Weston Conservation Commission

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Leona Powers
5 years ago
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1 Weston Conservation Commission Commission Roles and Responsibilities Laws that protect Wetlands What residents can do to protect wetlands and open space 1

2 Conservation Commission Made up of 7 volunteer residents (members) 1 staff (Conservation Administrator) Generally meets every other Tuesday Experience with stormwater, engineering, landscaping, and wetland laws 2

3 The Commission s Three-Part Mission Open Space Management Wetland Protection & Permitting Public Education and Engagement 3

4 Open Space Protection & Management Commission owns approx. 2,000 acres of fields, forests, and wetlands 4

5 Promote Passive Recreation Trail Maps available at Town Hall 5

6 Open Space Management Collaborate with Weston Forest and Trail Assoc. & Land s Sake to maintain trails 6

7 Open Space Management Mow Fields Preserve Field Edges 7

8 Open Space Protection & Management Survey and Identify boundaries Identify and address encroachments 8

9 Why Protect Wetlands? Wetlands protect our groundwater Wetlands store floodwater and release it slowly downstream preventing storm damage Wetlands absorb excess nutrients and trap many kinds of pollutants Wetlands provide vital habitat for wildlife. 9

10 Wetland Permitting Anyone wishing to work within 100 of a wetland or 200 of a perennial stream MUST get a permit 10 from the Conservation Commission

11 What is considered work? Cutting trees and shrubs To expand a lawn, let in more light, etc. To clean up the woods, improve safety, etc. Grading To rebuild a lawn or driveway, etc. Improving drainage Building New construction, additions, etc. New paving Sheds 11

12 What wetland resource areas are protected? Rivers, brooks & streams 12

13 What wetland resource areas are protected? Ponds & lakes 13

14 What wetland resource areas are Banks of waterways & water bodies protected? 14

15 What wetland resource areas are protected? Vegetated Wetlands 15

16 What wetland resource areas are Vegetated Wetlands protected? 16

17 What wetland resource areas are Vegetated Wetlands protected? 17

18 What wetland resource areas are protected? Land within 200 feet of streams & rivers 100-year Floodplains 18

19 What wetland resource areas are protected? Vernal Pools 19

20 What wetland resource areas are protected? Work within 100 Buffer Zone must also be permitted 20

21 How Do I Know If Wetlands Exist Near My Property? Call the Conservation Office 21

22 Wetland Permitting Process Applicant submits an Application Commission reviews the application & performs a site visit. 22

23 Conservation Permitting Process The Commission holds a public hearing If the project will not impact the functions of the wetland, the Commission issues a permit 23

24 What Happens if You Don t File? Enforcement Order requiring restoration of buffer zone and/or wetland Landowner may be required to hire a wetland scientist to prepare a restoration plan and monitor site for 2 years May

25 What Happens if You Don t File? Restoration of illegally altered areas 25

26 What Happens if You Don t File? Restoration of stream and wetlands 26

27 Other Local Laws That Protect Wetlands Proposed Stormwater Bylaw Land clearing / Earth removal Illicit Discharge Bylaw 27

28 Conservation Challenges We Face Educating residents about wetland values of wetland laws Assisting residents through the permitting process Addressing wetland violations & bringing sites back into compliance Protecting and Managing Weston s Open Space 28

29 Public Education and Engagement Homeowners: assist with permit applications Prospective buyers & realtors: provide maps and information Special groups: mail issue-specific outreach letters to neighborhoods, landscapers, and pond abutters 29

30 Thank you for protecting Weston s Natural Resources Michele Grzenda Weston Conservation Commission P.O. box 378 Weston, MA Telephone: grzenda.m@westonmass.org 30

Weston s Wetlands, Stormwater, & Open Space

Weston s Wetlands, Stormwater, & Open Space Weston s Wetlands, Stormwater, & Open Space Conservation Commission Role and Responsibilities Laws that protect wetlands What residents can do to protect wetlands