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| Taunton River Receives U. S. Wild and Scenic River Status
On March 30th, President Obama signed into law the last step to designate the Taunton River as a National Wild and Scenic River. After many years of effort by citizens and municipalities, the dream is now true! TRWA and members of The Taunton River Coalition applaud the work of our Congressional Delegation and the many TRWA members, watershed citizens and local officials who worked toward passage of this landmark designation for so many years! The President’s signature and the approval by the House and Senate of the Omnibus Public Lands Act, formally added the Taunton River to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. "The legislation … is a major milestone in our campaign to save the Taunton River and its watershed," said Carolyn LaMarre, Executive Director of the Taunton River Watershed Alliance. "In taking this action, Congress has ensured that the river will remain free flowing in perpetuity, and will be protected now and in the future." Click here for the full text of our joint press release on the designation, including comment from our Congressional delegation on this historic occasion. The federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires that rivers within the system be preserved in free-flowing condition and managed to protect and enhance their outstanding values. It prohibits the federal government from funding or issuing permits for water resource projects that would have a "direct and adverse impact" on those values. In the last 40 years, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act has protected over 11,000 miles of rivers in the country. Known to early human settlers as "Tetequet" or "Great River," the Taunton rises from the Hockomock Swamp, a 17,000-acre wetland where small streams meander through grassy fens and white cedar and red maple woodlands. The Taunton watershed's nursery and foraging habitats support herring, rainbow smelt, silversides and other fish that play a critical role in supporting marine food webs. Striped bass and bluefish, which enter the river to feed on these species, are a significant recreational and commercial fishery. The upper River provides spawning habitat for migratory fish, is home to the Northern Redbelly Cooter (a federally-listed turtle), the globally rare bridle shiner, river otters, and seven freshwater mussel species. Jim Ross, of Raynham, a TRWA Board Member and past Chair of the Taunton River Wild and Scenic Study Committee said the Wild and Scenic designation establishes a Taunton River Stewardship Council, a community-based management system with representation from the ten cities and towns along the river and makes the river eligible for federal technical and financial assistance for projects that preserve and enhance its values. "This designation will give the Taunton River and its outstanding values the national recognition they deserve," said Ross. Noting that members of the Campaign will have a presence on the Council, he added, "Now we must get back to the work of keeping the Taunton a great river and a special place for everyone." The plan developed over years of community participation and which will be the foundation for future guidance can be found here. Comments of Taunton River Coalition leaders Recent press coverage of the Wild and Scenic designation |