Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study A Partnership Effort on Behalf of The Taunton River.

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Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study A Partnership Effort on Behalf of The Taunton River

Transcript of Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study A Partnership Effort on Behalf of The Taunton River.

Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study

A Partnership Effort on Behalf of

The Taunton River

From the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act….

….certain selected rivers of the Nation which possess outstandingly

remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic,

cultural, or other similar values, shall be preserved and protected for the

benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations…..

Wild & Scenic Rivers

There are 163 Wild and Scenic Rivers nationwide; six in New England including two in Massachusetts

History of Taunton River Wild & Scenic

Local beginnings

Congressional Authorization of Study

Study Committee created• Towns each appoint representatives• State representatives• Nonprofit representatives (MA & RI)• National Park Service• SRPEDD

What is a Wild & Scenic River study?

The Study will answer two questions:

• What’s special about the Taunton River? (Outstanding Resource Values)

• How will we protect “what’s special” about the river for future generations? (River Management/Conservation Plan)

Effects of Wild & Scenic designation:

• Create coalition of agencies, non-profits, towns & National Park Service to implement the locally developed management plan

• Provide access to federal funding for implementing the plan and supporting the coalition

• Prohibits new dams or hydroelectric development

• Makes preservation of outstanding resources a paramount factor for all river-related projects that require federal permits.

Wild & Scenic Designation

Effects of Wild & Scenic designation:

What Designation WON’T Do:

• Designation will not stop development. Designation itself would only effect federally licensed or assisted water resource projects that would impact the river's outstanding values.

• Designation will not rezone private land or change property rights. Land use controls on private land are solely a matter of state and local jurisdiction.

•Designation does not require landowners to provide access to their land.

Wild & Scenic Designation

Goals of Study & Committee

• To understand, preserve and restore the Taunton River corridor as an intact river ecosystem and regional resource

• To develop a strong coalition of municipalities, citizens, non-profits, and agencies for planning and implementing public education, land-use, recreation and conservation strategies for the Taunton River

• To secure designation of the Taunton River as a National Wild and Scenic River (requires local approval and congressional authorization)

Bridgewater

Halifax

Middleborough

Raynham

Taunton

Berkley

Dighton

Freetown

Somerset

Fall River

Wild & Scenic Base Map

Achievements of Study Committee

Achievements include:1. Gathering background data2. Creating web page for

education & outreach3. Creating GIS maps for

analyzing data4. Ongoing meetings with

towns5. Determining Outstanding

Values6. Ongoing tributary surveys

“What’s so special about the Taunton River”• Agriculture• Archeology & History• Ecology and Biological Diversity• Fisheries• Recreation and Scenery• Mount Hope/Narragansett Bay Estuary

Determining Outstanding Values

Agriculture

Archeology & History

Ecology and Biological Diversity

Fisheries

Recreation and Scenery

Mount Hope/Narragansett Bay Estuary

1.

Wild & Scenic Shoreline Surveys on 5 upper Taunton tributaries: local volunteer Survey Teams

•Matfield River in East and West Bridgewater•Town River in West Bridgewater and Bridgewater•Winnetuxet River in Halifax•Forge River in Raynham•Nemasket River in Middleborough

and proposed surveys on the lower(Three Mile, Segregansett, and Assonet)

This is a partnership project between the Wild & Scenic Study Committee and Massachusetts Riverways Adopt-A-

Stream Programs (DFG)

Tributary Shoreline Surveys

Help build the Management PlanFebruary Planning Meeting – Bristol County Ag. H.S.

Attendance (please come!): Municipal Planning board members/staffConservation Commission members/staffWild & Scenic Study Committee designeesRegional expertsStream Team volunteersResidentsGoal:Develop action strategies, set priorities for protection of outstanding resources and gain an understanding of current protections and potential threats

Integrating the Lower River into the Wild & Scenic Study

Help build the Management Plan

Wild & Scenic Study CommitteeThis committee is central to the planning process and local representatives bring each communities’ issues to the table.

GoalThe goal of the committee is to help define the outstanding characteristics of the river and to develop action strategies and priorities for protection.

We need input from each municipality for the plan to be successful!

Integrating the Lower River into the Wild & Scenic Study

Winter and Spring 04: • Hold public planning workshop• Refine 6 Outstanding Values• Build key management & protection strategies• Continue to build GIS data and tools• Continue to gather data about outstanding resources on the lower Taunton River to add to management plan and report• Add tributary surveys of the lower Taunton River

Timeline for Next Steps

Spring 04:• Review draft River Management/ Conservation Plan with upper communities & key partners

Summer 04:• Review draft River Management/ Conservation Plan with lower communities & key partners• Revise and finalize the plan

Fall 04:• Present revised plan• Seek local and partner endorsement for Wild and Scenic designation based on plan including votes at Town Meetings

Timeline for Next Steps

www.tauntonriver.org