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CONSERVATION COMMISSION The purpose of the Conservation Commission is to protect Longmeadow's wetland resource areas in accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Longmeadow Wetlands Bylaw and supporting regulations. The protected resource areas include rivers, streams, brooks, ponds, wetlands, banks and the floodplains. Protection extends 100 feet from the edge of the wetlands, 200 feet from rivers and most brooks and streams, and to the entire floodplain. Rivers, streams, brooks, ponds, wetlands, and the underground aquifer in Longmeadow all are part of the system that provides water for use by earth's inhabitants. In addition, the wetlands provide habitat and food for marine life, birds, and animals and act as conduits for the movement of water from one area to another. Wetlands serve as temporary storage areas for water, filtering out pollution and allowing the filtered water to be absorbed into the aquifer. Rivers, streams, brooks, ponds and wetlands are usually supported by banks and may also be in the floodplain. Banks are susceptible to crumbling and erosion. Once this happens, the soil and vegetation from the banks tend to clog and fill the associated watercourse, interfering with its natural functions, hence measures are taken to protect banks. Floodplains are low areas, such as that between Route I-91 and the Connecticut River which may be flooded by excess water due to heavy rain or high water levels in the river. Floodplains serve as temporary storage areas for water, thus preventing flooding in populated areas. Floodplains are protected to insure that the storage capacity is not reduced. It is illegal for anyone in Longmeadow to dredge, fill, modify or alter any of these resource areas without first filing for and receiving a permit to do so. Anyone whose property is within 100 feet of a wetland or within 200 feet of a brook, stream or river who wishes to build, grade, clear, apply herbicides or to do any work which could alter the resource area must contact the Conservation Commission before doing so. The Conservation Commission normally meets in the Fire Station Meeting Room at 32 Williams Street at 7 PM on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Meetings are open to the public in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. Anyone wishing to contact the Commission may call the Conservation Commission Secretary at 565-4100 ext. 344. E-mail messages for the Conservation Commission may be sent
to John Bresnahan, Chairman at johnb0707@comcast.net
or to Esther Moomjian, Secretary at concom@longmeadow.org John Bresnahan Karen Chadwell Steve Gazillo Albert Laakso James Simon Associate Members Notices and Events
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