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Home > Departments > Conservation Commission
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| Contact Us | Municipal Building
59 Court St. Room 300
Westfield, MA 01085
(413)572-6281
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| Meetings | Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, except December, June, July and August. Schedules for those months are posted on the second floor bulletin board in City Hall once dates are selected.
Time: 6:30 P.M. during Standard Time Months.
Location: Room 315 Westfield City Hall. |
| What does the Conservation Commission Do? | | The Westfield Conservation Commission is a seven member board charged with administrating the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Chpt. 131, §40), and the Westfield Wetlands Protection Ordinance #1109. The Commission works to protect and enhance wetlands and wildlife habitat, to maintain natural resources, and to preserve the quality of life for all inhabitants of Westfield. The Commission administers the Commonwealth's wetlands regulations by determining wetland boundaries; reviewing and permitting projects proposed in or near wetlands and associated buffer zones; and by placing conditions on development projects that affect wetlands.
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| Wetlands Values | | Wetlands provide critical habitat to wildlife and help maintain the aesthetic beauty of our community. Wetlands also provide priceless yet “free” services including drinking water purification, groundwater recharge, flood control, storm damage prevention, pollution prevention, and the protection of fish and wildlife. All Westfield residents benefit from these services because of our reliance on natural settings for property values, wells for drinking water, and septic systems for waste disposal.
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| Wetlands Jurisdiction | Wetlands generally include brooks, creeks, streams, rivers, fens, bogs, vernal pools, marshes, ponds, lakes and swamps. Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, “wetland resource areas” are wetlands and the 100 feet surrounding areas, or streams and rivers and the 200 feet surrounding areas. The 100 and 200 feet surrounding areas are called “buffer zones” and provide a protective buffer from human activities. In addition, the Westfield Wetlands Protection Ordinance #1109 provides additional protection to wetlands. Special attention is given to those projects which propose alterations within 50 feet of the Commission’s jurisdiction as referenced in Section 13-61 of Ordinance #1109. Some of these regulated areas may not be wet at all times so if you think you have a wetland give us a call at (413) 572-6281, the Commission is here to help you through the process.
A large percentage of Westfield homeowners have wetlands on or near their property and may not know the values of wetlands or their responsibilities as wetland landowners. Before starting a project contact the Conservation Commission. Do not assume your contractor will pull all necessary permits! If you do need approval, the Conservation Coordinator is ready to answer your questions and help guide you through the application process. Permitting forms are available at the Conservation Commission office on the 3rd floor of City Hall at 59 Court Street or can be downloaded from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's website at: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/wwforms.htm
At its discretion, the Commission may request an applicant to submit 7 hard copies of materials and/or digital submittal of project information, and further, may request an applicant to present plans and accompanying materials via multi-media methods such as using computers and/or large screen projectors. This request applies to large scale projects only.
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| Wetland "Do's" and "Don'ts" | | Some minor activities near wetlands are allowed and do not require Commission approval, including mowing an existing lawn, working in an existing garden, pruning and maintaining existing landscaping, planting native vegetation, hiking, horseback riding, and other passive recreation or the manual cleaning of culverts. If you plan to do any work in a wetland, within 100 feet of a wetland, or within 200 feet of a stream or river, such as tree or vegetation removal or clearing, grading, excavation or paving, new landscaping or new construction or additions, or any other activity that might alter wetlands or their buffer zones, you must contact the Conservation Commission. Other activities prohibited in wetland resource areas are subject to fines (some are allowed, but only with a permit) such as removing vegetation, dumping yard waste such as leaves, grass, etc, or other waste products (including manure), constructing animal paddocks, dumping dirt or other fill, draining or pumping water to or from a wetland, building dams or removing beaver dams. Wetlands function best in a natural state. Do not clear them or “clean them up.” Wildlife often thrives in areas with brush piles, rotting logs, and other things some people might consider “untidy.” |
| A Few Words About Lawn Care | Do you know what comes out of your weed killer bottle or the lawn care spray truck? Chemicals – many of which can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife and plants. They do a lot more than make your lawn green. The Commission strongly recommends that you avoid using chemicals anywhere on your property due to the potential hazards that they pose to your drinking water, your children, and your pets. If you live next to a pond, fertilizers can cause excessive plant growth in the water, harming both the environment and aesthetics. Many natural lawn care alternatives are readily available – and they work. The Commission also recommends you use water responsibly when maintaining your lawn or other landscaping. Excessive lawn watering contributes to severe low-flow conditions in streams and rivers in all but the wettest of years.
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| It is always best to ask the Commission about your project, regardless of size before you begin. Please contact the Conservation Commission at 572-6281 with any questions or concerns you may have. We are here to assist you and protect the environment at the same time |
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