Wetlands are protected in Massachusetts under the Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Ch. 131, § 40), and Regulations (310 CMR 10.00), to ensure the public’s interests in wetland resource areas are not degraded or diminished. We often think of wetlands as marshes and swamps, however, the Wetlands Protection Act has a broader definition of wetlands which includes flood zones, coastal beaches and dunes, intertidal flats, salt marshes, eelgrass, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and areas immediate to these waterways. Wetlands provide several important functions and values, such as flood storage, wildlife habitat, mitigation of storm water and pollutants, filtration for drinking water, and prevention of storm damage to buildings and upland areas. For more information on wetland resource areas and where they are located within your community please explore the websites referenced below:
Information, Regulations, Stormwater, Permitting Information and Forms
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Education and Advocacy
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Overlays
MassGIS
Provides general wetland resource area overlays. The MassGIS wetlands overlay does not provide definitive wetland delineations for purposes of Conservation Commission project review.
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