Welcome

We need your help in developing an effective plan to protect and restore the Taunton River as a source of our drinking water while maintaining the vital environmental and recreational values we all treasure.

As a resident, business, or agency within the Taunton River Watershed, your interests, insights and information are important to the development of a new and exciting Taunton River Watershed Study.  The Taunton River Watershed Steering Committee would like to introduce our project and invite you to participate in a number of upcoming watershed activities where you can learn more about the watershed and provide input and feedback to help guide the planning process.  The study will encompass all 42 communities and over 560 square miles of the Taunton River watershed, the second largest watershed in MA, and we hope to get as many of you involved as possible.

The Study of the watershed will look at existing conditions, and develop tools for protecting and restoring the Taunton River watershed to accommodate future growth and our future needs for drinking water, wastewater management and stormwater management.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided funding for the development of the study, which will be directed by the Taunton River Watershed Steering Committee.  This Committee is comprised of the following agencies and organizations:

  • Bridgewater State College’s Watershed Access Lab,
  • Massachusetts Department of  Conservation and Reservation,
  • Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,
  • The Nature Conservancy,
  • Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, and
  • Old Colony Planning Council.

Our consultant team of the Horsley Witten Group, Weston & Sampson and GeoSyntec Consultants will be collecting information and performing analyses over the next year in preparation for drafting the final study, which is scheduled to be completed in 2009.  Over the next year, we will be hosting several public meetings and workshops throughout the watershed to gather input from you and your neighbors.  In addition, we will be hosting a special, day-long event throughout the watershed such as a canoe and kayak excursion, to introduce or reintroduce you to the river and its environment. Check back with us at this website for more information and details about the upcoming meetings as the dates get closer.  You can also look for announcements through your local watershed organizations, newspapers and in the mail.

We hope that you will participate in our project and provide your valuable insights for the future of the Taunton River Watershed.  Thank you!
Please Check Back Periodically:  This project website will be updated periodically with interim reports and other information as it is collected or developed for the Study.  Announcements and meeting materials will also be made available for download.