Town Conservation Commission seeks members: How to apply

Are you interested in environmental issues and giving back to the Town of Harwich? The Town is currently seeking residents who would like to serve as members of the Harwich Conservation Commission.

The Harwich Conservation Commission is a volunteer board, comprised of seven citizens of Harwich who are appointed to three-year terms by the Select Board. In addition, there are three associate non-voting member positions.

Currently, there are two full vacancies and two vacancies for alternate associate members available.

The Town’s Conservation Department provides staff support to the Conservation Commission, which is responsible for administering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, its regulations, and the Harwich Wetlands Protection Bylaw and Regulations.

The Town Conservation Department also supports efforts of the Town Conservation Commission in the oversight and the administration of town-owned conservation lands.

Applicants for Conservation Commission positions don’t necessarily need a background in the environmental field, just an interest and desire to learn and to contribute.

TO APPLY: Folks interested in serving on the Harwich Conservation Commission can fill out a Citizens Activity Vacancy Form (click to download).

The form is also available at the Select Board and Administration Office, 732 Main Street, 02645, Harwich. Forms can be mailed, dropped off, or emailed to natasha.lyon@harwich-ma.gov.

The big picture: Your Local Land Trust, Town Conservation Commission, Conservation Department, and Natural Resources Department

Harwich has wonderful resources to help folks answer conservation questions and address concerns.

Possible questions that may arise include: How do I preserve my land? If there are wetlands nearby and I want to do landscaping, how should I proceed? Where does the Town of Harwich recommend digging for clams and how do I get my shell fishing permit?

Each of these questions focuses on natural resources and you can find the answers from multiple entities in town. As your local land trust, Harwich Conservation Trust specializes in preserving land, taking care of it, and creating inspiring ways to explore the outdoors.

Nonprofit land trusts aren’t affiliated with town government, but often work with town departments to preserve and manage conservation lands. When it comes to landowner work near wetlands we refer folks to the Town of Harwich Conservation Department and for fishery questions, we send people to the Town of Harwich Natural Resources Department.

How do you know which group to contact to have questions answered? To help guide you in understanding the common ground between your nonprofit land trust and town departments as well as their different roles in protecting land, water, and wildlife around us, read on.

What is a Town Conservation Commission?

Town Conservation Commissions have been around since the late 1950s when legislators recognized the growing need to protect natural resources at the town-wide level and passed the Massachusetts Conservation Commission Act. At the time, Town Conservation Commissions were the official municipal agency charged with protection of a community’s natural resources.

A Town Conservation Commission is comprised of seven volunteers from within the town, with expertise and/or a keen interest in conservation related fields. In Harwich, they are appointed by the Select Board for a three-year term.

In the early days of Town Conservation Commissions, their role was focused on “promotion and development of natural resources…and protection of watershed resources.” This included keeping an inventory of the municipality’s natural resources and preparing relevant maps and plans, as well as acquiring, and managing open space.

These responsibilities expanded significantly in 1972 when Commissions were given the responsibility to administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. Under this state legislation, Town Conservation Commissions review applications and issue permits for work in and near wetlands, flood plains, banks, river fronts, beaches, and surface waters. The Town Conservation Commissions hold public meetings for the review of these applications and establish whether the proposed activities meet the criteria of the State Wetlands Protection Act and/or any Town Wetlands Protection Bylaws or Regulations.

Interested in joining the Town of Harwich Conservation Commission? Please click here to download the application form.

Is there also a Town Conservation Department?

In Harwich, there is also a Town Conservation Department which is different than the Town Conservation Commission. The Town of Harwich Conservation Department is comprised of two staff members: Conservation Administrator Amy Usowski and Assistant Town Conservation Agent Meg Salmon. They support the project review work of the volunteer Town Conservation Commission.

The Town of Harwich Conservation Department is also responsible for managing roughly 1,000 acres of Town conservation land, including but not limited to the Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands, Thompson’s Field, Island Pond Conservation Lands, and the D. Isabel Smith Monomoy River Conservation Lands.

How about the Town Natural Resources Department?

The Town Natural Resources Department is staffed with a Natural Resource Officer who provides expertise and hands on help with the protection and enhancement of a town’s natural resources including herring runs, eel migration, shellfish aquaculture and regulation enforcement, and wildlife habitat improvements on town-owned property.

Responsibilities of the Town Natural Resources Dept. often overlap with the Town Conservation Commission related to enforcement of wetlands protection regulations under the guidance of the Town Conservation Department.

In Harwich, Stephanie Sykes is the Director of the Town Natural Resources Department and is also the Town Natural Resource Officer. In addition to the Natural Resources Dept. activities mentioned above, Sykes oversees the water quality sampling of Harwich harbors, Herring River, and many freshwater ponds. When a pond experiences an algae bloom, Sykes will respond in conjunction with the Town Conservation Department and Town Health Department.

Land Trusts

Land trusts by contrast are nonprofit organizations, rather than town entities. The land trust movement was born out of the need to supplement town and state government natural resource protection in the face of escalating land loss due to over development that impacts water quality, wildlife habitat, and community character.

Typically, a land trust’s mission is to permanently preserve land for the protection of natural resources such as woods, water, wildlife and open space for low-impact, recreation, sometimes referred to as passive recreation. A good example is a walking trail.

Land trusts achieve these goals by receiving land donations, holding conservation restrictions on properties, and purchasing land. Many land trusts are also able to offer outdoor educational opportunities to land trust members and to the general public through guided walks and events.

Land trusts are often all volunteer while some are run by a combination of volunteer and staff. Land trusts can be funded through member donations, bequest through a person’s will, grants, and educational programs.

Many land trusts, like Harwich Conservation Trust, operate within a town boundary to bring tangible, visible community benefits through preservation of land that saves scenic views, creates hiking trails, protects wildlife habitat, and enhances the health of water resources.

Your enduring land trust support makes a lasting, local difference.

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.