Fish and Wildlife Director Highlights Importance of Rhode Island’s Coastal Refuges

The state’s coastal ponds and wildlife refuges don’t get top billing,
but they are fundamentally important to the health of the local ecosystem

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams visited the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams visited the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown.
Alex Nunes/The Public’s Radio
Share
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams visited the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams visited the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown.
Alex Nunes/The Public’s Radio
Fish and Wildlife Director Highlights Importance of Rhode Island’s Coastal Refuges
Copy

Martha Williams, the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was in Rhode Island in mid-October to mark the annual National Wildlife Refuge Week.

Williams met up with The Public’s Radio reporter for a morning of birding at the Trustom Pond refuge in South Kingstown, and to talk about the importance of Rhode Island’s coastal ponds and efforts to protect them.

The Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge is more than 780 acres of protected land, nearly half of that donated in the mid-1970s. Williams was there to highlight the agency’s work on salt marsh restoration.

This interview was conducted by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Health care, housing, education and President Trump are all likely to take center stage during the 2026 legislative session, which got underway on Tuesday
Researchers have identified 15 North Atlantic right whale calves this winter
With cold weather and snow coating our roofs, you might wonder if solar panels are still effective this time of year. So this week on Possibly we’re answering your snowy solar panel questions
Questions loom on the budget, taxes, hospitals and education
Brown University Health has moved to Respiratory Virus Status Red as doctors urge vaccination amid a severe flu season
This creamy lemon broccoli pasta is fresh, comforting, and effortlessly weeknight-ready. Bright lemon zest, tender broccoli, and a light, creamy sauce come together for a dish that feels indulgent but stays refreshingly simple