Author Archives: Gloria Bancroft

Volunteers Bob & Barbara Hunt, Retire After Years of Service

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Thank you to Bob and Barbara Hunt for their years of water quality testing. They are long-time valued volunteers for TRWA’s Water Quality Monitoring Program and are retiring from testing as of this spring.
 
Steve Silva, program coordinator, says, “the Hunts were dedicated and reliable water quality monitoring volunteers long before I started with the program. Thanks to them, we have a long and complete data set on water quality conditions in the lower Taunton River main stem and the lower Three Mile River, both crucial areas. This data has been important to our efforts to lobby for treatment plant and stormwater management upgrades to improve water quality in the Taunton River.”
 
 
 

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Bob is shown here at one of the 3 sites he and his wife Barbara sampled monthly from April -October for many years. The Hunts sampled at the Berkley Bridge (TNT-01), Plain St. (TNT-02, near Riverfront Park at the Weirs), and Three Mile River 01 (TMR-01,  the most downstream and tidal site on the Three Mile River).  The locations they sampled provided important data to access the lower Taunton River and upper Mount Hope Bay Estuary.
 
To understand the importance of their work, go to:
 
 
 

 

If you are interested in becoming a water testing volunteer, go here: https://savethetaunton.org/get…/volunteer-opportunities/

New volunteers attend a training seminar before the testing season begins and, as often as possible, are paired with experienced teams when they begin. The Hunts and our volunteers are at the forefront of learning about the conditions of our Watershed’s water quality.
 

Board of Directors Welcome Brad Gonyer

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TRWA welcomes Brad Gonyer as the newest member of our Board of Directors.
 
A seasoned TRWA volunteer, Brad has been a water sampler in the Water Quality Monitoring program for the past twelve years. He has also volunteered at various events, and will be joining the garden committee when it resumes work this spring.
 
His belief in the increasing need for environmental stewardship matches TRWA’s mission to protect and restore the Watershed’s natural resources for current and future generations, as well as building and supporting responsible stewardship of our fragile ecosystems, water quality, forests, farmland and wetlands.
 
About himself he says, “I was born and raised in Massachusetts and have lived in Taunton since 1989. I am a retired Museum Preparator whose career encompassed exhibit installation and organization, collections care and management as well as installation and maintenance of outdoor sculpture. I consider environmental remediation to be among the most significant challenges we are facing. True quality in our lives has always been dependent upon the healthy natural world. Humanity has become so powerfully disruptive that it is necessary for us to assume a greater stewardship role than we have been accustomed to. This is why I became involved with the TRWA and  look forward to spring planting.”
 
Thank you for joining us!
 

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Holiday Open House

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The TRWA will be hosting a Holiday Open House in appreciation for all the support received throughout this past year.

Stop by the Watershed Center at Sweets Knoll State Park, Dighton on Saturday December 17th from 10am-1pm. Enjoy cookies, calendars, holiday treats, warm conversation and a chance to see our progress at the Center.

During your visit, enjoy our 2023 Tide Calendar photo display and find many great holiday gift ideas.

Announcing the Photographers of our 2023 Tide Calendar

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This year’s Tide Calendar Photographers are:

Cover

“Blue Eyed Lady,” TRWA Watershed Center, Dighton, MA – Ellenor Simmons

January: 

“Taunton River Snow Scene,” Berkley, MA – William Gibson

February:  

“If Peaceful was a Photo,” Sweets Knoll State Park, Dighton, MA – Kathleen Tasca

March:

“Reflections at Memorial Park,” Taunton, MA – Kerri Deptula

April:  
“Forest Adventure,” Woodward Forest, Norton, MA – Gloria Bancroft

May: 

“I Look Pretty Darn Good,” Tamarack Park, Lakeville, MA – Mohamad Ojjeh

June: 

“Sunset Bay Shores,” Assonet, MA – Adam Baker

July: 

“Riding Along the River,” Fall River, MA – Kerri Deptula

August: 

“Snails, Insects and Worms, oh my! Macroinvertebrate Workshop,” War Memorial Park, W. Bridgewater, MA – Sally Spooner 

September: 

“Taunton River Golden Hour,” Berkley, MA – Ruth Langlan

October:  

“October on the Snake River,” Lakeville, MA – Sally Spooner

November: 

“Cooper’s Hawk,” Taunton, MA – Anna O’Keefe

December: 

“Winter Skies are Anything but Bland,” Taunton River, Somerset, MA – Kathleen Tasca 

 

The calendar also features the photographic work of: Kathie Wing and Jennifer O’Keefe

                    

Calendars will be available for $20 at TRWA’s Watershed Center at Sweets Knoll State Park starting November 4th.  Please call ahead at 508-828-1101 for times when the Center will be open.  A limited number of calendars will be available for a discounted price of $15 at the TRWA’s Annual Meeting on November 12th at Bristol County Agricultural High School from 4PM-7PM. 

Calendars are always available print-on-demand. The TRWA is excited to use all the options of this new technology. The print-on-demand calendars can be printed from any month of the year with the tide data from the Taunton River or any other of the 3,500 NOAA tide stations. Or, if you like to write appointments onto your calendar, you can order a calendar printed without the tide data. People purchasing the calendar can even customize their calendar with their own photographs. Half the proceeds from the online $19.95 purchase price goes directly to the TRWA to support its ongoing mission protecting and restoring the Taunton River watershed, its tributaries, wetlands, floodplains, river corridors and wildlife.

To order our TIDE calendar, follow this link: http://www.calendarlink.org/trwa/home.html.

For a step by step guide on navigating the customizations of the order form, click on this link.  how_to_order_online_flier

2023 commemorates 35 years that the TRWA has been a voice for the river, an advocate for environmental protection, sustainable development and responsible stewardship of our precious water resources. We are an Alliance of concerned residents, businesses, and organizations united to restore and properly manage water and related natural resources within the Taunton River Watershed.  Your purchase of our calendar helps to support our work.  Thank you!

                     

    

Please join us for the TRWA’s Annual Meeting

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Join us for the TRWA Annual Meeting Saturday, November 12th, from 4-7:00 p.m. at the Bristol County Agricultural High School (BCAHS), 135 Center Street, Dighton. 

Our Featured Speaker will be Brad Chase, Diadromus Fish Project Leader from the MA Division of Marine Fisheries. He will speak on the ecology and management of river herring in the Taunton River.

TRWA Board Member and BCAHS NRM Chairman, Brian Bastarache, and project technician Jessie Power, will present results from the 2022 Taunton River Diamondback Terrapin Population Assessment field season.  This is TRWA’s seventh season studying the Diamondback Terrapin population in the Taunton River and the third season of a small pilot nest protection program. We will have our 2023 Annual Tidal Calendars available for purchase.

 

                   

Steve Silva, TRWA’s Water Quality Monitoring Program Coordinator and Board Secretary, will share the 2022 monitoring results.  There will also be a brief treasurer’s report, as well as updates on the Bruce Spooner Education Center programs and our advocacy work. The TRWA membership will be publicly voting to fill Board of Director seats and select 2023 officers.  Please contact the office if you are a member and have any questions on who is running for officers (or if you wish to join the board.)  

Limited copies of the 2023 TRWA Tide Calendar will be available for $15, featuring the work of 12 local photographers who captured the beauty of the Taunton River Watershed and its wildlife.    

 

 

The meeting is hosted by the Natural Resource Management Department and will be held in the Student Commons Building.  Light refreshments will be served.  

This is an in person meeting, all are welcome.  We will be running a live video feed if you wish to watch the meeting proceedings via your home computer.  Email director@savethetaunton.org for the Zoom meeting link and access code.  

The Student Commons Building is on the north side of Center Street.  Parking is located to the rear of the building .   The building is fully accessible from all entrances.

 

NRCS Statewide Local Working Group Survey and Meeting Announcement

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On September 29 at 12:00 noon, the NRCS will host a statewide Local Working Group meeting over Zoom. Please note: even if you cannot attend the meeting, you can make your voice heard by filling out the NRCS survey, linked below. Answers to this survey will not only structure the LWG meeting, but will also guide our work going forward.

This survey and meeting are an opportunity to provide input on natural resource priorities for the NRCS and the state conservationist. Agricultural producers, owners/operators of nonindustrial private forest land, professionals representing agricultural and natural resource interests, and individuals representing a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, plant, forestry, and wildlife sciences are all welcome.

For more information on local working groups, see What are Local Working Groups. 

Please fill out this survey at least one week prior to the meeting (September 22 deadline). This survey will help us structure the meeting so that it responds to your needs. A list of definitions of the resource concerns listed in the survey can be found here. Again, even if you cannot attend the meeting, please fill out this survey—answers to this survey will guide our work beyond the statewide Local Working Group meeting.

To receive the link to the meeting, please RSVP by emailing Austin Miles at amilesmacd@gmail.com.

Guided Walk- Heritage State Park

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Friday, July 1, 2022:   Fall River Heritage State Park   10:00am-11:30am

TRWA volunteers will lead an easy walk along the boardwalk at the Fall River Heritage State Park. We will look at nature along this end of the Taunton River Watershed, and discuss the area’s history. Stroller and wheelchair accessible. Pups on leash welcome. Restrooms available.

Cost: Member- Free, Non-member- $5

Meeting Place:  Battleship Cove Parking Area near the small bridge

Attendee Limit: 15;   Pre-registration required by 4pm, Thursday, June 30, 2022

To register call (508) 828-1101 or email director@savethetaunton.org

Successful 2022 Taunton River Festival

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This year’s celebration of the Wild and Scenic Taunton River was a huge success!  Many thanks to all our vendors, exhibitors, non-profit organizations, food trucks, musicians, dancers, and visitors who made this event so enjoyable. The day was filled with sunshine, smiles, laughter, song, dance, food, shopping and more!  A special thank you to our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers, including Taunton Troop 40, whose assistance made the event possible.

Mark your calendars for next year on June 11, 2023 at Weir Village Riverfront Park, 33 East Water St, Taunton. 

Click here for photos of the 2022 event.

 

Guided Bird Walk at Sweets Knoll State Park

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Sunday, June 5, 2022:    Sweets Knoll State Park, Dighton MA   8:30am-10:00am

TRWA volunteers will lead an easy walk through the Sweets Knoll State Park which abuts the Taunton River. We will look for and identify birds on and near the river through sight and sound. If you have binoculars and/or bird guides, feel free to bring them along. Wear sturdy waterproof footwear. Families welcome, though not stroller friendly. No pups please. Restroom available.

Cost: Member- Free, Non-member- $5

Meeting Place:  TRWA Office, 1387 Somerset Ave, Dighton

Attendee Limit: 15;   Pre-registration required by 4pm, Friday, June 3rd

To register call (508) 828-1101 or email director@savethetaunton.org

                  

World Turtle Day: May 23

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TRWA’s work to assess the population of Diamondback Terrapins in the Taunton River Watershed will be entering it’s seventh season in June 2022. This unique terrapin is a threatened species, protected under Massachusetts Law. If you have laying females on your property and would like us to install screening to prevent nest predation by skunks, foxes and raccoons, you can call our office at (508) 828-1101.