This mission of ridem is to protect, restore, and manage the state's environmental and natural resources

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management a $513,942 cooperative agreement on June 22, 2026, to survey and treat Hydrilla verticillata, a federally designated noxious weed, in Worden Pond, Rhode Island's largest natural lake and the headwaters of the federally designated Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River.

The award funds determination of the current spatial extent and abundance of Hydrilla verticillata in Worden Pond, which covered approximately 148 acres during a 2024 aquatic plant survey. RIDEM will conduct low-dose herbicide treatment with fluridone targeting invasive Hydrilla throughout the entire lake while avoiding native plant death, with an expected outcome of killing off approximately 80 percent of the Hydrilla over the summer to reduce its ability to produce reproductive structures in fall and treat any plant fragments liberated or introduced from outside sources. The recipient will also educate and inform stakeholders including boaters, anglers, swimmers, paddlers, the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, Friends of Worden Pond, and the Wild and Scenic Wood-Pawcatuck Stewardship Council on the extent of the invasive plant problem and the risks associated with transporting Hydrilla to other sites.

Work is performed in Wakefield, South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The period of performance extends through May 31, 2027. RIDEM will coordinate implementation across multiple internal programs including the Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment, Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Office of Water Resources, overseen by the Office of the Director.

Worden pond, the largest natural lake in rhode island (~1,100 acres), is the headwaters of the federally designated wild and scenic pawcatuck river, and was found to have the invasive plant, a federal noxious weed, hydrilla verticillata, covering approximately 148 acres during a 2024 aquatic plant survey. The purpose of this project is to determine the current spatial extent and abundance of the aquatic invasive plant, hydrilla verticillata, in worden pond, and to begin treatment of the pond with the herbicide, fluridone to control the hydrilla. Justification of project: the project will involve participate of multiple ridem programs including the division of agriculture and forest environment, division of fish and wildlife and office of water resources and overseen by the office of the director. Deliverables and expected outcomes: determine the abundance and coverage of invasive hydrilla in worden pond. Complete herbicide treatments in worden pond using a low-dose of fluridone will target invasive hydrilla throughout the whole lake, while avoiding native plant death, killing off an estimated 80% of the hydrilla over the course of the summertime to reduce its ability to produce reproductive structures in the fall, and to provide treatment of any new plant fragments that may be liberated from the parent plants, or introduced to the pond from outside. Educate and inform stakeholders, including boaters, anglers, swimmers, paddlers, watershed associations (the wood-pawcatuck watershed association), lake associations (friends of worden pond) and the wild and scenic wood-pawcatuck stewardship council, so they may understand the extent of the problem, and risks associated with transportation of hydrilla to other sites and so they may inform environmental officials should hydrilla be seen in other areas of RI. Impact of the mission, if not done: this mission of ridem is to protect, restore, and manage the state's environmental and natural resources. If this work ISN't completed then worden pond, the largest natural lake in rhode island would be over run with the federal noxious weed hydrilla verticillata. Spreading this invasive more in RI as worden pond is the headwaters of the federally designated wild and scenic pawca tuck river which then feeds other streams and rivers. Intended beneficiary(IES): general public. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: n/a