Taunton Wild and Scenic River Study Draft Report and Environmental Assessment Tabular Summary of Public Response October, 2007 Table I. Direct Correspondence in Support of Designation Commenter Summary Notes Kathleen Botelko, Fall Supports Alt B (Full Enjoys birding & wildlife River, MA Designation) on river; notes herring run Notes historical significance Town of Berkley, Historical Supports Wild and Scenic of river in Berkley Commission Designation Elizabeth Elsner, Assonet, Supports Wild and Scenic Worried about development MA Designation threats Ann Marie LeConte, Supports Alt B (Full Riverfront landowner; Somerset, MA Designation) enjoys wildlife viewing, natural beauty of river; learned to fish on river Taunton River Watershed Supports Alt B (Full Reiterates major study Alliance, Taunton, MA Designation) findings re significance; cites support of its members and local communities Ann Marie Dufresne, Fall Supports Alt B (Full Cites family visits to River, MA Designation) Kennedy Park in Fall R; Peregrine Falcons nesting on bluffs above river Althea Brady, Assonet, MA Supports Alt. B (Full Cites many attributes of Designation) Assonet River and Assonet Bay as part of Taunton estruary & watershed ecology Nancy Durfee, Somerset, Supports Alt B (Full Cites family connections to MA Designation) river; wildlife viewing; swimming; fishing; recreation; history Priscilla Chapman (MA Supports Alt B (Full Lengthy support letter for Audubon) & Susan Speers Designation) Wild and Scenic (Taunton River Watershed Designation and Study Campaign) Process/Products. The Campaign represents: Environmental League of Massachusetts; Mass Audubon; The Nature Conservancy; Save The Bay – Narragansett Bay; Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District; Trustees of Reservations; Taunton River Watershed Alliance; Trust For Public Land; The Wildlands Trust of Southeastern MA; Jones River Watershed Assoc. Joseph Callaghan, Berkley, Supports Wild and Scenic Wishes there were more MA Designation credit in Draft Report for the past efforts of the Taunton River Watershed Alliance Cathy Ann Viveiros, Fall Supports Alt. B (Full Cites hopes for future River, MA Designation) riverfront of Fall River (redevelopment) re maximize Taunton River as natural & recreational asset Ronald M. Thomas, Fall Supports Alt B (Full Cites use of Heritage Park River, MA Designation) and viewing of sunsets over river Roger & Virginia Hood, Supports Wild and Scenic Riverfront landowner. Cites Somerset, MA Designation in lower river extensive history of river; extensive personal and family use; includes sunset photo taken from home. Town of Somerset, Supports Alt B (Full Applauds study conduct and Conservation Commission Designation) findings. Cites ongoing efforts to improve and restore lower Taunton in Somerset/Fall River Helena F. Rocha, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full Lifelong resident of Fall MA Designation) River & Somerset (since 1926). Laments past abuses of river, supports restoration & protection. Robert LeComte, Jr., Supports Alt. B (Full Cites special memory of Somerset, MA Designation) canoe camping w/ son on Taunton. Also has watched the river come back to life in Somerset through regulatory restoration efforts. Brian Pane, Assonet, MA Supports Alt. B (Full Cites personal enjoyment of Designation) river. Uniqueness of opportunity. Mark Ravinski, Assonet, Supports Wild and Scenic Lives on Assonet Bay. MA Designation Cites wildlife values, Bald Eagles, turtles, herons. Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Norman, Support Alt B (Full Lifelong residents of Somerset, MA Designation) Somerset. Enjoy paddling on river, wildlife, scenic beauty. Now are introducing grand-children to river. Mark Douglas-Dobson, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites unique system of Berkley, MA Designation) undammed river and all the values that supports. oseph F. Carvelho, Fall Supports Alt. B (Full Lifelong resident of Fall River, MA Designation) River (60 years). Cites childhood memories on river. Historical and current river values for wildlife, inspiration, recreation. Dr. Heidi Douglas, The Supports Alt. B (Full Cites recent overnight Organic Mom, N. Dighton, Designation) canoe trip on Upper MA Taunton and “wilderness” fell so close to home. Amazed by wildlife and scenic beauty. Marian LeComte, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites childhood memories MA Designation) from Pierce Beach on Taunton in Somerset. Has watched decline of river and more recently its restoration. Wants to make sure restoration and protection is further pursued. Evey Douglas-Dobson, Supports Alt. B (Full Age 5. loves watching Berkley, MA Designation) wildlife on river. Supports Alt. B (Full Age 7. Walks to river, Jack Douglas-Dobson, Designation) plays w/ rocks and explores. Berkley, MA Enjoys wildlife. Margaret Soroka, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full Lifelong resident 1 block MA Designation) from river (60 yrs). Learned to waterski on a homemade board on Taunton as a child. Enjoys wildlife. Notes how much recreational use there is now. Paul Ziobro, Assonet, MA Supports Alt. B (Full Heard about comment Designation) period in Fall River Herald News. Cites many years of sailing out of Heritage Park in Fall River. Leslie Schroeder, MD, Supports Alt. B (Full Lives walking distance Assonet, MA Designation) from Taunton R. Loves river. Family donated conservation easement to protect tributary on their property. Town of Berkley, Board of Supports Alt. B (Full Cites river as “treasure” for Selectmen Designation) Berkley citizens. Urges enactment of congressional legislation. Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Masson, Supports Alt. B (Full Live on Taunton River. Somerset, MA Designation) Enjoy recreation. Have witnessed re-birth of lower river. Support continued efforts to restore and protect. Virginia Hood, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites 81 years in Somerset. MA Designation) Cites many experiences, including swimming, finding Indian artifacts on beaches, ice fishing, skating. Family has lived on river for generations. Save The Bay – Supports Alt. B (Full Cites Narragansett Bay Narragansett Bay, Designation) estuary of national Providence, RI significance, Taunton as critical to its health and future. Commends Draft Report and its findings. Cecile A. Michno, Fall Supports Alt. B (Full Lives adjacent to river near River, MA Designation) Dighton line. Enjoys river on regular basis. Peter B. Denison, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites extensive canoeing MA Designation) and kayaking of river. Favorite trip in Somerset and into the Assonet. Wants restoration of lower river to continue. George and Anne Supports Alt. B (Full Have watched re-birth of Kachajian, Somerset, MA Designation) lower river over last 40 years, want to continue and support that effort. Mass Audubon, Boston, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites support of its MA Designation) membership. Includes testimony submitted in support of S. 868 with detailed support for Draft Report and its findings. Kickemuit River Council, Supports Alt. B (Full Kickemuit is tributary to Warren, RI Designation) Mt. Hope Bay. Health of Bay directly related to health of Taunton River. Supports restoration efforts. Anne Teahan Dunning, Supports Alt. B (Full Husband’s business is on Assonet, MA Designation) Assonet Bay – enjoys river views of nature and wildlife. The Nature Conservancy, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites Taunton R. Boston, MA Designation) biodiversity, and link to unique free-flowing condition. Madonna Soctomah, Supports Alt. B (Full Pleasant Point, Perry, ME Designation) Franklin and Paulette Perry, Supports Alt. B (Full Lifelong resident (61 yrs). Fall River, MA Designation) Cites many lifelong experiences on river, now sharing w/ grandchildren. Cecile Scofield, Fall River, MA Supports Alt. B (Full Grew up on river. Designation) Extensive boating (motor boat) – loves trips up the river as a “trip back in time” John L. Pontes, Fall River, Supports Alt. B (Full Lives near river. Enjoys MA Designation) watching wildlife and recreating on river w/ family and grandchildren. R.J. & Carolyn Wills, Supports Alt. B (Full Cite extensive personal Somerset, MA Designation) recreation on river, including watching herring run, bird watching, visiting boardwalk, Battleship Cove. Cites historical significance. John A. Freeman, Fall Supports Alt. B (Full Lifelong resident, supports River, MA Designation) continued restoration and protection efforts. Jeff Carpenter, Fall River, Supports Alt. B (Full Lives near river. Bikes MA Designation) along shoreline. Pat Gormally, Swansea, Supports Alt. B (Full Cites family use for fishing, MA Designation) kayaking, and sailing. Importance of preserving natural river system. Marilyn Sokoll, (No Supports Alt. B (Full Lives near river for 50 Address) Designation) years. Cites natural beauty. Alicia Walker, Fall River, Supports Alt. B (Full Loves watching wildlife on MA Designation) river and sunsets. Marion DeCosta, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full MA Designation) Noreen Cotter, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full MA Designation) Dorothy Davis, Somerset, Supports Alt. B (Full MA Designation) James Cahill, Jr, Fall River, Supports Alt. B (Full Associated with “Friends of MA Designation) Heritage State Park” in Fall River. Mrs. Carol A. Russell, Supports Alt. B (Full Swansea, MA Designation) George Banville (No Supports Alt. B (Full Kayaker and biker on river. Address) Designation) Enjoys wildlife viewing (included photo taken from kayak) Margaret Charkowski, Fall Supports Alt. B (Full Life long resident of Fall R. River, MA Designation) Cites extensive family use and enjoyment of river.