All Pawtucket All The Time

STATE HOUSE – Sen. Paul W. Fogarty recently recognized Save the Lakes, a coalition of 16 lake associations and individuals interested in preserving the state’s lakes, as the organization celebrates its first year of working to protect freshwater resources.

Senator Fogarty, a Democrat who represents District 23 in Glocester, Burrillville and North Smithfield, hosted the organization at the State House June 4 and presented its leaders with a citation honoring the group’s first anniversary. Save the Lakes grew out of efforts of lake associations in his district to connect with each other and those at other lakes to articulate the shared concerns of lake associations statewide. Its 16 member associations represent more than 2,000 people, and the organization continues to grow.

“Save the Lakes has quickly developed as an effective community of people who are dedicated to preserving and protecting the many freshwater lakes around Rhode Island. We count on these lakes for water resources, recreational opportunities, natural beauty and agriculture. Our state is fortunate that these dedicated people have taken the initiative to organize so the state’s freshwater resources will now have a stronger, unified voice in the state,” said Senator Fogarty.

Senator Fogarty presented the citation to the group’s chairman, Ray Theriault, and its president, Judy Colaluca, both of whom are members of the Sand Dam Reservoir in Glocester. The pair was among those who founded the organization last year, in part as a means to organize efforts to protect the state’s lakes from a recent onslaught of invasive plant species.

Save the Lakes will celebrate its first anniversary June 27 at 6 p.m. with a banquet at Nino’s on Lake Tiogue, 446 Tiogue Ave., Coventry. Department of Environmental Management Director W. Michael Sullivan will be the main speaker at the event, and tickets are available for $20 at the door or by mail. For more information, visit http://www.stlri.org/dinner-form.htm.