Friends of the Moshassuck was founded in 1998. At that time, the lower part of the river really needed help. We talked to neighbors, and then found some partners and funders. The EPA and Save the Bay helped us start restoration work along the river at Collyer Field in Providence, and this site now has an active tree planting program. We have planted about 50 trees so far, and it is recognized as an important experiment in the supression of the invasive Japanese knotweed. We invite everyone interested in knotweed supression to visit the site and are happy to give tours.

Friends of the Moshassuck has a vision of a greenway linking the sights we have found to restore with those already protected sights in the Moshassuck watershed. The Nature Consevancy has preserved the Limerock headwaters in Lincoln and of course the Rhode Island DEM has responsibility for the lovely Olney Pond tributary at Lincoln Woods - but many gems occur in the lower part of the watershed, though often hidden from sight or suffering some of the ills of civilization's encroachment.

In March 2006 the Friends of the Moshassuck was designated the official Watershed Council for the Moshassuck and it's tributary the West River by the Rhode Island Rivers Council. In addition to advocating for our river we have developed partnerships with surrounding watershed groups such as the 10 Mile River association and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council. We also cooperate with the RIDEM, Groundwork Providence, some of the watershed towns, and the URI Watershed Watch.

Friends of the Moshassuck, in addition to restoring sites along the river, has a focus on the ecology/economy interface - in other words a great interest in how restoring the health of ecosystems can help comunities achive prosperity. The Prosperity Project was therefore developed within Friends of the Moshassuck and recently began its own blog/website at www.riprosperityproject.org.

Anyone interested in helping to restore sites along the Moshassuck River, or who has a site they love along the river, is encouraged to contact us.