taunton river wild & scenic study a partnership effort on behalf of the taunton river
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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)
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
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