Conservation Commission

conservation@townofgb.org

Function

The 1957 Conservation Commission Act authorized each city and town in Massachusettes to establish a locally appointed municipal agency to plan for natural resource protection, acquire important land and water areas, and manage these properties for conservation and passive recreation. It is also the work of the Great Barrington Conservation Commission to locally administer the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA; MGL Ch 131, S.40), the Rivers Protection Act (Acts of 1996, Ch. 258), and the Great Barrington Welands Protection By-laws (Ch. 168). The purpose of the Regulations is to protect public and private water supply, groundwater supply, flood control, storm damage protection, prevention of pollution, protection of land containing shellfish, protection of fisheries, and protection of wildlife habitat.  The Regulations prohibit any filling, excavation or other alteration of the land surface, water levels, or vegetation in or near wetlands, without a permit from the local Conservation Commission. Our responsibility is to review project plans, including construction, renovations, alterations, additions, pruning, tree cutting, land clearing, river clean up, and any activity within 100' of a lake, pond, vegetated wetland, or intermittent stream, within 200' of any perennial river (except for any river, lake or pond that is a public or private water supply, where the set back is 500'), and any work within floodplains.  

If you have any questions concerning a project, you can call the office or fill out a WPA Form 1 Request for Determination of Applicability. This form is designed to answer any questions on whether your project is in a protected area and whether the work will affect the environment or not.

Filing Deadline: Friday at 12:00pm, two and one half (2 1/2) weeks before the public hearing. Nine (9) copies must be delivered to the Town Hall on or before the deadline. Please call the office at (413) 528-1619 ext 122 with any questions. 

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Shep Evans Conservation Agent (413) 528-1619 x 2801

Commission Members Appointed

NameTerm Expiration

Kate Van Olst

Chair

2024

Andrew Didio

Member

2025

Michael Lanoue

Member

2026

Thomas Ferris

Member

2024

Andrew Mankin

Member

2025

David C. Shanahan

Member

2025

VACANCY

Member

2026