Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership

Resource Library:

Small conservation organizations face many of the same challenges, and run into many of the same questions. From volunteer management to board development, half the battle can simply be finding the right information. With this in mind, the Conservation Stewardship Collaborative and the Land and Water Partnership have collaborated to create this resource library of materials and links for conservation organizations in Rhode Island.

Items marked with a are particularly recommended as the most useful sites or documents within a given category, usually because they provide thorough but general coverage of the topic.

The library includes documents in Microsoft Word format, so they are easily adaptable for your use, and in Adobe Acrobat format, in case you cannot open Word documents. There are also some documents in Microsoft Excel format and many links to websites with useful resource materials. To access the documents for a particular topic, click on the plus sign next to the heading, and then click on the Word, Excel, or PDF link to open the document in each format, or click on the "website" link to go to the website. Once you have opened a Word or Excel document, make sure to save it to your own computer if you want to edit it. Changes you make will be lost if you do not save a copy of the document to your own computer.

If you have suggestions or have documents you would like to contribute, please contact us!

Baseline Documentation/ Property Inventory/Mapping Resources
- Mapping Resources
  - URI Environmental Data Center - Projects & Initiatives (website)
    Source: University of Rhode Island
  - Digtal Atlas of RI: Collection of RI maps showing natural resource data, boundaries, cultural data, etc. (website)
    Source: University of Rhode Island
  - Collection of RI-based Internet Map Servers: Environmental Resource Map, Topo Map and Aerial Photo Finder, and Brownfields Map (website)
    Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
  - 2019 Land & Water Summit Map Workshop Resources (website)
  - Soil maps and data (website)
    Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
  - RI Ecological Communities Classification, preparedby Rick Enser in 2011 to help people with detailed mapping of ecological communities for various conservation needs in Rhode Island. This Guide establishes a nomenclature that can capture details of the nature and status of ecological communities and provide commonly understood terms that foster comparisons, generalizations, and other analytical statements benefiting communication and planning for any land conservation or management purpose. (PDF)
    Source: Rhode Island Natural History Survey
  - RI State Wildlife Action Plan (website)
    Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- CSC Protocol: A standard protocol for documenting conservation values with a Baseline Documentation Report on protected land in RI. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Video - RI Land Trust Council Workshop by Carol Lynn Trocki on Preparing Baseline Documentation. (website)
  Sources: Land Trust Alliance, Rhode Island Land Trust Council
- Workshop Handouts by Carol Lynn Trocki on Preparing Baseline Documentation (PDF)(PDF)
  Sources: Land Trust Alliance, Rhode Island Land Trust Council
- Baseline Documentation Using the CSC Protocol: Example from the Ballard Property in Portsmouth, a large parcel of land on Prudence Island with Pine Barren habitat. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Baseline Documentation Using the CSC Protocol: Example from the Bradner Preserve in Richmond, a 63-acre parcel with a combination deciduous and mixed forest, ATV issues and trail stream crossings. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Baseline Documentation Using the CSC Protocol: Example from the Hopkins Property in Foster, a 25-acre parcel with riverine habitat and a trail system. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Baseline Documentation Using the CSC Protocol: Example from the Ray Preserve in Westerly, a 15-acre parcel on the barrier beach side of Winnapaug Pond. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- CE and Baseline documentation report form (PDF)
  Source: New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning
- Rhode Island Ecological Communities Classification Guide, prepared by Rick Enser in 2011 to help people with detailed mapping of ecological communities for various conservation needs in Rhode Island. This Guide establishes a nomenclature that can capture details of the nature and status of ecological communities and provide commonly understood terms that foster comparisons, generalizations, and other analytical statements benefiting communication and planning for any land conservation or management purpose. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Natural History Survey

Donor/Member Appeals
- Getting the Most from Your Annual Appeal, a presentation by Gayle Gifford and Jonathan Howard of Cause & Effect, Inc. on October 8, 2009 (PDF)
  Source: Cause & Effect; Inc.
- Sample appeal letter drafts from The Barrington Land Conservation Trust, with feedback from Cause & Effect, Inc. (PDF)
  Sources: Barrington Land Conservation Trust, Cause & Effect; Inc.
- Sample appeal letter drafts from the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, with feedback from Cause & Effect, Inc. (PDF)
  Sources: Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, Cause & Effect; Inc.

Easement and Property Monitoring
- Annual Monitoring Checklist Protocol (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Annual Monitoring Checklist Template (Long Form) (PDF)(Word)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Annual Monitoring Checklist Template (Short Form) (PDF)(Word)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Monitoring your Land Trust's Protected Properties: A presentation from The 2015 Land and Water Conservation Summit by Carol Lynn Trocki (PDF)
  Sources: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative, Rhode Island Land Trust Council
- A Guide to Conservation Easement Monitoring: frequency, scheduling, procedure, follow-up (PDF)
  Source: Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership Committee
- Barrington Land Conservation Trust: Annual Property Monitoring Report Form (Word)(PDF)
  Source: Barrington Land Conservation Trust
- Property Monitoring Checklist by the Aquidneck Land Trust (PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- Avoiding, Enforcing, Defending: What Should You Know About Dealing With Conservation Easement Violations? A presentation from the 2014 Land and Water Conservation Summit by Carol Lynn Trocki, Chuck Allott, and Greg Schultz (PDF)
- Basic map and compass skills (PDF)
  Source: New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning
- Form to update your Stewardship Volunteer Information (Word)(PDF)
  Source: Barrington Land Conservation Trust
- How to read a survey plan by the Aquidneck Land Trust (PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- Sample Conservation Easement Enforcement Policy (PDF)
  Source: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Sample document for Conservation Easement owners to use to welcome new land owners (PDF)
  Source: New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning
- Sample Easement Enforcement Policy from the Aquidneck Land Trust (PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- Sample Monitoring Procedure (website)
  Source: Ten Towns Committee (New Jersey)
- Sample Monitoring Report Form by the Aquidneck Land Trust (PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- Sample Violation and Enforcement Policy by the Aquidneck Land Trust (PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- Successor Landowner Policy and Procedure by the Sakonnet Preservation Association (PDF)
  Source: Sakonnet Preservation Association

Forest Management
- How to develop and implement a forest stewardship plan (PDF)
  Source: US Forest Service
- RI Woods: Your Online Resource for RI Woodlots Information (website)
- Collection of forest stewardship publications for the northeast (website)
  Source: US Forest Service
- Comprehensive collection of web-based resources (publications, brochures, fact sheets) for woodlot owners in the Northeastern US (website)
  Source: US Forest Service
- List of Rhode Island Forestry Consultants (PDF)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- Resources on RI-Based forest management (website)
  Source: Rhode Island Forest Conservators Organization
- Selection of publications on Forest Management (website)
  Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension
- StewPlan: Free Forest Stewardship Planning Software that guides the user through a process of selecting forest stewardship goals with limited recommendations on management for those goals. Contains basic information about forests and their management. (website)
  Source: US Forest Service
- Forest Management Resources from PennState Extension (website)
  Source: National Association of State Foresters

Funding & Technical Assistance
- Grants & Other Funding Sources
  - Coastal and Estuary Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund (website)
    Source: RI Coastal Resources Management Council
  - Funding opportunity for water trail development (website)
    Source: American Canoe Association
  - USDA, NRCS: Environmental Quality Incentives Programs & Others (website)
    Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Technical Assistance
  - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program: supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects, including water trails, across the nation. (website)
    Source: National Park Service
- Costs of Conservation Easement Stewardship: Estimating costs, Determining Fund Investments (website)
  Source: Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
- Fundraising for Stewardship & Conservation Defense: If your land trust needs to raise funds for stewardship and legal defense of land that you have protected, this video of a workshop and Powerpoint presentation by Sharon Danosky are that professional consult you need! It's funny, direct, and compelling. (website)
  Sources: Rhode Island Land Trust Council, Land Trust Alliance
- Grant Proposal Writing for Small Organizations by Jonathan Howard, a presentation from the 2009 Land and Water Conservation Summit (PDF)
  Source: Cause & Effect; Inc.
- Sample stewardship fund policy (PDF)
  Source: Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

General Land & Water Conservation
- Courses, publications, digital library, resources on all aspects of land conservation, including stewardship. (website)
  Source: Land Trust Alliance
- An online, public library, created and maintained by The Nature Conservancy in partnership with other conservation organizations. Conservation tools and techniques, stewardship information (website)
  Source: ConserveOnline
- A network of resources that connects landowners to qualified professionals about real estate transactions, tax and estate planning, and regional land conservation activities - as well as local land trusts, nonprofit conservation organizations, and federal and state financing and technical assistance programs. (website)
  Source: The Private Landowner Network
- Sharing Back Office at Small Nonprofits: A Case Study of Conservation Organizations in Rhode Island (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership

Habitat Restoration
- Collection of resources for RI-based wetlands restoration (website)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- RICRMC: Coastal Habitat Restoration in Rhode Island (website)
  Source: Coastal Resources Management Council
- Collection of resources for nation-wide wetlands and river corridor restoration (website)
  Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
- USDA, NRCS: Environmental Quality Incentives Programs & Others (website)
  Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Detailed guide to river corridor restoration - downloadable book (website)
  Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Example of an in-state comprehensive riparian buffer restoration project (website)
  Source: Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
- Introduction to concepts of wetland restoration (website)
  Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
- URI Environmental Data Center - Projects & Initiatives (website)
  Source: URI Environmental Data Center
- Fact Sheet for state regulations and permitting requirements associated with restoration (PDF)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- Ten Steps to Habitat Restoration by Friends of Canonchet Farm (Narragansett) Habitat Restoration Committee: Handout from the 2014 Land and Water Conservation Summit (PDF)
  Source: Friends of Canonchet Farm

Invasives
- Database of invasive plants in New England with photos, management and control suggestions (website)
  Source: Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
- Database of Aquatic Invasives in the Northeast - with color photos (website)
  Source: Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel
- Invasives Preparedness for Land Conservation Organizations, a presentation by Hope Leeson and David W. Gregg at the 2007 Land and Water Conservation Summit (PDF)
- Fact sheet on the Asian Longhorned Beetle (PDF)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- RI Invasive Species Portal (website)
  Source: Rhode Island Natural History Survey

Management Plans
- A standard protocol and guidelines for developing management plans for conserved lands developed by the Conservation Stewardship Collaborative. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- An example of a BDR and management plan following RI CSC guidelines. This plan is for the Noyes Neck Farm Property in Westerly. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- An example of a BDR and management plan following RI CSC guidelines. This plan is for the Pelloni Diamond Hill Property in Hopkinton. (PDF)
  Source: Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative
- Developing Management Plans for Conservation Lands: A presentation from The 2015 Land and Water Conservation Summit by Linda Steere Carol Lynn Trocki (PDF)
- Stewardship Plans for Conservation Sites by James Gass and Jonathan Twining, a presentation from the 2008 Land and Water Conservation Summit - Includes section on Management Plans: sample goals, objectives, and what to include (PDF)
- Management plan guidelines from DEM's Local Open Space Grant Program (PDF)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- Basic components of a management plan as required by the MA Open Space Grant program (PDF)
  Source: Common Pasture
- Creating a Habitat-Based Management Plan for your Open Space - Step By Step Outline for a Management Plan (website)
  Source: Connecticut NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials)
- State Wildlife Action Plan (website)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management
- RI Woods: Your Online Resource for RI Woodlots Information (website)
- Selecting Plants for Pollinators: A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Oceanic Province (website)
  Sources: North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, Pollinator Partnership
- List of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflets: Introductory guidance on managing ecosystems and improving habitat for specific species. (website)
  Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Managing Grasslands, Shrublands and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife: A Guide for the Northeast. (website)
  Source: Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
- A Landowner's Guide to New England Cottontail Habitat Management (PDF)
  Source: Environmental Defense Fund

Safety Information
- The Kids Health website has helpful instruction sheets on dealing with common outdoor and seasonal safety concerns (website)
  Source: KidsHealth
- Tick Encounter: Information about ticks and vector-borne disease, what to do when you find a tick (website)
  Source: URI Tick Encounter Resource Center

Signage
- Signs and Trail Markers for Protected Lands: RI Guidelines on Best Practices and Sources (PDF)
  Source: Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Blazes on Walking Trails, a short article by Roy Najecki on recommended methods for blazing walking trails (PDF)
  Source: Glocester Land Trust
- Laminated Trail Junction Signs, a short article by Roy Najecki on making inexpensive laminated trail signs (PDF)
  Source: Glocester Land Trust
- Fact Sheet: Property Boundary Signs (PDF)
  Source: Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Fact Sheet: Signs to Identify Properties - Public Access and Identification (PDF)
  Source: Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Fact Sheet: Trail Blazers/Markers (PDF)
  Source: Southern Rhode Island Conservation District
- Fact Sheet: Trailhead Signs (PDF)
  Source: Southern Rhode Island Conservation District

Species ID
- Guide to 1,200 common native and naturalized New England plants, with color photographs. (website)
  Source: New England Wild Flower Society
- Weed images (website)
  Source: Rutgers University
- RI Coastal Plant Guide - includes photos (website)
  Sources: URI Cooperative Extension, Coastal Resources Management Council
- Butterflies of Massachusetts. Identification guide with many color photos (website)
  Source: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
- Mosses in Northeastern Woodlots (website)
  Source: US Forest Service

Trails - Land
- American Trails Resource Library: Collection of resources on planning, creating, managing and maintaining land trails (website)
  Source: American Trails
- Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook. Includes chapters on trail planning, design, surface water control, crossing streams, signs, etc. (website)
  Source: Federal Highway Administration
- 10 Trail Mistakes to Avoid (Word)(PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- 12 Trail Design Principles - Human & Physical, adapted by John Monroe from Natural Surface Trails by Design by Troy Scott Parker of NatureShape, LLC (PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- Menu of Guiding Principles for Trail Design: a checklist to help guide your thinking (Word)(PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- Sample trail master plan that covers construction, signage and maintenance (PDF)
  Source: Northern Bonneville Shoreline Trail
- Trail Specifications and Standards Menu: a list of trail specifications from which you can pick which to use for your trails (Word)(PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- Trail Log Template: a form to use to log trail conditions and record where work is needed (PDF)(Word)
  Source: National Park Service
- Trail Monitor Report: a more detailed form to use to plan trail work at a specific location (Word)(PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- Safety Checklist for Trail Work Days (Word)(PDF)
  Source: National Park Service
- ExploreRI: A local resource for accessing the outdoors via trail and river (website)
  Source: Rhode Island Blueways Alliance
- Model Trail Easement: a template for a legal trail easement. This template should only be used in consultation with knowledgeable legal council (Word)(PDF)
  Source: Aquidneck Land Trust
- RIDEM Recreational Trail Grants (website)
  Source: RI Department of Environmental Management

Trails - Water
- Blue Trails Guide - informational guides that cover planning, funding, access, launches, camp sites, maintenance, signage, maps, media outreach, case studies (website)
  Source: American Rivers
- ExploreRI: Guide to fresh and saltwater kayaking and canoeing (website)
  Source: Rhode Island Blueways Alliance
- American Canoe Association: Club Fostered Stewardship Grant (website)
  Source: American Canoe Association

Volunteers & Volunteer Management
- Volunteer Handbooks
  - Sample Handbooks
    - Barrington Land Conservation Trust's volunteer handbook (Word)(PDF)
      Source: Barrington Land Conservation Trust
    - Evergreen - Hands for Nature: A Volunteer Management Handbook: Great tips on working with volunteers with a focus on conservation volunteer projects (PDF)
      Source: Evergreen
  - Volunteer handbook outline (Word)(PDF)
- Volunteer Management Materials
  - Benefits of having a volunteer policy (Word)(PDF)
  - Short five question volunteer survey (Word)(PDF)
  - Step by step volunteer program planning (Word)(PDF)
  - Tips and concerns related to administrative volunteers (Word)(PDF)
  - VCRI volunteer hours tracking info sheet (Word)(PDF)
    Source: Volunteer Center of Rhode Island
  - Volunteer interest form/application (Word)(PDF)
  - Volunteer program planning (Word)(PDF)
- Volunteer Position Descriptions
  - Creating a Volunteer Position Description (Word)(PDF)
  - Administrative Assistance Position Description (Word)(PDF)
  - Assistant Stewardship Chair Position Description (Word)(PDF)
    Source: Barrington Land Conservation Trust
  - General Stewardship Volunteer Position Description (Word)(PDF)
  - Invasive Plant Management Position Description (Word)(PDF)
  - Newsletter basic position description (Word)(PDF)
  - Newsletter basic position description and with BLCT adaptation (Word)(PDF)
    Source: Barrington Land Conservation Trust
  - Property Monitor Position Description (Word)(PDF)
  - Sample Board Job Descriptions (Word)(PDF)
  - Volunteer Coordinator Position Description (Word)(PDF)
- Energize Inc: An extensive, free resource library of volunteer management materials on everything from volunteer recruitment to membership development. (website)
  Source: Energize Inc
- Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network: Another helpful resource library of volunteer management articles and resources, including a Volunteer Economic Impact Calculator that allows you to calculate volunteer economic benefit by specific job performed. (website)
  Source: Points of Light Foundation
- Seniors Helping Others: A South County organization that works in various ways to support volunteering, especially among seniors (website)
  Source: Seniors Helping Others

Waivers
- General liability waiver agreement (Word)(PDF)
- Canoe Waiver (Word)(PDF)
  Source: Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Water Quality Monitoring
- URI Watershed Watch Program (website)
- Blackstone River Coalition - Watershed-wide Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring (website)
  Source: Blackstone River Coalition
- Salt Ponds Coalition (website)
  Source: Salt Ponds Coalition

Resources made available at this website have been provided in the spirit of networking among our nonprofit organizations in an effort to inform each other of new developments, best practices and to generally spare each other from 'reinventing the wheel.' In some cases, links are provided to copyrighted websites. Please contact that website's organization for any use protected by copyright law. For original materials included on this website, we ask that you respect all copyrights. While you are welcome to share and adapt this material for noncommercial purposes, you must give credit to the author and any referenced sources. We welcome you to likewise share any materials that you develop with our partnership.