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Action Plan 7:
Protecting Wetlands
October 17, 2011 draft finalAbout the new Buzzards Bay CCMP Action Plans
The Buzzards Bay NEP is now updating our 1991 landmark Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to reflect the great progress achieved since that plan was finalized. It will include new or updated goals, objectives, and management solutions to meet the environmental needs for Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed throughout the next decade.
On this page is a draft action plan from the updated Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The text on this page is a public draft provided to invite comment and discussion of the subject by residents and stakeholders. It may contain goals and recommendations that have not yet been endorsed or approved by the Buzzards Bay Steering Committee. The views or information contained here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the US Environmental Protection Agency.
We want your feedback on this action plan. First, please read the entire action plan Protecting Wetlands. Then at the bottom of this page click the "Rate the Goals and Objectives now" button to provide comments on each goal, objective and defined management approach contained in this Action Plan. Based on your feedback, we will update and revise all the action plans in the new CCMP.
Protecting Wetlands
Problem
Marine and freshwater wetlands continue to be lost and degraded. Although the rate of loss has diminished greatly in recent years, future wetland losses and wetland habitat degradation will only be achieved through increased local training and enforcement, education of property owners, and the adoption of local wetland regulations to address shortcomings of state and federal laws.
The management of stormwater discharges has become an increased responsibility of Conservation Commissions. These stormwater treatment requirements must be strengthened to better achieve water quality goals (like open shellfish beds), and Conservation Commissions need to better coordinate with other boards to ensure comprehensive and consistent town-wide stormwater management requirements.
Additional efforts are needed to restore existing degraded wetlands and remedy past wetland violations. This requires a more robust enforcement approach and additional public funding for restoration projects.
This Action Plan principally relates to the enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and the need to adopt municipal laws and regulations that address local needs and conditions. Issues relating to wetland protection and restoration are addressed in many other action plans in this CCMP.
Goal
Goal 7.1 Long-term increase of high-quality wetlands in Buzzards Bay.
Objectives
Objective 7.1. To protect existing wetlands.
Objective 7.2. To encourage restoration of degraded wetlands.
Objective 7.3. To improve enforcement of wetlands laws.
Objective 7.4. To upgrade the effectiveness of local conservation commissions to protect wetlands.
Objective 7.5. To create new wetlands habitat, especially habitat that can be used by threatened, rare and endangered coastal species and anadromous and catadromous fish.
Solutions
Most of the action needed to achieve the goals of this action plan relate to improved enforcement of exist-ing regulations, or the need to adopt municipal laws and regulations that supplement the minimum standards imposed by state and federal laws. Improved enforcement and implementation of wetland laws and regulations is addressed principally through better training of municipal staff (conservation agents) and municipal conservation commissions. Wetland regulations are among the most complex that are enforced locally, and there is a steep learning curve in their successful implementation. Because local conservation commissioners are volunteer appointees with little training in wetland science, it is important that state and regional agencies (like the BBNEP) provide training and support to these commissions.
The two most challenging aspect of enforcing wetland regulations is the accurate delineation of wetland boundaries, and the adequacy of stormwater treatment designs. Municipal boards must carefully review these elements for accuracy and adequateness. These can be assured through improved training of commissioners and staff, utilization of free technical services (like the BBNEP), or hiring consultants, as provided under state laws.
Municipalities can reduce future threats to wetlands by focusing open space acquisition and conservation restrictions on lands with appreciable wetland habitat, and by helping restore filled or impaired wetlands.
Costs and Financing
The costs of adoption of regulations of regulations is negligible but the cost of staff to implement and enforce those regulations is an added cost. Most of the training courses are available at no or little cost. Other needed actions, like the restoration of wetlands, or the permanent protection of wetlands and habitat will only be achieved through additional government funding. For example, a funding level of $1 million per year could leverage the protection or restoration of many hundreds of acres annually.
Measuring Success
Most of the elements of this action plan can be addressed through tracking programmatic actions, like the adoption or update of bylaw and regulations. Some actions, like numbers of acres lost, restored, or protected are useful metrics, and are already being tracked by DEP or the BBNEP.
Additional Background
Action Plan 8. Restoring Migratory Fish Passageways, Action Plan 9. Protecting Bio-Diversity and Rare and Endangered Species Habitat, Action Plan 10. Managing Water Withdrawals to Protect Wetlands, Habitat, and Water Supplies, Action Plan 12. Protecting Open Space and Action Plan 13. Protecting Ponds and Streamsaction plans have many goals, objectives, and suggested actions that compliment this action plan.To fully understand the basis of these goals and objectives, and possible management approaches, please read the complete Protecting Wetlands (October 17, 2011 draft final, pdf file).