Description of Services

The Conservation Commission is responsible for enforcement of the Mass. Wetlands Protection Act, the Townsend General Wetlands Bylaws, and the Squannacook & Nissitissit Act of 1975.  Other services include review of lands coming out of Chapter 61, management of Old Meetinghouse Park and other conservation land, and general promotion of conservation activities within the town. Townsend is home to the Squannassit Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and has significant conservation land that provides for excellent wildlife habitat and many recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, canoeing, and hiking.

Contact Information

ATVs or ORVs are inherently damaging to most environments in which they are operated.  Please note that it is illegal to operate any motorized vehicle on any land owned by the Town of Townsend or any property in Townsend owned or controlled by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.  It is also illegal to operate motorized vehicles on most state park and state forest lands, and it is illegal to operate them on private lands without the written permission of the landowner. 

Please follow the link below for information on designated ATV or ORV trails in Massachusetts:   http://www.mass.gov/dcr/recreate/orv.htm

Organic Lawn Care Townsend Goes Organic

Additional Information

Number of Members and Terms:

       Seven Members, three year terms each, staggered so that the terms of as nearly an equal number of  members shall expire each year.

Appointed By:
       Board of Selectmen.  Members can be reappointed.   Vacancies are filled by the Commission with BOS approval.

 

For a current listing of Conservation Commission Members, please follow this link for Appointed Officials

The Conservation Commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings, or  more often if needed.  All meetings are posted and open to the public.  Hearings on the agenda are by appointment only.  Meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and are usually held in the Selectmen's Chambers, upstairs in Memorial Hall.

For a copy of current Conservation Regulations, please go to Bylaws or visit the Town Clerk's office.

Fee Schedule for Townsend Wetland Bylaw Filings - effective 7-01-2004 - follow this link for the Fee Schedule

I am planning a Project - Do I need to contact the Conservation Commission?

If you are planning to do any work within 100' of a Wetland, or within 200' of a river (this includes any stream that runs year-round) or a pond, you may call the Conservation Agent, who may make an appointment to walk your project with you.  Based upon information gathered at this visit, the Agent will advise you in a course of action, which may include:

• No Cons Comm action is required (it is clear that the law does not apply to my project)

• File a Request For Determination of Applicability (does the law apply to my project ?)

• File a Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation (ANRAD) (I want to establish exactly where the wetland boundaries and buffer zones are)

• File a Notice of Intent (the law clearly applies to my project, I want to present my project to the Commission; The Commission will review my plans, possibly request certain data, and apply the laws and protocols.  If the Commission determines that the work can be done without harm to the environment, it will issue an Order of Conditions, clearly laying out the steps that must be taken to protect the wetlands near my project.  They will monitor the project, and if violations are seen, may take enforcement action)

• Or other forms of information or communication, to determine if Cons Comm action is required

The law applies to work within the Wetlands or buffer zones, including but not limited to: work which changes grades (cutting or filling), tree clearing, and construction (driveways, buildings, septic systems, etc.).

Some minor activities are exempt from the law, including but not limited to: common landscaping tasks, driveway maintenance, certain home improvement projects, fencing that does not create a barrier to wildlife movement, stone walls, and stacking of cordwood.

If you are not certain whether your activities are exempt, a call to the Conservation Agent can be very helpful, and is probably a good idea. 

 

Looking for Wetlands Protection Act forms?  Follow this link  http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/approvals/wwforms.htm   to the State site where you can download them.