What is a Wetland??
The following are two examples of wetlands that can be found in Marshfield and do not include all the Wetland Resource Areas that are regulated.
Bordering Vegetated Wetlands are freshwater wetlands which border on Creeks, rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes. The types of fresh water wetlands include wet meadows, marshes, swamps, and bogs. They are areas where the topography is low and flat, and where the soils are annually saturated. The ground and surface water regime and the general vegetated community which occur in each type of freshwater wetland are noted in regulatory guidelines used by the Commission.
Salt Marsh is a coastal wetland that extends landward up to the highest tide line, that is, the highest spring tide of the year, and is characterized by plants that are well adapted or prefer living in saline soils. Some of the dominant plants within salt marshes are salt meadow cord grass and salt marsh cord grass. A salt marsh may contain tidal creeks, ditches, and pools.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has regulations governing activities in wetlands under the Wetlands Protection Act and the Town also has regulations, which are stricter than the State regulations and are promulgated by the Town’s wetlands by-law.
People proposing activities in Wetland Resource Areas must comply with both the State and local regulations.
Buffer Zone Setbacks
