Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Information
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Nature & Science
Blackstone Canal, Lincoln RI
Natural Resources in the Blackstone River Valley
In the Blackstone River Valley, natural resources and the systems that link them – geology, hydrology and habitats – are important to the historic and cultural landscapes that we value and wish to preserve. Preserving key natural landscapes enhances historic settings and protects the natural systems that are shared throughout the Valley and are vital to the region’s health.
The Blackstone River Valley is a rich patchwork of natural resources, including forests, meadows, vernal pools, wetlands, rivers and tributaries. Few places exist where such a concentration of historic, cultural and natural resources have survived, are so fully integrated and are accessible to the public.
In 1998, the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor prepared a Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment that provides an overview and selective description of the natural significance of the National Heritage Corridor. The analysis identifies a rich array of most important sites and leads to specific recommendations for action in the Corridor.
The purpose of the Inventory was three-fold:
to reveal the natural features and systems of the Corridor which contribute to the understanding of national cultural landscape values;
to recommend strategies for protection, restoration, management, or acquisition;
and to provide a framework for local and regional decision-making.
By better understanding the role of natural resources in our history, in our present environment and in our daily well-being, we as individuals and communities will make better decisions for the future.
For a copy of the Natural Resources Inventory Map, please click here. (PDF: 3.55MB / 1 page)
To find out more about the natural environment of the Corridor as described in our Natural Resources Inventory, you can download excerpts from the Inventory by clicking below.
(PDF: 3.55MB / 1 page)