Have you heard about our 200+ terrapin hatchlings born from 18 protected nests this summer? How has this year's excessive rain effected our water sampling results? Join us at our Annual Meeting to learn more! Main Speaker:  Steve Hurley,  Southeast District Fisheries Manager for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, will speak on Fisheries Resources of The Taunton River Watershed: Changes and Challenges over the Past 30+ years. In addition to our main speaker, the meeting will include the election of 2024 Board members and officers, volunteer recognition awards and reports on TRWA’s many activities of the past year…

  Join us, along with the Old Colony History Museum, to learn about current efforts to establish a Sowams Heritage Area in East Bay Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. Project Coordinator David Weed will share the area's significance, including over fifty locations revealing the early history of Massasoit’s tribe, the locations where the King Philip War began and ended, and how the English nearly exterminated the native people who had lived in the area for over 10,000 years. Free and open to the public Location: Old Colony History Museum, 66 Church Green, Taunton Refreshments will be served at 5:3oPM, presentation…

  Join TRWA member and volunteer Ellenor Simmons as we explore this beautiful Norton property also known as Town Forest, located near the Three Mile River. This walk will wind us through a pine forest that has reemerged after a winter moth (Operophtera brumata) caterpillar outbreak ten years ago, killing many of the large oaks. A necessary timber harvest removed the dead wood and thinned the pine canopy to promote regeneration of native tree growth. Sturdy footwear recommended. Pups welcomed. No restrooms available. Ellenor brings 32 years of state parks experience to TRWA as a former Southcoast Field Operations Team…

Join us for a fascinating guided walk through the historic Copper Works site in Norton, MA. Our knowledgeable guide Ellenor Simmons will lead us along a canal by the Wading River sharing stories and insights about the area, vegetation, and wildlife, stopping to view a pond and remains from the copper refining industry. The copper works once rivaled Paul Revere’s own refining practice. Later in 1837, pennies from the US Mint were made here. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the remnants of this once-thriving copper manufacturing site that contributed to the early pollution of the Taunton River.…

     For such a northern location, Massachusetts is home to many species of turtles. We'll discuss the anatomy, evolution, diversity, and conservation status of our Bay State turtles. Tips for those who want to help local turtles will also be covered. Learn all about our native turtles from Brian Bastarache during this free 1-hour presentation at Bridgewater Public Library.  No registration required. Brian, a TRWA Board Member, is chairman of the Bristol County Agricultural High School Environmental Conservation Department and field herpetologist for Oxbow Associates, Inc. He also leads a team conducting Northern Diamondback Terrapin population research with TRWA…

Help protect the water quality of the Taunton River and its tributaries Water Quality Monitoring Training Session March 23, 2022, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. TRWA’s Watershed Center, Sweets Knoll State Park in Dighton, MA (on Rt 138 just South of the Bristol Aggie traffic light - 1387 Somerset Avenue, Dighton) The Taunton River Watershed Alliance has tested water quality in the Taunton River and its tributaries since its inception in 1988. This citizen collected data is an incredible tool as a historic picture of the watershed’s health.  It helps keep the spotlight on areas and actions needed for further…

Join us for a guided walk with Ellenor Simmons through Porter Pasture in Freetown, as we explore its hidden gems firsthand. A short walk uphill through a pine needle path will lead us to an old cemetery to learn of the local families and visit their resting place.  We will then continue to the shore of Shephards Cove to enjoy a view of Assonet Bay. Pups welcomed on leash. No restrooms available. Ellenor brings 32 years of state parks experience to TRWA as a former Southcoast Field Operations Team Leader and park supervisor with the MA Department of Conservation and…

Join Middleborough-Lakeville Herring Fishery Commissioners Dave Cavanaugh and Tom Barron as they narrate a three-stop tour on the Nemasket River. The tour starts with a talk at Thomas Memorial Park, also known as the Wareham Street Herring Run, to learn about the herring life cycle and its historical significance, followed by a visit to the Assawompset Pond Dam to view their spawning area. The tour ends at Oliver Mill Park where herring are spotted prior to reaching the Wareham Street Herring Run. Limited to 15 participants, ages 13 and up. Registration required. No dogs allowed. To register, email director@savethetaunton.org  

  Middleborough-Lakeville Herring Fishery Commissioners will lead a talk on the annual spring migration of the herring from Mount Hope Bay up the Taunton and Nemasket Rivers to Assawompsett Ponds to spawn. They will discuss the history and significance of this yearly journey. Children on school vacation may get a chance to catch a fish by hand. Location: 47 Wareham Street, Middleborough Free and open to the public. No registration required. All ages welcome!       

     How much rain water actually makes it into a river? What role does the Taunton River play in our local history? Join TRWA and the Old Colony History Museum for a water-themed short story, explore the history of the river, and take part in a special activity. Discover how rain and runoff flow into the Taunton River with the TRWA’s fun watershed table. This program is designed for ages 0-5. Children are free; $5/adult admission. No registration required.  Location- Old Colony History Museum, 66 Church Green, Taunton