Kayakers enjoy the Upper Taunton River. The river has won federal protection.

Journal File photo

Mention the Taunton River and most people probably picture the busy waterway that flows through Fall River. But those who have been upriver say it’s more like taking a trip to the backcountry in Maine.

Now, the entire 40-mile river is slated for special protection as part of the Wild and Scenic River System.

The designation came last week as President Obama signed The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 — the second-largest Wild and Scenic River package in history.

The law designated 86 new Wild and Scenic Rivers totaling 1,100 miles in Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, California and Massachusetts.

The designation means the river will be protected from federally funded or permitted projects that could cause it harm. But management of the river will remain with a local council and local hunting, fishing and access rules will continue. The designation usually leads to the appropriation of federal funds to help pay for river management plans.

At first only the upper river was considered for designation, but many people pushed to include the entire river.

The congressional delegations from Rhode Island and Massachusetts all commended the designation. It passed the Senate in January and the House on March 25.

“The Taunton River is an extraordinary part of our Commonwealth’s heritage and environment and this national recognition is eminently deserved,” said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in a statement. “The communities along the river watershed have worked hard for this designation, and they deserve great credit for this achievement.”

Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry said the Taunton is the longest coastal river in New England without dams, and that makes it important for fish and wildlife.

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse pointed out that the Taunton is part of the Narragansett and Bristol Bay watersheds so its health directly affects Rhode Island waters. Whitehouse added: “I’m glad that this beautiful stretch of river will finally be protected, as it deserves to be, for people to enjoy long into the future.”

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed said the river is the second-largest tributary to Narragansett Bay and vital to the health of the Bay.

The river supports 45 species of fish, 7 types of freshwater mussels and 154 birds, including 12 that are rare. It is home to otters, mink, gray fox and deer and it has archaeological treasures dating back 10,000 years.

Kennedy and Kerry, along with the late U.S. Rep. Joseph Moakley introduced legislation in 1999 to study the river for consideration for the Wild and Scenic designation.

The Taunton River Stewardship Council will work with the National Park Service to implement the Wild and Scenic designation.

Rhode Island’s Save The Bay also worked for some 10 years to win the designation. With funding from the Sheehan Foundation, it launched a campaign in 2003 to protect and promote the river.

No rivers in Rhode Island have received the designation. But it has gone to the Westfield River and to portions of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord rivers in Massachusetts.

For more information about the designation, go to: www.rivers.gov, www.tauntonriver.org or the Save The Bay Web site at www.savebay.org.