Conservation Commission

About Us

The Conservation Commission was established pursuant to G.L. Chapter 40 Section 8C, "for the promotion and development of natural resources and for the protection of watershed resources". The Commission is charged (pursuant to the Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. Chapter 131 Section 40) with local review and approval of activities in or near streams, wetlands, and riverfront areas. This includes work in or within 100 feet of swamps, bogs, marshes, streams that dry up occasionally. This also includes activities in land subject to flooding, land under water, or within 200 feet of rivers (streams that flow at least 99% of the time).

The Commission spends most of its time reviewing and approving applications under the Wetlands Protection Act. These are areas important to providing flood control and preventing storm damage, protecting quality water supplies, preventing pollution, and protecting wildlife habitats.