Flag of the town of Wendell Massachusetts width=

Conservation Commission

altThe Wendell Conservation Commission is a three-member board established to administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Chapter 131, Section 40) and collaborate with various town departments on wetland issues. Wetlands and floodplains are protected because they play a vital role in serving the following public interests:

  • Protection of Public and private water supply
  • Protection of Groundwater supply
  • Flood control and storm damage prevention
  • Pollution prevention
  • Protection of fisheries and wildlife habitat

Understanding the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA):

The Wetlands Protection Act is the state law that ensures critical natural resources that serve public interests are protected. Wetland Resource Areas include:

  • "Buffer zone" - Any land within 100 feet of a wetland or bank of a stream, this is protected because of its importance to the wetland and to wildlife habitat

  • Floodplains - areas along streams or rivers that are flooded in major storms

  • Vegetated wetlands - areas where soils are wet and where wetland plants, such as red maple, skunk cabbage, cattails, cinnamon and sensitive fern occur

  • Wet meadows
  • Man-made ponds or ditches

  • Riverfront Area - All land within 200 feet of a river or perennially-flowing stream, measured horizontally from the top of the bank of the river or stream (not at an angle up a hill) - the "riverfront area" is protected by The Rivers Act

  • Bordering land subject to flooding - The area flooded by 100-year (or less) storm events

  • Isolated land subject to flooding - Isolated areas that flood and hold at least 1/4 acre foot, 6 inches deep at least once a year

Any building project that takes place in one of these Resource Areas or a buffer zone of a Resource Area requires a filing with the Conservation Commission.

A good regulatory definition of the term "wetland" may be found in the Federal Clean Water Act:

  • Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.

  • As such, wetlands are defined -- or delineated -- according to three criteria:

    • Hydrophytic vegetation: water-tolerant plants that have adapted to wetland conditions

    • Hydric soils: water-saturated soils that have become oxygen deficient. Indicators of hydric Soils form after being inundated for a week or more during the growing season

    • Other indicators of the hydrologic regime: dominated by the presence of water through flooding or saturated ground, including intermittent stream channels, shallow rooting, etc.

Working Under the Wetlands Protection Act and Wendell Wetlands Protection Bylaw:

Any projects (i.e. tree clearing, earth work, new construction, percolation tests, septic fields, roadway/driveways, etc.) that involve work within wetlands or within resource areas within 100 feet of a wetland resource or 200 feet of a vernal pool will usually require a permit from the Conservation Commission. In addition, many building permits for these same projects require sign-off from the Conservation Commission.

If you are unsure if your project involves work in wetlands or adjacent resource areas, please contact the Conservation Commission and/or submit a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA). The form and instructions can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/wpa-form-1-request-for-determination-of-applicability.

If you know that your project will involve work in wetlands or adjacent resource areas, please submit a Notice of Intent (NOI). The form and instructions can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/wpa-form-3-wetlands-notice-of-intent.

The MassDEP RDA and NOI forms can be used for filings under both the Wetlands Protection Act and Wendell General Wetlands Protection Bylaw.

Conservation Commission Agenda and Zoom Links May 11th, 2021

Conservation Commission

Town of Wendell

Notice of Meetings of Town Boards and Committees

As required by the Open Meeting Law/M.G.L. Ch. 30A Sec. 18-25

Board or Committee:            Conservation Commission                                                              

 

Date:               05/11/2021                                                      Time:                          6:00 pm         

 

Location:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487539225  meeting ID:  854 8753 9225

Call in #s: +1-929-205-6099, +1-253-215-8782,  +1-301-715-8592

                                   

 

Date of Posting:         ____05/06/2021__                         Posted by:           Adam Kohl__

 

 

 

Agenda

Bowen’s pond dam removal discussion with Nick Wildman (Ecological Restoration Specialist with the state Department of Ecological Restoration)

Culvert replacement at New Salem Rd / Morse Village Rd NOI hearing cont.

Fiske Pond bridge replacement RDA hearing

Bylaw Regulations

Potential violation at 417 Farley Rd / Millers River

Dam Removal and Cold Brook Restoration Project; Arbutus Park, Sturbridge MA

Mosquito aerial spraying op-out application

Minutes & mail  

Items not reasonably anticipated within 48 hours

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law.  The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Conservation Commission Agenda and Zoom Links Apr. 13th at 6pm

Conservation Commission

Town of Wendell

Notice of Meetings of Town Boards and Committees

As required by the Open Meeting Law/M.G.L. Ch. 30A Sec. 18-25

Board or Committee:            Conservation Commission                                                              

 

Date:               04/13/2021                                                      Time:                          6:00 pm         

 

Location:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487539225  meeting ID:  854 8753 9225

Call in #s: +1-929-205-6099, +1-253-215-8782,  +1-301-715-8592

                                   

 

Date of Posting:         ____04/08/2021__                         Posted by:           Adam Kohl__

 

 

 

Agenda

Nexamp Extension Request for solar at Doody Property at Lockes Village Rd

RDA hearing for 313 Farley Rd.

RDA hearing for Pan Am

Culvert replacement at New Salem Rd / Morse Village Rd NOI hearing cont.

Potential violation at 417 Farley Rd / Millers River

Fiske Pond - Management Plan, Bridge replacements

Open Space Plan, finalzing open CRs

Petition to stop commercial sale of ramps and fiddlehead ferns

Member reimbursement for MACC conference

Minutes & mail  

Items not reasonably anticipated within 48 hours

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law.  The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Conservation Commission Agenda and Zoom Links Mar. 9th, 2021

Conservation Commission

Town of Wendell Notice of Meetings of Town Boards and Committees As required by the Open Meeting Law/M.G.L. Ch. 30A Sec. 18-25 Board or Committee: Conservation Commission Date: 03/09/2021 Time: 6:00 pm Location: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487539225 meeting ID: 854 8753 9225 Call in #s: +1-929-205-6099, +1-253-215-8782, +1-301-715-8592 Date of Posting: ____03/03/2021__ Posted by: Adam Kohl__Agenda

Culvert replacement at New Salem Rd / Morse Village Rd NOI hearing cont.

Annual Budget

Fiske Pond - Management Plan, Bridge Replacements

Minutes & mailItems not reasonably anticipated within 48 hours

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law. The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Conservation Commission Agenda and Zoom Links Feb. 9th, 2021

Conservation Commission

Town of Wendell

Notice of Meetings of Town Boards and Committees

As required by the Open Meeting Law/M.G.L. Ch. 30A Sec. 18-25

Board or Committee:            Conservation Commission                                                              

 

Date:               02/09/2021                                                      Time:                          6:00 pm         

 

Location:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487539225  meeting ID:  854 8753 9225

Call in #s: +1-929-205-6099, +1-253-215-8782,  +1-301-715-8592

                                   

 

Date of Posting:         ____02/05/2021__                         Posted by:           Adam Kohl__

 

 

 

Agenda

Ameresco Solar monitoring reports

Blue Heron Rd maintenance

Reynold’s fire pond at 15 Davis Turn Rd hearing

BSC request for cert. of completion at Wendell Depot Rd substation

Culvert replacement at New Salem Rd / Morse Village Rd NOI hearing cont.

452 Wendell Depot Rd. violation  

Fiske Pond Management Plan  

Minutes & mail  

Items not reasonably anticipated within 48 hours

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law.  The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Conservation Commission Jan. 12th Agenda and Zoom Links

Conservation Commission

Town of Wendell

Notice of Meetings of Town Boards and Committees

As required by the Open Meeting Law/M.G.L. Ch. 30A Sec. 18-25

Board or Committee:            Conservation Commission                                                              

 

Date:               01/12/2021                                                      Time:                          6:00 pm         

 

Location:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85487539225  meeting ID:  854 8753 9225

Call in #s: +1-929-205-6099, +1-253-215-8782,  +1-301-715-8592

                                   

 

Date of Posting:         ____01/08/2021__                         Posted by:           Adam Kohl__

 

 

 

Agenda

Reynold’s fire pond

Culvert replacement at New Salem Rd / Morse Village Rd NOI hearing cont.

452 Wendell Depot Rd. violation

Potential violation at Millers River, Blue Heron Rd

Fiske Pond Management Plan

Con Com site visit planning protocols

Minutes & mail  

Items not reasonably anticipated within 48 hours

This meeting agenda is being posted in compliance with Massachusetts’ Open Meeting Law.  The agenda may change to reflect unforeseen business.

Wendell, Massachusetts

Flag of Wendell

CONTACT

All town contacts and office hours by department

General town business:

Town Clerk:

Technical issues relating to this web site:

PARTICIPATE

Vote
Town Meeting
Meetings, Hearings & Events
Serve on Boards & Committees
Contact Town Officials

Pay Taxes
Broadband Sign-Up

APPLY

Jobs
Library Card
Dog Licence
Tax Abatements & Exemptions
Planning Applications & Permits
Building Permit
Residential Permits, Secondary Dwellings
Wetland Bylaw Permits
Birth, Death, Marriage Certificate
Business Licence

Publish modules to the "offcanvas" position.