IX. ACTION AGENDA

 

GOAL 1: Improve the water quality of the region's rivers, streams and waterbodies.

Objective 1: Continue to work with the EOEA Basin Team and Team Leader through the
five year Watershed Planning process.

Action:1a. Designate and send municipal representatives to the Basin Team meetings and activities
Who: Chief elected officials in conjunction with municipal boards, departments and commissions
When: Ongoing

 

Objective 2: Continue to work with watershed alliances and local monitoring projects in
order to keep up-to-date on the overall health of our rivers, streams and
waterbodies.


Action: 2a. Establish municipal points of contact for working with local environmental groups
Who: Conservation commissions, boards of health or appropriate municipal body
When: Ongoing

 

Objective 3: To work with the EOEA Basin Team to identify priority water quality-related
projects and potential sources of funding and partners with which to implement
them.

Action: 3a: Work with the Basin Team on assessments of critical areas to be nominated for funding under the Annual Plan of Work
Who: Municipalities and Basin Team members (who may also be potential partners)
When: Ongoing

Objective 4: Complete the Ten Mile River Flood Management Study and Lake Como
Restoration Assessment in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Action: 4a: Prepare final recommendations for the municipalities; provide technical documents and public forums, as necessary
Who: Army Corps in conjunction with the Basin Team
When: 2001


Action: 4b: Include a list of any potential funding options as part of the final study and recommendations
Who: Army Corps and Basin Team
When: 2001 and Ongoing


Objective 5: Complete and implement, where feasible, the Ten Mile Watershed Action Plan
being developed through the Basin Team.

Action: 5a. Prepare final study and recommendations for the municipalities; provide technical documents and public forums, as necessary Tellus Institute,
Who: TMRWA and Regional Planning Agency
When: 2000-2001


Action: 5b. Work with the Basin Team to prioritize projects for funding in The Annual Plan of Work Basin Team, Tellus,
Who: TMRWA, Regional Planning Agency, municipalities
When: 2001 and Ongoing

 

Objective 6: Continue to work with the Runnins River Task Force.

Action: 6a. Develop and promote multi-jurisdictional strategies to affect the restoration of degraded areas of the Runnins River Watershed
Who: MA EOEA, RI DEM, EPA, citizens, watershed groups, municipalities and other partners
When: Ongoing

 

GOAL 2: Increase the amount of permanently protected open space, particularly within
focus areas, water resource areas and along river and stream corridors.

Objective 1: Continue to work with the Basin Team to bring potential land conservation,
preservation and acquisition projects to the EOEA Land Acquisition
Committee.

Action Who When
1a. Promote viable Self-Help, Urban Self-Help, Federal Land and Water Conservation projects, etc., for regional support and consideration for acquisition or improvement Basin Team, municipalities, Regional Open Space Committee, Division of Conservation Services, appropriate EOEA Land agencies and others Ongoing

 

Objective 2: Continue to work with local and regional land trusts and conservation
organizations to complement municipal efforts and help to knit together green
space within the region.

Action: 2a. Explore potential links between public and private lands through networking and mapping
Who: Local municipal boards, commissions and committees; Audubon, Wildlands Trust, Trustees, local land trusts
When: Ongoing

Action: 2b. Use the Regional Open Space and Recreation Plan in conjunction with local Open Space and Recreation Plans to help develop a common strategy for creating large contiguous areas of greenspace
Who:Local boards, commissions, committees; private conservation partners; EOEA Basin Team; watershed groups; Regional Planning Agency
When: Ongoing


Objective 3: Utilize a consistent prioritization and ranking methodology to create an
inventory of land for acquisition throughout the region.

Action: 3a. Apply existing, or develop additional, land ranking criteria to lands deemed critical for acquisition, preservation or retention in order to develop a priority list for municipal and regional planning purposes
When: EOEA Basin Team; municipalities; potential conservation, recreation and agricultural partners; Regional Planning Agency
Who: 2001 and Ongoing

 

Objective 4: Support municipal and intermunicipal land preservation and acquisition
projects, particularly where regionally beneficial or in prioritized areas.

Action: 4a. Through the Regional Open Space Committee process, and the Basin Team, provide written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, on local projects and applications of regional significance
Who: EOEA Basin Team; local municipalities; Regional Planning Agency; other partners as necessary
When: 2001 and Ongoing

 

GOAL 3: Plan for and develop regional "through trails," including walking, biking and
canoeing.

Objective 1: Develop a plan for a north-south trail through the watershed with a tie-in to the
Warner Trail in Wrentham.

Action:1a. Using the Regional Open Space and Recreation Plan "Trails Map," municipalities could work with the Friends of the Warner Trail, Basin Team members and other potential partners to assess and plan "doable" routes through the watersheds.
Who: Municipalities; EOEA Basin Team; Friends of the Warner Trail; TMRWA; Regional Planning Agency; Narragansett Bay Wheelmen; Natural Resource Conservation Service, and others
When: 2001-2003

 

Objective 2: Support continued multi-modal trail planning efforts in Fall River and Seekonk.

Action: 2a. Supply written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to these two key potential east-west rail trail links within the watersheds
Who: EOEA Basin Team; Regional Planning Agency; municipalities; others as necessary
When: 2001 and Ongoing

 

Objective 3: Support the implementation of the Swansea Bike Path which will link Fall
River, Somerset and Swansea with the East Bay Trail (R.I.) via Warren, R.I.

Action: 3a. Supply written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to this key interstate/intermunicipal bike path proposal
Who: EOEA Basin Team; Regional Planning Agency; municipalities; others as necessary
When: 2001-2002

 

Objective 4: Support the East Fall River Greenbelt Plan in conjunction with the recent
EOEA land acquisition in East Fall River.

Action: 4a. Work with the City of Fall River, Green Futures, The Bay Lands Conservancy, The Greater Fall River Land Conservancy and others, as appropriate, on planning and implementation issues
Who: EOEA Basin Team(s); Regional Planning Agency; Westport River Watershed Council; listed partners and others, as appropriate
When: 2001-2005

 

Objective 5: Work with EOEA, through the Basin Team, to help develop the East Fall River
to Myles Standish State Forest (regional greenway) concept plan with a
connection to the Narragansett Bay Watershed.

Action: 5a. Provide written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to EOEA and group(s) spearheading this project (see: "The Big Walk" in the text of the Regional Open Space and Recreation Plan)
When: Municipalities; Bay Lands Conservancy; Regional Planning Agency; Harvard Graduate School of Design; Greater Fall River Land Conservancy; Westport River Watershed Council; other potential partners
Who: 2001 and Ongoing

 

Objective 6: Support local corridor planning efforts on the Ten Mile, Seven Mile, Bungay
and Palmer Rivers.

Action: 6a. Provide written and/or technical assistance, as appropriate, to municipalities and groups working on corridor planning projects within these sub-watersheds
Who: EOEA Basin Team; municipalities; Regional Planning Agency; Watershed Alliances; other partners as necessary
When: 2001 and Ongoing

 

GOAL 4: Develop, and, where feasible, employ regionally consistent zoning, land use
and conservation strategies and regulations.

Objective 1: Review and evaluate the "tools" developed for zoning and conservation for the
Regional Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Action: 1a. Work together locally to determine the appropriateness and applicability of any of the regional "tools" in accordance with local needs assessments (from growth management studies, Master Plans, Open Space Plans, etc.) Municipalities (perhaps through a continuation of the Regional Open Space Committee's sub-committee process); Who: Regional Planning Agency; EOEA Basin Team members, as requested
When: 2001-2004

 

Objective 2: Review and evaluate the EOEA Build-Out Studies in order to determine how
and where certain zoning tools may be applied on a regional basis.

Action: 2a. Work together locally to determine the appropriateness and applicability of any of the regional "tools" in accordance with local needs assessments (from growth management studies, Master Plans, Open Space Plans, etc.) Municipalities (perhaps through a continuation of the Regional Open Space Committee's sub-committee process); Who: Regional Planning Agency; EOEA Basin Team members, as requested
When: 2002-2005

 

Objective 3: Evaluate existing and proposed zoning and conservation tools in terms of
regional trails, greenways and conservation goals.

Action: 3a. Work together locally to determine the appropriateness and applicability of any of the regional "tools" in accordance with local needs assessments (from growth management studies, Master Plans, Open Space Plans, etc.) Municipalities (perhaps through a continuation of the Regional Open Space Committee's sub-committee process); Who: Regional Planning Agency; EOEA Basin Team members, as requested
When: 2001-2005

 

GOAL 5: Create a permanent Regional Open Space Committee.

Objective 1: Seek municipal commitments to appoint representatives to a permanent
Regional Open Space Committee.

Action: 1a. Assemble a Regional Open Space Committee whose charge will be: to link regional and local planning, where appropriate and necessary, and; to implement the Regional Open Space and Recreation Plan in a manner complimentary to local planning.
Who: Mayor; City Council; Boards of Selectmen; other municipal boards, commissions and committees, as requested; watershed alliances; land trusts; other potential members
When: 2001-2002

 

Objective 2: Seek support and technical assistance from the Basin Team and Regional
Planning Agency in terms of facilitation of meetings and assistance with
procuring potential funding for further planning efforts.

Action: 2a. Continue the Regional Open Space Planning process as begun with this plan in terms of facilitation and technical assistance
Who: EOEA Basin Team; Regional Planning Agency; municipalities
When: 2001-2002

 

GOAL 6: Create a singular geographic watershed identity for the municipalities in the
Ten Mile River and Narragansett/Mount Hope Bay Watersheds.

Objective 1: Work with the Basin Team Leader to request of EOEA a single watershed
"address" for the region in order to unify the region geographically and simplify
regional watershed planning and related efforts.

Action: 1a. Continue the Regional Open Space Planning process as begun with this plan in terms of facilitation and technical assistance
Who: EOEA Basin Team Leader; municipalities; watershed alliances; conservation groups; Regional Planning Agency; others
When: 2001

 


"Farmland Preservation Prioritization and Ranking Model"

Due to the importance of farmland protection, the following evaluation system, which was originally developed by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and modified by the Town of Westport, can be used as a model to help weigh and prioritize acquisition options.

A. Predominant land use (maximum 25 points) Points
1. Active food producer 25
2. Hay and pasture 12.5
3. Mixed woodlands, abandoned farm, hobby farm 5
4. Tree farm 10
5. Nursery or greenhouse 25

B. Size of farm (maximum 30 points) Points
1. 150 acres plus 15
2. 100-149 acres 12.5
3. 50-99 10
4. 25-49 7.5
5. 10-24 5
6. 0-9 2.5

C. Farmland soils (maximum 30 points) Points
1. Percent of parcel in Prime Farmland Soils
75-100% 25
50-74% 18
25-49% 12
10-24% 5
0-9% 2

2. Percent of parcel in Soils of Statewide Importance
75-100% 13
50-74% 9
25-49% 5
10-24% 3
0-9% 1

D. Collateral environmental objectives (maximum 27.5) Points
1. Adjacent to farmland 10
2. Adjacent to conservation land 5
3. Includes significant wetlands 2.5
4. Within FEMA 100-year floodplain 2.5
5. Includes historic home or building 2.5
6. Within an aquifer protection district 2.5
7. Parcel has scenic importance 2.5

E. Continuation of Agriculture (maximum 10 points) Points
1. Degree of threat to the continuation of agriculture 10
on project land due to contingencies such as,
but not limited to, the owner's death, retirement,
financial difficulties, development pressure, or
to the insecurity entailed in the use of rented
lands.

F. Total Weight/Priority for Preservation Points
1. High Priority 72-107.5
2. Medium to High 59-71
3. Medium 46-58
4. Low to Medium 35-45
5. Low 0-34