1993-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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ties; three pitch pine/scrub oak communities; more (We believe this to be the first such regulation, under than three wildlife rare species habitat areas; four a local Wetlands Protection Bylaw, in Massachusetts)• wildlife and plant rare species habitats; one Area of It was not an easy decision on the part of the Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC); and over Commission to go forward with this regulation, as it three hundred acres of cranberry bogs, farmed and fal- has aroused some opposition by affected parties, low. Many consultations were carried out with marine sci- entists, hydrologists and legal experts before proceed- Of the over sixteen thousand acres of lands in ing. The Nitrate-loading regulation, we realize is onl y Mashpee, over twenty six hundred acres (15%) are a first step in bringing our bays back to a "state of wetlands, made up of the following: salt marsh 337 health" such as they enjoyed 30 or more years ago. acres(2.0%),tidal flats 51 acres(0.3%);barrier beach- The Commission appreciates the support of those, es 128 acres (0.7%); ponds (fresh, brackish, salt) over including many town officials,who have stood behind five acres 1.787 acres(11.0%); and approximately 354 us in this controversial matter. acres of small ponds, streams and bags, et al (2.0%). Over one thousand acres (7%) of wetlands and It has been long known by ecological science that uplands of town owned land is entrusted to manage- maintaining an undisturbed, naturally vegetated buffer ment by the Conservation Commission. between areas of alteration and wetlands and water- ways is essential for environmental protection. These To achieve our goals and to meet the responsibility Naturally Vegetated Buffer Strips (NVB S) prevent of protecting these resources is a difficult task, but we erasion and sedimentation, attenuate pollution and believe that we have responded as effectively as pos- provide important wildlife habitat. Studies at sible to the challenge. In this,our report to the citizens Washington State University and the University of of Mashpee, we will review some of the significant Rhode Island have suggested that 50 feet, at a mini- events of last year: mum, of NUBS is necessary to remove pollution/decrease sedimentation, and that at least 50 ENFORCEMENT: Though total enforcement situ- feet is necessary for wildlife habitat. This past year, ations have remained about the same,enforcement has the commission has adopted a regulation calling for become more time-consuming and difficult. A dis- such a 50-foot NUBS. turbing trend has been noted whereby wetland viola- tors have (more often than in the past) resisted direc-- CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION: the tive to properly file and/or correct damage done to Commission is now the custodian of the best view in Al protected resource areas. Twice last year the Town. A 13 acre parcel, on a bluff overlooking the Commission had to seek injunctions in Superior Court Mashpee River and Popponesset Bay, was donated to i to compel violators to comply with the law (in both the Town by Mr. Herbert Stenberg. The Commission cases the court upheld the Commission and ordered wishes to thank, in addition to Mr. Stenberg, Exec, restoration was begun). The Commission has always Sec. Bob Whritenour, Town Planner Tom Fudala, dealt with violators in a professional manner providing Dave Bailey of the Assessors De artment and the p guidance on how to comply with the law and attempt Trustees of Reservations for the hard work that was to undo damage. The public should be aware, how- necessary to accomplish the acquisition of this extra- ever,that 4 at resistance will be met with the use of the full ordinary piece of property. realm of the legal mechanisms available in order to see that the law is followed and restoration (of damaged Of great promise, too, is the still-evolving possibil- areas) is carried out. Enforcement is time--consuming ity of the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service's purchase of ;. and costly (especially when the services of Town nearly 5,000 acres in Mashpee and Falmouth as a iA Counsel are required). To fail to follow through on Wildlife Preserve. The Commission has worked timely and effective enforcement,however, "sends the close/ with State and Federal Agencies in pursuing Y g wrong message" one that encourages further flaunt- this excitingossibilit . Selectman Oeor e Costa is to P Y g ing of the law and damage to the environment. The be commended for the many hours he has put in to } Mashpee Conservation Commission - : p fully intends to spearhead this acquisition. Its value cannot be averes apply the full measure of the law to those who abuse timated, as continued development of these parcels p our lands and waters. would have very damaging effects to wildlife habitat in general and water quality in our bays and other LOCAL WETLANDS BYLAW REGULATIONS: ' vvaterbodles. In response to convincing evidence that our shallow Bays(such as Poppanesset and Waquoit Bays)are suf. EDUCATIONSIONALISM: fer' AND PROFESSIONALISM: rng serious ecological degradation from Nitrogen Conservation, Agent Bob Sherman continues active from Septic systems, the Mashpee Conservation ' ' f coil- Commission participation in the Massachusetts Association o Commission promulgated a regulation limiting servation Commissions (MACC), and has become a Nitrates emanating from Septic systems and lawns. member of the Bo 's hasprovided and of Directors. This 98