Griffin's Dairy Opposition

"Wetlands" How to find them and recognize them.

First we must recognize that fact that wetlands have benefits that we all enjoy.

The Wetlands Protection Act MGL c. 131 s.40 not only protects wetlands but it also protects the
public interests they serve.

*FLOOD CONTROL            *PREVENTION OF POLLUTION               *STORM DAMAGE
*PROTECTION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES         *GROUNDWATER SUPPLY
*FISHERIES                       *LAND CONTAINING SHELLFISH            *WILDLIFE HABITAT

Other resource areas such as land subject to flooding (100 year floodplains) are also protected.

To have wetlands we first need the resource WATER. The ocean, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers
and more are all called RESOURCE AREAS. From there we have the abutting land where we find
the soils in which we will focus on Inland Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW). So from the
resource, WATER, we move to SOILS in which our plants can grow.

Not to bore you with a lot of information, wetland soils are defined as HYDRIC SOILS . I will create
a separate section for that topic for those of you interested.

Lets get down to the nitty gritty in finding out how to find wetlands under Massachusetts Law!

Under the Wetlands Protection Act, wetlands are defined by the vegetative plant community.

OBLIGATE                                 Always found in wetlands                  99%
FACULTATIVE WETLANDS        Usually found in wetlands                67-99%
FACULTATIVE                           Sometimes found in wetlands          34 -66%
FACULTATIVE UPLANDS           Seldom found in wetlands                 1-33%

What the Conservation Commission MUST DO when determining the bordering vegetated
wetlands line is look at the plant community of facultative wetlands species VS facultative upland
species. That space between the two is referred to as the transition zone. It is that plant
community that determines the boundary of wetlands to uplands.    See the Regulations 310
CMR 10.55
Mass DEP :: Water :: Laws and Rules :: Regulations & Standards

The point at which 50% or greater of that area is facultative wetlands plants, THAT'S THE LINE!
Now when you have a very large transitional area (land that is very flat) it becomes very easy to
under estimate the extent of the wetlands. The Conservation Commission must look at three (3)
layers of vegetation when determining the wetlands boundary. The canopy (tree layer TOP),
shrub (MIDDLE) and the herb layer (BOTTOM).

Three (3) handy guides that NO Conservation Commission should be without is a Guide to Inland
Vegetated Wetlands In Massachusetts, which is put out by the Department of Environmental
Protection. This booklet is a great guide in understanding Wetland Boundary Delineation and
Plant Identification. Another is a Field Guide To Nontidal Wetland Identification by Ralph Tiner,
Jr. that was prepared for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S.
Department of Interior/Fish and Wildlife Service and last, but MOST important, is A Guide To
Understanding and Implementing The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act that was prepared
by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions.(MACC).

Take the time to look online at pictures of the following plants
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastate)      Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)     Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus)

Also get to know the various species of wetland sedges and wetland grasses.

Take a good look at the attached pictures and then go walk the farm. See how many you find
and how much you find in areas in the middle of the field!

In my humble opinion the Town of Abington's Plan of Record (POR) for Bordering Vegetated
Wetlands on Griffin's Farm, dated November 11, 2005, has been grossly under estimated. The
SAVE GRIFFIN'S FARM group has obtained documentation that supports that claim.

I asked the Middle School Site Selection Committee for a copy of the botanical report to
understand just what their botanist was viewing when delineating the wetlands on Griffin's Dairy.
There isn't one! For that reason there is NO WAY to determine how the wetlands line was
determined by that botanist.

Are you still thinking Griffin's Dairy is a good site for a Middle School?

SAVE GRIFFIN'S FARM
Preserve open space

Jim Dombrowski
28 Temple Street
1-781-878-1921