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Table of Contents	Fall River Open Space Plan V. INVENTORY OF LANDS OF CONSERVATION & RECREATION INTEREST A. Protected Lands For purposes of this Open Space and Recreation Plan, land was considered permanently protected if it fell into one of the following categories: Federal land owned by a federal conservation agency, therefore protected by PL 88-578 State land owned by a state conservation agency, therefore protected by Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution (see Appendix) City lands owned by or under the jurisdiction of: 1.) Conservation Commission, therefore protected by MGL 40*8C & Article 97 or 2.) Water Department, therefore protected by Article 97. Owned by a non-profit organization dedicated to land conservation (ie. land trust) Protected in perpetuity by a Conservation Restriction (MGL ch.184) All information included in this Inventory was compiled from the City of Fall River Assessors records. Data such as lot acreages, present managing agencies and Assessors Map and Lot numbers are subject to the accuracy of the City's records as of May 1997. Freetown/Fall River State Forest The Freetown-Fall River State Forest comprises nearly 5,700 acres and straddles the border between the town of Freetown and the City of Fall River. The forest is managed by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) with headquarters off Slab Bridge Road in Assonet. The Freetown-Fall River State Forest began in 1934 when the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased 323 acres for $4,500. Most of the present property was acquired by the end of 1935. Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were located in the Forest from 1935-37, one managed by the US Forest Service and the other managed by the National Park Service. The crews worked on Gypsy Moth control, dug water holes for fire suppression, planted trees, cleared the area for the headquarters, garage and parking lots, and cleared and graded most of the roads and major trails found today in the Forest. A 227.5 acre portion of the State Forest was set aside as an Indian Reservation by the Acts of 1939. In 1976, an Executive Order from Governor Dukakis strengthed the Reservation by granting tribal rights to the Wampanoag Nation in this section of Forest. A small but important acquisition occurred in 1955 when the State purchased about 60 acres of land at the northern end of the Forest. The parcel includes a natural granite formation that is a startling likeness of a human profile. Profile Rock is a Wampanoag Nation holy site. A 1989 acquisition, by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, of 210 acres from the Acushnet Saw Mills Company abuts the Freetown-Fall River State Forest and is managed by the DEM as well. The Forest is open to the general public year round. Hunters are excluded from the Watuppa Wampanoag Reservation. Fishing is permitted in Rattlesnake Brook. FREETOWN-FALL RIVER STATE FOREST PARCEL INVENTORY All of the following are from Assessor Map #: W-19 Lot # Acreage Lot # Acreage Lot # Acreage 1 37.98 32 15 87 25 3 11.0 36 22 88 12 4 38.9 37 70.54 90 10.11 5 40 55 12.23 91 11.64 6 7.0 56 11.32 92 9.38 7 10.0 57 7.0 93 7.81 8 17.0 58 170 94 10 9 10.0 70 152 95 22.14 10 5.43 72 50.33 96 36 11 36 73 13 98 15 12 86 74 10 99 114 13 37.95 75 64 101 22.5 14 41.45 76 152.3 102 49.75 17 18.0 77 33.78 127 20 26 39.63 80 40 128 37 27 40 81 27 129 31 28 20 83 34.5 130 39 29 30 84 5.16 156 18 30 13 85 38.57 170 3 31 14.5 86 25 180 4.5 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PARCEL INVENTORY Heritage State Park Owner: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assessor Map #: N-13 Lot #: 3 Book: 1360 Page: 304 Location/Access: Davol Street Funds Used: Zoning: Industrial Managing Agency: Dept. of Environmental Management Acreage: 1.6 Acres Transfer Date: 4/17/81 Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Excellent Condition: Excellent Owner: Commonwealth of Masachusetts Assessor Map #: N-13 Lot #: 5 Book: 1360 Page: 304 Location/Access: Davol Street Funds Used: Zoning: Industrial Managing Agency: Dept. of Environmental Management Acreage: 39,285 SF Transfer Date: 4/17/81 Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Excellent Condition: Excellent Owner: Commonwealth of Masachusetts Assessor Map #: O-24 Lot #: 1 Book: 1360 Page: 304 Location/Access: Davol Street Funds Used: Zoning: Industrial Managing Agency: Dept. of Environmental Management Acreage: 2.66 Acres Transfer Date: 4/17/81 Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Excellent Condition: Excellent DEM Hockey Rink Owner: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assessor Map #: P-11 Lot #: 65EX Book: 1153 Page: 73 Location/Access: 272 Elsbree Street Zoning: S Description: Hockey Rink Managing Agency: Dept. of Environmental Management Acreage: 4.1 Acres Transfer Date: Public Access: Yes Condition: Fair Degree of Protection: Perpetuity COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF FISHERIES AND WILFLIFE (DFWELE) PARCEL INVENTORY SITE NAME: COOK POND Owner: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assessor Map #: C-10 Lot #: 12 Book: 1024 Page: 420 Location/Access: Newton Street Funds Used: $11,000 on 12/29/71 Zoning: R-8 Description: Boat Ramp Managing Agency: DFWELE Acreage: 2.98 Acres Transfer Date: Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Excellent Condition: Good Degree of Protection: ss.6 of Ch.131 MGL, Ch.802 of Acts of 1967 SITE NAME : DIVISION OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Owner: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assessor Map #: O-19 Lot #: 1 Book: 1107 Page: 19 Location/Access: Brownell Street Funds Used: Zoning: Industrial Description: On Taunton River Managing Agency: DFWELE Acreage: 2.21 Acres Transfer Date: 8/6/74 Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Good Condition: Good Degree of Protection: Perpetuity SITE NAME: DIVISION OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Owner: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Assessor Map #: W-42 Lot #: 20 Book: 2259 Page: 286 Location/Access: Copicut Road Funds Used: Zoning: R-80 Description: forestland north of Copicut Reservoir Managing Agency: DFWELE Acreage: 142.72 Acres Transfer Date: Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Good Condition: Excellent Degree of Protection: Perpetuity SITE NAME: DIVISION OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Owner: City of Fall River Assessor Map #: W-43 Lot #: 16 Book: 2215 Page: 308 Location/Access: Copicut Road Funds Used: Zoning: R-80 Description: T.F.L. Managing Agency: DFWELE Acreage: 3.0 Acres Transfer Date: Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Good Condition: Good Degree of Protection: Perpetuity The Greater Fall River Land Conservancy The Greater Fall River Land Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1996 to preserve and protect the natural heritage of Fall River and surrounding areas for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. Land Trusts like the GFRLC protect land directly by accepting donations of land or conservation restrictions, or by buying land. To date, the Conservancy has acquired 50 acres of land in the North Watuppa watershed for permanent protection. Cumulatively. land trusts in southeastern Masachusetts have protected over 5,000 acres of wildlife habitats, scenic open space, farmland, and forestlands. Specifically, the Land Conservancy... Acquires and protects open land...watersheds, wetlands, and wildlands Assists individuals and groups with land conservation opportunities Demonstrates land stewardship techniques and benefits Promotes greater awareness of our surrounding natural resources Owner: Greater Fall River Land Conservancy Assessor Map #: W-10 Lot #: 1 & 2 Book: 3079 Page: 59 Location/Access: near Watuppa Reservation Funds Used: Charitable Donation Zoning: A-3 Description: Mature Forestland Managing Agency: GFRLC Board of Directors Acreage: 50 Acres Transfer Date: 1997 Public Access: Yes Recreation Potential: Good Condition: Excellent Degree of Protection: Perpetuity The Watuppa Reservation The Watuppa Water Board owns more than 4,000 acres of forestland along the North Watuppa Pond and Copicut Reservoir for water supply protection. The majority of these lands were purchased in the early part of this century in a concentrated effort to,permanently protect the City water supply. All of these acquisitions were focused on the North Watuppa Pond where more than 80% of the Pond's watershed is protected. Along the Copicut Reservoir, however, the City only owns the immediate pond frontage. In order to protect the ponds from contamination, the Watuppa Water Board prohibits most public uses of the North Watuppa and Copicut Ponds and watershed lands. Recently, however, the Water Board has been more flexible in allowing passive uses of a portion of its less environmentally sensitive lands. In 1995, the City opened the Tattapanum Trail off of Wilson Road to the public for walking. The creation of the nature trail reflects a viewpoint that limited, planned, ecologically sound uses can be compatible with water quality protection. Back to Top continued... CONTENTS Plan Summary Introduction Statement of Purpose Planning Process and Public Participation Community Setting Regional Context History of the Community Population Characteristics Population Growth, Projections & Density Age, Family Structure & Education Income & Poverty Levels Employment & Unemployment Housing & Building Permits Growth and Development Patterns Patterns and Trends Infrastructure Transportation Systems Water Systems Sewage Systems Long-Term Development Patterns Environmental Inventory and Analysis Geology, Soils and Topography Topography and Geology Soils Landscape Characteristics Water Resources Surface Water Flood Hazard Areas Wetlands Aquifer Recharge Areas Vegetation Forestland Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Fisheries and Wildlife General Inventory Corridors Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Scenic Resources and Unique Environments Environmental Problems Inventory of Lands of Conservation & Recreation Interest Protected Lands MA Dept of Environmental Management & Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Greater Fall River Land Conservancy Watuppa Water Board Unprotected Lands City of Fall River Parks Department City of Fall River School Department Private Lands in Chapter 61,61A,61B Community Goals Description of Process Statement of Open Space and Recreation Goals Analysis of Needs Summary of Resource Protection Needs Summary of Community Needs Management Needs and Potential Changes of Use Goals and Objectives Action Plan Public Comments References Appendix Fall River Map

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