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River watershed director urges Council to keep $125,000 for River Rangers in FY27 budget
Summary
Alicia Lehrer, executive director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, told the City Council's Ways and Means Committee that level funding of $125,000 would maintain River Ranger staff who support greenway maintenance, tree planting and nature-based stormwater projects reaching about 75,000 residents.
Alicia Lehrer, executive director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, urged the City Council's Special Committee on Ways and Means to maintain the mayor's proposed level funding of $125,000 for River Ranger staff, saying the funding supports maintenance and community engagement along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
"This year I'm really pleased that the mayor has included level funding in the budget from the amount that you originally set into the budget in 2025 and that amount is $125,000," Lehrer said. She told the committee the River Rangers not only pick up trash and remove graffiti, but also plant and maintain green infrastructure that mitigates flooding.
Lehrer said the Greenway serves approximately 75,000 residents and highlighted recent planting work: the rangers planted 145 trees and 35,000 bulbs along the corridor in the past year. She emphasized the Rangers' role in engaging residents through Greenway activities and described the funding as necessary to sustain maintenance and nature-based stormwater projects.
Chair Miguel Sanchez thanked Lehrer for her testimony. The committee recorded written testimony received and closed the public hearing, scheduling further committee work the following day.
