton, honorable mention (The Pennfield School)
The Land Trust thanks Sixteen on Center for underwriting the contest, which encourages local students to recognize and treasure the beauty of Aquidneck Island.
The Land Trust works to protect our drinking water and coastal water quality through strategic land preservation within our watersheds, outreach and education, construction of green infrastructure, promotion of best practices in stewardship, and conserving riparian buffers. Read our Watershed FAQ or view our Story Map for more information about our local drinking supply watersheds and the Land Trust’s watershed protection work.
The Land Trust works to protect and steward open spaces that provide public access to the community, such as hiking trails, city parks, public preserves, and recreational fields.
The Land Trust is committed to protecting lands that provide habitat for local wildlife, and we prioritize connected open spaces in our conservation efforts to create habitat corridors. We restore and manage land to maximize wildlife habitat, including removal of invasive species and planting of Rhode Island native plants, shrubs, and trees.
