Conservation Management Areas

All users of State Management Areas and designated Undeveloped State Parks must comply with orange clothing requirements establish in § 7.23 of this Subchapter.

A.In the Management Areas, persons may walk leashed dogs and domestic animals. The leash shall not exceed twenty-five feet (25') in length with animal under control at all times.

B.Dogs on State Management Areas allowed only under the following Rules:

1.No dogs are allowed to be trained, run, or exercised or be permitted to run at large on State Management Areas from March 15th to August 15th, inclusive, without written permission of the State Land Management Council, except as otherwise provided in these Regulations.

2.Walking of dogs on a leash of not more than twenty-five feet (25') in length is permitted on roads and trails only.

C.Requirements for using the Reynolds Horsemen's Area, Arcadia:

1.Horses shall be allowed only on bridle trails and in designated areas. All users will clean up manure at campsites and dispose of it in bins provided.

2.Ring is to be used for riding or attended exercising, not to be used for turnout or hitching.

3.Fencing must be self-supporting with no nails or fasteners allowed in trees.

4.Horses are not to be tied to trees.

5.Cemetery is not to be used for horse turnout.

6.Only one (1) site can be used at a time.

D.Horseback riding is prohibited in the Great Swamp Management Area during the established small game and the shotgun deer seasons pursuant to the hunting regulations established in Part 60-00-9 of this Title.

E.Horses shall be allowed only in designated areas and bridle trails, except by official written permission.

F.During the established small game and shotgun deer hunting seasons, horses are prohibited from the Arcadia Dog Training Area with the exception of the Thornley and Midway Trails and other RIDEM designated trails.

G.The exercising, training or running of dogs from March 15th through August 15th is prohibited except by official written permission, or in designated areas.

H.Cross-Country skiers are not allowed to bring dogs on designated cross-country ski trails.

During the established small game and shotgun deer hunting seasons, the use of mountain bikes is prohibited from the Arcadia Dog Training Area with the exception of Thornley and Midway Trails and other RIDEM designated trails.

A.All operations of boats must be conducted in accordance with the regulations established in Chapter 80 of this Title.

B.Boating is prohibited within the impoundment created by the Great Swamp dike, within the Great Swamp Management Area during the period September 1st through March 31st annually except by licensed migratory bird hunters. All motors are prohibited at all times.

C.Boats are prohibited on the following ponds:

1.Round Top Pond, Burrillville

2.Little Round Top Pond, Burrillville

3.Peck Pond, Burrillville

4.Deep Pond, Arcadia (off Blitzkrieg Trail) Exeter

5.Frosty Hollow Pond, Exeter

6.Gristmill Pond, Glocester

7.Carolina Trout Pond, Richmond

8.Lower Roaring Brook Pond, Richmond

9.A.L. Mowry Pond, Smithfield

D.The launching, hauling, and operation of boats with motors of any kind are prohibited from State-owned and/or operated ramps on the following ponds:

1.Upper Roaring Brook Ponds, Exeter

2.Asa Pond, South Kingstown

E.The launching, hauling and operation of boats with motors of any kind, except electric trolling motors, is prohibited from State-owned and/or operated ramps on the following bodies of water:

1.Spring Lake, Burrillville

2.Union Pond, Burrillville

3.Carbuncle Pond, Coventry

4.Shippee Mill Pond, Foster

5.Clarkville Pond, Glocester

6.Lake Washington, Glocester

7.Alton Pond, Hopkinton

8.Carr Pond, North Kingstown

9.Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown

10.Blue Pond, Hopkinton (No ramp)

11.Simmons Mill Pond, Little Compton

12.Browning Mill Pond, Richmond

13.Pawtuxet River (Hope), Scituate

14.Barber's Pond, South Kingstown

F.The use of motors in excess of ten (10) horsepower on boats launched, hauled, or operated from State-owned and/or operated ramps is prohibited on the following bodies of water:

1.Wilson Reservoir, Burrillville

2.Keech Pond, Glocester

3.Smith and Sayles Reservoir (Sand Dam), Glocester

4.Bowdish Reservoir, Glocester

5.Woonasquatucket Reservoir (Stump Pond), Smithfield

6.Indian Lake, South Kingstown

7.Tucker Pond, South Kingstown

8.Asheville Pond, Hopkinton

9.Locustville Pond, Hopkinton

10.Chapman's Pond, Westerly

G.No person shall use any motor in excess of ten (10) horsepower launched from State-owned and/or operated ramps on Stafford Pond, Tiverton and Wilson Reservoir, Burrillville, with the exception that the use of motors in excess of ten (10) horsepower on boats launched, hauled, or operated from State-owned and/or operated ramps on Stafford Pond, Tiverton, and Wilson Reservoir, Burrillville is permitted for organized fishing activities possessing a valid permit from RIDEM, Division of Fish and Wildlife. (See Fishing Regulations for the Season, Part 60-00-10 of this Title).

H.The use of motors in excess of ten (10) horsepower on boats launched, hauled or operated from the State-owned ramp on Wakefield Pond in Burrillville is prohibited at all times. The use of any motor on a boat from this State-owned ramp, except electric trolling motors, is prohibited from June 20th to September 20th of any year, inclusive.

I.No person shall use any motor in excess of ten (10) horsepower launched from State-owned and/or operated ramps on Pascoag Reservoir at the State-owned launching ramp on Schoolhouse Road, Glocester with the exception that permitted organized fishing activities, i.e. tournaments shall be allowed to use motors in Pascoag Reservoir at the State-owned launching ramp on Schoolhouse Road, Glocester, between the Saturday before Memorial Day and Labor Day of each year inclusive.

J.The use of motors in excess of ten (10) horsepower on boats launched, hauled, or operated on the waters of Breakheart Pond in Exeter is prohibited.

K.The mooring of boats, the parking of vehicle or engaging in any other activity on land or waters as to obstruct the use of a boat-launching ramp by others is prohibited.

L.Boats shall be launched only at designated areas.

M.Boats shall be tied up at State boat ramp facilities for no longer than thirty (30) minutes.

N.No person shall moor, dock, or berth a vessel, boat, or any other object overnight except in designated mooring, docking, or berthing areas.

O.The public reservation manager may, by posting of an order, specify time limits for the mooring, docking, or berthing of a vessel, boat, or any other object at mooring, docking, or berthing facilities. No person shall moor, dock, or berth a vessel, boat, or any other object in violation of time limits so established (See also § 7.18 of this Subchapter, Swimming, Bathing, Floating).

A.Camping in designated conservation management areas is allowed with official written permission or through a special use permit.

B.LeGrand Reynolds Horsemen’s Camping Area

1.No person may occupy Reynolds Horsemen’s Area for more than a continuous four (4) day period with a one (1) day minimum break prior to any re-occupancy, unless with official written permission from Arcadia Forestry Headquarters.

2.Use of this area is limited to campers with horses unless written permission from the Department is given.

Special Use permit is required for groups either organized, or assembled through advertisement or social media, of ten (10) to seventy-five (75) people at Public Reservations not under the jurisdiction of the Division of Parks & Recreation. Permits are also needed for any scientific, research, educational or volunteer activities regardless of number of people participating in accordance with Section 7.16 (H) of this Title and Part 60-00-4 of this Title. Special Use applications should be sent to Arcadia Forestry Headquarters (260 Arcadia Rd, Hope Valley, Rhode Island 02823).

All Management Areas are closed from one half (1/2) hour after sunset to one half (1/2) hour before sunrise, except for fishing, hunting, launching and/or mooring of boats, snowmobiling on established trails in Arcadia and George Washington-Pulaski (See § 9.11 of this Part), or as provided by official written permit issued by the Director or his or her authorized representative, or as otherwise provided under regulations promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 32-2-4.

Hunting shall be conducted in accordance with Fish and Wildlife regulations established in Part 60-00-9 of this Title and all applicable state statutes.

A.Closure of Management Areas and/or roads and trails may occur if environmental conditions warrant.

B.Wildlife Food Plots may only be entered by walkers, hikers, hunters, and for the purpose of training dogs. Entering Food Plots is prohibited between June 1st and August 15th, except for the purpose of training dogs in designated areas.

A.Motorcycle use is only allowed within designated areas of Arcadia Management Area subject to conditions of § 9.10 of this Part. Town and State roads within the Arcadia Management Area which are not part of the designated route may be used at any time provided all local and state motor vehicle Regulations are adhered to. The designated trail for motorcycle use is subject to change or correction by the RIDEM if conditions warrant. The designated trail (18.9 miles total loop) for motorcycle use shall consist of gravel roads and fire trails as delineated on the Arcadia Trail Map and described as follows: Arcadia Road; Austin Farm Road; Brook Trail; Barber Road; Blitzkrieg Trail; Bliven Trail; Frosty Hollow Road; Mt. Tom Road; Summit Road; Old Ten Rod Road (White Church Trail).

B.Only street-legal registered motorcycles operated by riders who hold a valid motorcycle operators license may use the area. Operators must also maintain liability insurance according to Rhode Island State Laws.

C.No riding shall be allowed behind any gated gravel or fire trial unless said roads are designated for motorcycle use. Motorcycles are not allowed on hiking trails and single-track trails.

D.No new motorcycle trails shall be cut, marked, or created within the Arcadia Management Area.

E.Trails may be periodically closed by RIDEM for use by motorcycles when habitat or natural resource protection issues, weather, or road conditions warrant. Such conditions may include but are not limited to: high/extreme fire danger or seasonal muddy conditions. There shall be no motorcycle riding beyond gated portions of the loop during March, April and before 1:00 p.m. during May.

F.The speed limit on the trail designated for motorcycle use shall be twenty-five (25) miles per hour or as posted.

G.Use of "trails" motorcycles in the Arcadia Management Area is covered under a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Rhode Island Trails Club and RIDEM. The MOU designates the portion of Arcadia where trails riding can occur and the time of year that use is permitted. The use of the Management Area by RITC and the MOU will be evaluated by RIDEM on an annual basis to determine if changes are necessary in order to protect the natural resources of the Arcadia Management Area.

A.Arcadia, Big River, Diamond Hill and George Washington Management Areas

1.Special Event Permits are required for any group of seventy-five (75) participants or more and shall not exceed a total of one hundred fifty (150) participants. No more than four (4) Special Event Permits shall be issued during the period designated in § 9.11 of this Part.

2.Permits will be issued during the period of July 1st through September 30th only.

3.Exemptions from the limitation on the maximum participants and/or time of year restrictions may be granted by the RIDEM for educational workshops, use of picnic/beach areas, and use of RIDEM boat launching ramps for fishing tournaments.

4.Applications to hold a Special Event must be submitted Management Areas Stewardship Committee for review and approval to Arcadia Forestry Headquarters (260 Arcadia Rd., Hope Valley, Rhode Island 02823). Applications must be submitted from January 1st to the last day of February of the year that the event will take place. Applications will be reviewed by RIDEM to determine if they meet the requirements. If necessary, permit applications will be selected by a lottery drawing that will be held on the first (1st) Monday in March at 1200 hours (noon). In the event that all the allotted Special Event Permits are not filled by the first (1st) Monday in August, remaining permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. No more than two (2) Special Event Permits will be issued per year per individual recreation use type to allow fair access to other user groups.

5.RIDEM, at its sole discretion, will determine the suitability of a proposed event at the Management Area requested and may refuse permission if the event threatens the integrity of the Management Area's natural resources, including but not limited to: soil, water, fish, wildlife, and RIDEM's responsibility to provide for availability to the public for multiple use of the area.

6.RIDEM at its sole discretion can impose restrictions or refuse to permit an event during periods of high or extreme fire danger or where environmental, public health, and/or safety concerns so dictate.

7.Special Event sponsors shall be responsible for the following in running an event:

a.Paying for adequate RIDEM Law Enforcement personnel during events.

b.Notifying and obtaining written permission for said use from all local towns/cities affected by the event. Written permission must be submitted before the permit will be issued.

c.Notifying State and local police, fire, and rescue of the event.

d.All event sponsors shall provide a liability insurance policy of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) and must sign an indemnification of the State and all its employees. Event sponsors shall be required to post a bond payable to RIDEM in an amount RIDEM determines to be necessary and appropriate to reimburse RIDEM for any damages incurred as a result of the event and which has not been repaired by the event sponsors within seven (7) days of the closing of the event. The event sponsors shall also be required to execute an agreement in which the sponsors agree to be personally liable, both jointly and severally, for any damage as determined by RIDEM to have resulted from the permitted event over and above the amount of the bond.

e.All participants must sign a liability waiver and release for the State.

f.Event sponsors shall be responsible for repairing any damage to the Management Area caused by the event in the time designated in the permit.

g.Event sponsors are responsible for removing all signs, markers, and trash from the Management Area caused by the event within seven (7) day of its conclusion.

h.Event sponsors shall provide to RIDEM an estimation of the number of spectators that can be expected for an event.

i.RIDEM reserves the right to include additional special conditions on any permitted event if conditions so warrant.

j.These Regulations do not apply to the use of areas under the jurisdiction of the RIDEM's Division of Parks and Recreation.

A.Bay Islands

1.Camping in the Bay Islands is prohibited.

2.From the period of April 1st through August 15th annually the following areas are closed to entry: Dyer Island, Hope Island and Gould Island. During this time period, no person is allowed to enter these areas without official written permission from the Director. During this time period, disturbing or molesting any nesting birds at these areas are prohibited.

3.All cats, dogs, and other domestic animals are prohibited at all times at Dutch Island, Dyer Island, Gould Island, Hope Island, and Patience Island; except that hunting dogs may be used at Hope Island while hunting small game or migratory birds only during the open seasons set by the Department and hunting dogs may be used at Patience Island while hunting migratory birds only during the open seasons set by the Department.

B.All State Fish Hatcheries are closed to public use.

C.Hillsdale (De Coppet)

1.Hunting, Horseback riding, and cycling are prohibited.

D.Dutch Island

1.The entry upon Dutch Island is prohibited - no person is allowed to enter onto Dutch Island without official written permission from the Director.