The
Town of
Conservation
Department
781-270-1655
Fax 781-238-4690
“We do not
inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
-
Native American Proverb
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2005 Open Space & Recreation
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Amazon Electronics
Deals Updated April 5, 2006
Welcome to
the Town of
This page
also contains information about recent conservation news and events as well as
the Town’s conservation areas. The
conservation areas provide citizens with an opportunity to enjoy passive
recreational activities such as hiking, photography, and nature watching. As
Sincerely,
Conservation
Staff
In
1957 the
Through
its experiences working on projects within the town, the Commission has adopted
a number of findings and practices that it believes promotes the best interests
of wetland protection and the regulations of the Wetlands Protection Act and
the By-law. While these policies do not
have the weight nor legal standing of laws or regulations, the Commission will
expect all applicants to make a good-faith effort to meet the following
standards.
The
Town of
Once looked upon as wasteland,
Eventually the state of
The
1. PROTECTION OF
PUBLIC & PRIVATE DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES – Wetlands contribute to both the quality and quantity of
public and private drinking water supplies by contributing to the ground water
supply, protecting against storm damage, and prevention of pollution.
2. POLLUTION
PREVENTION – Wetland plants and soils slow
down the flow of water, allowing suspended sediments to settle out. The plants in a wetland also trap, remove,
and/or dissolve pollutants in the water such as phosphates, nitrates, and heavy
metals.
3. GROUNDWATER
SUPPLY – Not only does groundwater
contribute to drinking water supplies, as mentioned above, it is also very
important in maintaining water levels in many rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Finally, groundwater provides a vital source
of water to plants between rainstorms.
4. FLOOD CONTROL – Wetlands help control flooding by slowing down and
storing floodwaters. The plants and
soils in the wetland absorb much of the water.
The remainder is released at a slower, steadier rate.
5. STORM DAMAGE
PREVENTION – During a storm, wetland
vegetation stabilizes the soil and prevents erosion from wind, ice, and
fast-moving water. Friction from the
plants found in wetlands also slows down the velocity of potentially damaging
storm waters.
6. PROTECTION OF
FISHERIES – In addition to preventing
contamination, wetlands provide a valuable food source and habitat to many fish
species.
7. WILDLIFE HABITAT – Wetlands don’t only provide habitat for animals in
the water. Birds, mammals, reptiles, and
amphibians also use wetlands for food, shelter, and migratory and breading
areas.
8. PROTECTION OF
LAND CONTAINING SHELLFISH – In coastal areas, wetlands provide habitat and protection
against pollution for shellfish such as mussels, clams, and oysters.
The
1.
Water Bodies:
a. River – A natural flowing body of water that flows through
out the year, and empties into any ocean, lake, pond, or other river.
b. Stream – A body of running water, including brooks and
creeks, which moves in a definite channel in the ground due to a hydraulic
gradient, and which flows within, into or out of a wetland plant community or
an area subject to protections under the Act.
A portion of the stream may flow through a culvert or beneath a
bridge. Such a body of running water
that does not flow throughout the year is a stream except for that portion
upgradient of all bogs, swamps, wet meadows, and marshes.
c. Pond – any open body of fresh water with a surface area
observed or recorded within the last ten years of at least 10,000 square
feet. Ponds may be either naturally
occurring or man-made by impoundment, excavation, or otherwise.
2. Land Under Water
The landward boundary of Land
Under Water is the mean annual low-flow elevation for streams and the mean
annual low-water level for lakes and ponds.
3.
Resource Areas Bordering Water Bodies:
a. Bordering Vegetated Wetlands – Freshwater wetlands which
border on creeks, rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes. These types of wetlands are wet meadows,
marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bordering
Vegetated Wetlands are areas where the soils are saturated and/or inundated
such that they support a predominance of wetland plants.
b. Bank – A bank is the portion of the land surface which
normally abuts and confines a water body.
It occurs between a water body and a vegetated bordering wetland and
adjacent flood plain, or, in the absence of these, it occurs between a water
body and an upland. A bank may be
partially or totally vegetated, or it may be comprised of exposed soil, gravel,
or stone. The upper boundary of a bank
is the first observable break in the slope or the mean annual flood level,
which ever is lower. The lower boundary
of a bank is the mean annual low flow level.
4. Land Subject to
Flooding:
a. Bordering Land Subject to Flooding – An area with low, flat
topography adjacent to and inundated by flood waters rising from creeks,
rivers, streams, ponds or lakes. The
boundary of
b. Isolated Land Subject to Flooding – Any isolated depression
without an inlet or outlet, which at least once a year confines standing water
to a volume of at least one acre-foot of water, with an average depth of at
least six inches. The boundary is the
perimeter of the largest observed or recorded volume of water confined in the
basin.
**Under
5. Buffer Zone:
a. 100-Foot Buffer Zone – In addition to the resource areas
identified above, the Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over land
extending one hundred feet horizontally outward from the boundary of any…
Bank any
creek
Freshwater Wetland bordering on any river
Marsh, or any
stream, or
Swamp any
pond
The 100-foot buffer zone is not
protected in the same way as the land and water bodies identified above. However, activities within the buffer zone
are subject to the Conservation Commission’s jurisdiction. Any proposed activities within the 100-foot
buffer zone must be reviewed by the Commission.
6. Riverfront Area – The Riverfront Area extends two hundred feet horizontally
from the mean annual high water line of a river or perennial stream. No new construction or disturbance is
permitted within the first 100 feet of the Riverfront Area, and all work
proposed in the second 100 feet of the Riverfront Area must have no significant
adverse impact on the interests protected by the Act.
When any of the following
activities occur within the resource areas mentioned above, the proponent of the
activity must file an application with the Conservation Commission and a permit
must be obtained before any work can be started at the site.
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Removing |
To take away any type of material, thereby changing an
elevation, whether temporarily or permanently. |
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Filling |
To deposit any material so as to raise an elevation, either
temporarily or permanently. |
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Dredging |
To deepen, widen, or excavate, either temporarily or
permanently. |
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Altering |
Changing drainage characteristics; changing flow patterns;
changing sedimentation patterns; changing flood detention areas; lowering the
water level; lowering the water table; destroying vegetation; changing water
temperature; changing biochemical oxygen demand; or changing physical,
chemical, or biological characteristics of the receiving water. |
To read, or obtain a copy of the
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act
and its Regulations please click here.
To read, or obtain a copy of
In general, smaller projects
(such as additions, pools and minor grading) can be permitted through the
Request for Determination of Applicability.
Larger projects, or those involving altering wetland resource areas,
generally require a Notice of Intent.
Feel free to contact the Conservation office when
in doubt.
Permit
Applications and Procedures
Request
for Determination of Applicability (RDA)
Instructions & Forms: Instructions: Forms:
WPAForm1.pdf WPA1Inst.doc WPAForm1.doc
150 KB 143 KB 148 KB
Notice
of Intent (NOI)
Instructions & Forms: Instructions: Forms:
WPAForm3.pdf WPA3Inst.doc WPAForm3.doc
189 KB 201
KB 296
KB
Abbreviated
Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD)
Instructions & Forms: Instructions: Forms:
WPAForm4a.pdf WPA4aInst.doc WPAForm4a.doc
158 KB 148
KB 229
KB
Amendment
to an Order of Conditions
To obtain an Amendment to an Order
of Conditions, the applicant must submit a written request for the amendment to
the Conservation Commission at least two weeks prior to the next meeting date.
Extension Permit for an Order of
Conditions
An Order of Conditions is valid
for three years from the date of issuance.
If an extension is needed, the applicant must submit a written request
for the extension to the Conservation Commission at least 30 days prior to the
expiration date of the Order of Conditions.
Request
for Certificate of Compliance
Forms: Forms:
342 KB 99
KB
Abutter
Notification Form
State Fees – Directions for
calculating the state wetland application fees are outlined at the end of the
individual state application forms.
Local Fees – Click fees to go
to the local fee schedule.
* The fee schedule is available
in Adobe pdf format. If you do not have
Adobe click here
to download a free copy.
The Conservation Commission normally
holds regularly scheduled meetings beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the second and
fourth Thursdays of each month.
To be included
on an agenda, you must submit the appropriate application or written request at
least two weeks prior to the desired meeting date.
The Conservation Commission’s
next scheduled meeting will be on June 22.
Please click here to view the
next meeting agenda. (Click
refresh for latest agenda).
The
Conservation Commissions next meeting agenda will be posted approximately one week
prior to the next scheduled meeting.
Conservation Commission Members
Picture coming soon!
Seated (left
to right): Kerry Melanson, Larry Cohen – Chair, Marylee Everett–
Vice Chair
Standing rear:
Christopher LoRusso, James Nash, Indra Deb, Gail Lima
Conservation
Staff
If you should have any questions
or need assistance,
Phone: (781) 270-1655
Fax: (781) 238-4690
Email:
Randy Newell,
Conservation Assistant – rnewell@burlmass.org
Would you like to be a Land Steward for a
Conservation Area? Click here!
Sawmill Brook Conservation Area Mill Pond Conservation Area
Littles Brook Conservation Area Pine
Glen Conservation Area
Vine Brook Conservation Area Fairfax Conservation Area
Sandy Brook Conservation Area Longmeadow Brook
Conservation Area
Ipswich Conservation Area Lubber Brook Conservation Area
Chadwick Conservation Area Rock Pond
Brook Conservation Area
Forest Field Conservation Area Muller Road
Conservation Area
Rules and Regulations for Conservation Areas
Sawmill Brook Conservation Area
This
conservation area is comprised of 27 acres of mostly dry woodland, wetlands and
meadows. There are several trails
through the property, with the main north/south trail blazed blue and the
dead-ended side-trail blazed yellow.
Sawmill Brook forms the southern border for most of the parcel. Birds and other wildlife give visitors an
opportunity to enjoy nature. The
property is accessible from a gate on
Be sure to
check out
The largest
conservation area in
Right click and save map. Does not load quickly on web. You need Adobe Reader to view. It’s free here.
Littles Brook Conservation Area
With 36 acres,
this is the second largest conservation area in
Right click and save map. Does not load quickly on web. You need Adobe Reader to view. It’s free here.
A small,
6-acre parcel of land traversed by several brooks, the Pine Glen Conservation
Area serves mainly to provide wildlife habitat and protect water quality. The Conservation Commission blazed a loop
trail with stream crossings. This
project was sponsored by the Department of Environmental Management Greenways
Grant Program and allows for the
The Vine Brook
Conservation Area is 22 acres. The
parcel includes wetlands, woodlands, and Vine Brook. Trails have not yet been blazed or marked
through this parcel. The marking of
trails in the Vine Brook Conservation Area is a goal for the Conservation
Commission in the near future. Access
may be gained at the end of
The
This 5-acre
conservation area is primarily wooded swamp along Sandy Brook. Because of its thick underbrush and wet
ground, passive recreation is difficult.
Sandy Brook’s main functions are to protect water quality and
provide flood storage. Access to the
land is available at the end of Saint Mark’s Road and
Longmeadow Brook Conservation Area
The primary
purpose of this land is flood control and water quality protection. Its two acres include a variety of vegetation
growing along a steep valley and the brook.
Access may be gained from a conservation restriction between
Consisting of boggy wooded swamp, this 3-acre
parcel also includes a rock peak. A
large conservation area in
Lubber Brook Conservation Area
In addition to
Lubber Brook, which passes through this parcel, a number of small brooks and
wetlands are present. Although this
makes walking difficult, this land provides important wildlife habitat, flood
storage and protects water quality.
Access is available from
This parcel of
3.78 acres of land contains a brook, wetlands, and woodlands. Currently there are no marked trails in the
Chadwick Conservation Area. The access
point for this area is at the end of
Rock Pond Brook Conservation Area
Most of this
3-acre parcel consists of steep uplands, although a brook traverses the back
portion of it. Access to the land is
through an unmarked Right of Way off of
Forest Field Conservation Area
This parcel of
mixed uplands and wetlands is located along the
This area
comprises over 3 acres of dry land that was donated to the Town for
conservation purposes. Much of the land
is under high-tension lines and due to the proximity of the Middlesex Mall this
parcel is used primarily by urban wildlife.
Access is available from
The
* NOTE: right click and save map. Does not
load quickly on web. You need Adobe Reader to view. It’s free here.
Rules and Regulations for Conservation Areas
You may:
1.
Hike, ski, and snowshoe on trail prepared for these activities.
2.
Observe a variety of songbirds, birds of prey, and other wildlife.
3.
Discover unusual wetlands, meadows, and plant species.
4.
Picnic on a carry-in, carry-out basis.
5.
Use radios with earphones only.
6.
Walk dogs on a leash only.
7.
Camp overnight with special permission from the Conservation
Commission.
8.
Have group picnics or cookouts with special permission from the
Conservation Commission.
9.
Ride horses with permission from the Conservation Commission and under
dry land conditions only.
You may NOT:
1.
Litter.
2.
Deface or vandalize.
3.
Hunt or trap.
4.
Remove plants or wildlife.
5.
Cut firewood.
6.
Swim.
7.
Carry firearms.
8.
Play paintball games.
9.
Have campfires.
10. Possess alcoholic beverages.
11. Drive or ride motorized vehicles, including automobiles,
trucks, motorcycles, trail bikes, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles
(ATV’s) or any other vehicles driven by motors.
Return
to Conservation Areas Return to Index
WATERSHEDS
Shawsheen River Watershed Association
Ipswich River Watershed Association
Mystic River Watershed Association
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Natural Heritage &
Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
Beavers: State regulations
MassWildlife -
Beavers in Massachusetts
Solving
Human - Beaver Conflicts
Eastern Coyotes in
Massachusetts
MSPCA Living with Wildlife program
GOVERNMENT
MA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP)
EPA NPDES - Office of Wastewater Management
Army Corps of Engineers New England
District
Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Flood Insurance Information
USGS Water Resources of Massachusetts and
Rhode Island