Wetland and Riparian Regulations in Amherst, MA

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Wetland and Riparian Regulations in Amherst, MA
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--- gt Wetland and Riparian Regulations in
Amherst, MA
Characteristics of Wetlands-Evidence of
water-Wetland Indicator Plants -Chinese
Witchazel (Hamamelis mollis) -Red
Maple (Acer rubrum) -Redosier dogwood
(Cornus sericea) -River Birch
(Betula nigra)-Hydric SoilsSaturated long
enough during the growing season to develop
anaerobic conditions in upper portion
What is wetland?
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--- gt Wetland and Riparian Regulations in
Amherst, MA
100 Buffer Zone Regulations

• Exempt Activities
• Active Agriculture (maintenance or improvement)
• Farming
• Cranberries
• Forest Products
• Active Aquaculture (maintenance or improvement)
• Approved Mosquito Control
• Maintenance of Existing Utilities
• Activities subject to regulation under the Act
  Activities that will
• Remove, Fill, Dredge or Alter a Resource Area
• Alter the buffer zone but will not remove, fill,
  dredge or alter a resource area are NOT subject
  to regulation
• Activities Outside Resource Areas and Buffer
  Zones
• Are NOT subject to regulation unless and until
  the activity actually
• alters a resource area
• -Exception activities that result
  in a point source discharge within a
• resource area or buffer zone may
  be reviewed in order to condition
• the discharge
• Activities within Buffer Zones
• - Must not adversely impact ability of
  resource areas to contribute to the 8 interests

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Wetland Buffer

• 100 measured horizontally from edge of wetland

Stream
100 Buffer
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Intermittent Perennial Streams
--- gt Wetland and Riparian Regulations in
Amherst, MA
Fundamentals of theWetlands Protection Act

• Wetlands Values (8 Interests of the Act)
• Private Public Water Supply
• Groundwater Protection
• Pollution Prevention
• Flood Prevention
• Prevention of Storm Damage
• Land Containing Shellfish
• Fisheries
• Wildlife Habitat

• A body of running water
• Moves in definite channel in the ground due to a
  hydraulic gradient
• Flows within, into or out of a resource area
• Includes intermittent streams except portions
  upgradient of all wetlands

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--- gt Wetland and Riparian Regulations in
Amherst, MA
Riparian Buffer
A Minimum of 200 buffer is required in Amherst,
Ma

• Bank Stabilization
• Fisheries Habitat
• Nutrient Removal
• Sediment Control
• Flood Control

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Riparian Buffer

• 200 measured horizontally from edge of wetland

Stream
200 Buffer