Conservation Office

Please contact our office via email or phone if you wish to schedule an appointment or site visit. Public records requests can also be performed via email. Voicemails left at the Conservation Office will be responded to when the Agent is in the office. 
  
All Conservation Commission meetings are being held via Zoom until further notice.
The instructions are as follows. The meeting schedule is below. Please see Agenda for most up to date information. The Agendas can be found on the Home Page.

Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023 signed by Governor Healey, this meeting of the Conservation Commission will be conducted via remote participation only, via Zoom, to promote public health and social distancing. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means.

• To listen with an opportunity to participate in this public meet please use the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84023273700?pwd=Zmp5Z0t1eGpKYnFHdVV4YlVTdGVpUT09

1. Meeting ID: 840 2327 3700
2. Password: 078953

• If you do not have a camera or microphone on your desktop or laptop, please follow the instructions below to call-in by telephone: 
• Dial (929) 205-6099
• MEETING ID: 840 2327 3700 (followed by #) 
• MEETING PASSWORD: 078953 (followed by #)

The Conservation Office assists the Conservation Commission in administering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) and the Ipswich Wetlands Protection Bylaw. The WPA empowers the Conservation Commission to determine if a project will adversely impact the following eight interests:

• Protection of Public and Private Water Supply
• Protection of Groundwater Supply
• Providing Flood Control
• Prevention of Storm Damage
• Prevention of Pollution
• Protection of Land Containing Shellfish
• Protection of Wildlife Habitat
• Protection of Fisheries.

The Ipswich Wetlands Protection Bylaw adds Erosion and Sedimentation Control to the above interests.

The Conservation Commission has jurisdiction within 100’ of a wetland, 150’ of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC, defined as elevation 10’ in certain coastal areas), and 200’ of a river or perennial stream. Any work that impacts the water, soils or vegetation (other than pruning landscaped areas, routine maintenance of lawn, and a few other minor activities) requires prior approval by the Conservation Commission. This approval is achieved by filing certain forms and information with the Conservation Office, and attending a public meeting with the Commission to present the project and answer questions.

The Conservation Office is available to assist applicants to ensure that all required forms are properly completed and submitted.