TRWA RIVER ACTION FOCUS TEAMS

River Action Focus Teams - or "RAFTs" are our flexible, user- friendly local river groups that allow people to use their skills, energy and interests to "do something real" to protect the Taunton River watershed - our watershed. These smaller teams are a great way to get involved by working on your tributary or in your town.

Here's more information about how one RAFT was formed and operates:

RAYNHAM CONSERVATION ACTION FOCUS TEAM (RCAFT) 

"The Raynham Conservation Action Focus Team (RCAFT) is an emerging grass roots group of Raynham citizens interested in a wide range of environmental issues in our town. Accordingly, we have formed the RCAFT under the guidance of the Taunton River Watershed Alliance, Inc. (TRWA) following the advocacy model for the TRWA’s River Action Focus Team Network.  The TRWA is a non-profit alliance of concerned residents, businesses and organizations united to restore and properly manage water and related natural resources (e.g. its tributaries, wetlands, floodplains, river and lake corridors and wildlife) within the Taunton River Watershed. The formation of the RCAFT was unanimously approved by the TRWA Board of Directors in July 2000 and by the RCAFT Members in attendance at our initial meeting in Raynham on August 10, 2000.  As an entity under TRWA, the RCAFT can use TRWA’s non-profit status to raise funds that are tax deductible and/or apply for project grants. 

Our primary objectives are to:

1) Promote community awareness of the significance of our abundant water and related natural resources (e.g. wetlands and fisheries) and open spaces within Raynham; 

2) Promote the community benefits of open space acquisition, land preservation, and natural resources conservation;

3) Assist our community in sustainable development by controlling excessive growth (suburban sprawl) via passage of appropriate zoning articles, by-laws and the Community Preservation Act (CPA);

4) Provide assistance in the formation of and participation in a permanent Open Space and Natural Resources Committee as part of the Town Master Plan Committee in order to facilitate the process to identify and acquire or protect appropriate parcels with community support;

5)  Provide technical support to any resident and/or group and/or organization that needs assistance in how to participate at a grass roots level in the Federal, State, or Town of Raynham regulatory permitting process (e.g. Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act), or looking to conduct a conservation enhancement and/or restoration project; 

6) Facilitate the formal establishment of the Raynham Fisheries Commission in order to restore our historical river herring runs and other anadromous fish species by the design and installation of fish ladders where needed, based on fisheries and economic evaluations;  and lastly

7) Provide technical support and community oversight to the Raynham Conservation Commission (RCC) along with technical support to any other Town Board/Department as appropriate (e.g. Park & Recreation, Highway).

For more information on the TRWA RAFTS, or how to form a new one, please call the TRWA office and leave a message for Bob Davis, TRWA Board member and Technical Advisor.