August

Peter V. August, a geographic information pioneer who has also headed the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Institute since 2000, has been honored with this year’s Alfred L. Hawkes Environmental Achievement Award.

The award, granted by the state Department of Environmental Management, is one of the state’s top honors for people working on environmental issues.

The award acknowledges those who have “with uncommon effort, immeasurably advanced the preservation, protection and enhancement of the natural resources of our state.”

August is the 16th recipient of the award, which is named after the longtime former head of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

DEM director W. Michael Sullivan said as he presented the award to August at a recent luncheon, “Pete August is an accomplished leader and scientist who has been keenly involved in land conservation efforts throughout the region, as well as GIS development, monitoring, mapping and education for decades. He has made the Coastal Institute a nexus for scientific research and environmental problem solving for coastal ecosystems and their watersheds.”

August serves on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, the Rhode Island chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association and the Richmond Land Trust.

He recently completed serving as chairman of the United States chapter of the International Association of Landscape Ecologists.

He has contributed nearly 100 articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and other publications on such topics as bat conservation, invasive species, shoreline changes and using GIS to manage water resources.

August arrived at URI in 1981. Initially, he taught courses in vertebrate biology before developing a curriculum on geographic information systems for analyzing environmental data. He developed the first GIS system for Rhode Island in the late 1980s and continues to do GIS research.

His research now focuses on stewardship of protected lands, measuring human impacts on natural systems, assessing patterns of biodiversity at landscape scales and developing land acquisition models for conserving natural resources.

At the Coastal Institute, August has addressed critical science and public policy issues.

At the luncheon, August said he was honored by the award, particularly because so many previous award winners were his role models.

He also warned: “The issues before us and the next generation of resource stewards in the state are sobering. We have our work cut out for us if we are to succeed in handling an increasing demand for fresh water, climate change, invasive species, soaring energy costs and a drastically changing Narragansett Bay ecosystem.”

Previous winners have included the Champlin Foundations, the late Sen. John H. Chafee, URI Prof. Frank Golet, Providence forester John Campanini, environmental advocate Peggy Sharpe and Woonsocket High School teacher Michael Ferry.

$2 million goes to state programs

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded $2 million to two Ocean State conservation programs.

The Coastal Resources Management Council will receive $1,481,000 to administer Rhode Island’s coastal management program. The Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will receive $555,000 to strengthen estuarine conservation, research and education.

The grants were announced by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, which provides financing for NOAA programs.

The award to the Coastal Resources Management Council will provide ongoing support of coastal zone management permitting, planning, enforcement, federal consistency review and coordination, public outreach and education, and public rights-of-way designation.

The Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve protects Prudence Island, Patience Island, Hope Island and Dyer Island, collectively more than 4,400 acres.

Bikers invited for 5-mile ride

On Wednesday at 6 p.m., the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is sponsoring a 5-mile, after-work bicycle trip along the new paved off-road portion of the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway.

The ride will begin at Hillside and Manton avenues in Johnston, go up to Lyman Avenue in Johnston, to Riverside Park in Providence, and will end back at Hillside Avenue. The entire ride is off-road, so it is safe for children. Lemonade is included. Pre-registration is not required. A bike and helmet are required.

Bike rides are scheduled for the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The second Wednesday ride starts at Riverside Park in Providence and the fourth Wednesday ride starts at Hillside Avenue in Johnston. Check Web site www.woonasquatucket.org/greenwayProject.htm for details on the rides or for a map of the greenway.

Benefit scheduled for river council

A dinner and winetasting to benefit the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Pizzico Ristorante, 762 Hope St., Providence.

The event will include appetizers, wine-tasting and Italian cuisine. Tasting of Pizzico wines begins at 6:30 p.m. Although the event starts at 6, diners can contribute to the council anytime that evening. Order dinner off the menu and 20 percent will be donated to the council. To participate in just the wine-tasting, a $10 minimum donation is required.

Council board members and staff will be available to discuss current projects and plans, including the River Rangers Program, the Woonasquatucket Fish Passage Restoration Project and the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project.

To register, call Alicia Lehrer at (401) 861-9046 or e-mail to alehrer@wrwc.org

Festival to aid local food growers

The Local Food Fest to benefit Farm Fresh Rhode Island will be held Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Castle Hill Inn & Resort, Newport.

The event will feature nearly a dozen Rhode Island chefs, each paired with a local farm. Chefs will prepare dishes made with local ingredients for guests to sample. There will also be a wine and beer tasting from Rhode Island vineyards and breweries, a silent auction, and other festivities.

A VIP hour will start at 4 p.m. for a preview with chefs and farmers, along with a special cook-off between guest chefs Matt Gennuso, of Chez Pascal, and Matt Jennings, of La Laiterie.

Tickets for the VIP preview hour are $100; regular tickets are $45, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are paperless and can be purchased online only at www.farmfreshri.org

Things to do at wildlife refuges

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Rhode Island national wildlife refuges are offering the following free programs at the Kettle Pond Visitor’s Center, 50 Bend Rd., Charlestown:

•Owls of Rhode Island will be presented by Bob Kenney on Wednesday, from 7 to 9 p.m., for ages 8 and older. Kenney has been a volunteer naturalist with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Kimball Wildlife Refuge for more than 20 years. The lecture is part of Wildlife Wednesdays, sponsored by the Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island. Registration is not required.

•An Egg Carton Hike will be held Thursday, from 2 to 4 p.m., for ages 6 to 12. Children will team up with parents and each will have an egg carton that tells you what items you need to find on the nature hike. After the hike, a collage will be made at the nature center using the materials found. Participants should dress for the outdoors and bring water. Call (401) 364-9124, ext. 48, to register.

• Children ages 7 to 12 can earn a Junior Birder Patch on Friday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Children will take a guided bird walk, conduct a bird survey, make a bird craft, learn a bit about migration and all about the native birds of Rhode Island. Children should dress for the outdoors and bring water. Call (401) 364-9124, ext. 48, for details and to register.

•The movie Ice Age will be shown on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon. All ages are welcome, and activities will be available. Registration is not required.

•A Tree Treasure Hunt will be led by naturalist Katie Eastman around Burlingame State Park on Saturday, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The hike will leave the Kettle Pond Visitor’s Center at 3:30 p.m. Participants may also meet the hike at the naturalist building at Burlingame State Park. They should dress for the outdoors and bring water. Call (401) 364-9124, ext. 48, to register.

•An Awesome Big Puddle nature hike will be held Thursday, July 31, from 2 to 4 p.m., for ages 6 to 12. Children can take a guided tour and discover what animals live and visit a vernal pool, and they can explore the world of wood frogs, spotted salamanders and aquatic bugs in a slide show. Dress for the outdoors and bring water. Call (401) 364-9124, ext. 48, to register.

With reports from Pat Pothier.

The Environmental Journal is a listing of brief news items about the actions of individuals, organizations and businesses that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the landscape that surrounds us.

If you have comments or suggestions, please contact environment reporter Peter B. Lord at (401) 277-8036, or by e-mail at plord@projo.com or by writing him, care of The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.