Conservation Commission

Members

• James Digits, Chairman
  Term: 2024
• Charlie Mello, Secretary Term: 2023
• Jack Crawford, Member
  Term: 2024
• James Souza, Associate Member
  Term: 2022
• William Frenette, Member
  Term: 2023
• David Phillips, Member Term: 2024
• Paul Reynolds, Associate Member

Meetings

• 7 pm
• 3rd Thursday of every month
• Old Town Hall, Upper Level
  1111 Somerset Avenue
  Dighton, MA 02715

Overview

Conservation Commission meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, as noted on the town website calendar.  Public hearings begin at 7:00 pm. The public is always welcome to attend all meetings and hearings, as they involve our community's irreplaceable natural resources.

Applications for permits are due at least two weeks prior to the hearing you wish to attend. Changes to the regular meeting schedule will be posted on the calendar at least 24 hours in advance of a scheduled meeting.  Should the commission lack a quorum, the meeting will be rescheduled.

Board Purpose

The Conservation Commission is charged with the responsibility of protecting wetland resource areas under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 131, Section 40 and regulations 310 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 10.00 and Dighton Conservation Commission Bylaw.  The Commission protects eight functions of all wetland resource areas, which are the following:

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

Jurisdiction

Except as permitted by the Conservation Commission or as provided in this bylaw, no person shall commence to remove, fill, dredge, build upon, degrade, discharge into, or otherwise alter the following resource areas:  any freshwater or coastal wetlands; marshes; wet meadows; bogs; swamps; vernal pools; banks; reservoirs; lakes; ponds of any size; rivers; streams; creeks; beaches; dunes; estuaries; the ocean; land under water bodies; lands subject to flooding or inundation by groundwater or surface water; land subject to tidal action, coastal storm flowage, or flooding; and lands abutting any of the aforesaid areas.  Said resource areas shall be protected whether or not they border surface waters.

Protection & Preservation

The Conservation Commission also is charged with the protection and preservation of land. If you are interested in protecting your land please call us at 774-872-0946.