HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-10-CONCOM-rpt.pdf iltir414a1
October 1972
HISTORY, GOALS AND PROGRESS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The Lexington Conservation Commission was established by the action of a
special Town Meeting of November 25, 1963 and five members were appoilnted by
the Board of Selectmen (now appointed by the Town Manager, with Selectmen's
approval ) The members met in early 1964 and outlined Commission goals To
rrornote, develop and conserve Lexington's natural resources, which include ret-
ands, woodlands, open space areas, plants and wildlife The Commission set
aoout making an inventory of the Town's vacant land, outlined a proposed
conservation program and enlisted the aid of the U S Soil and Conservation
Services to analyze the undeveloped land
During the past eight years the Commission has acquired about 300 acres
of conservation land for the Town, and an additional 70+ acres is now in the
,r'/ of acquisition Under the statutes of the Commonwealth and local
ar' icles, the Commission may apply for state and federal reimbursement on
conservation land purchases, and Lexington has received this assistance on
nearly all its conservation acquisitions
From 1964 on, Legislative actions have broadened the activities and powers
of Conservation Commissions - of particular note are an act empowering the use
of eminent domain for public use and numerous coastal and wetland acts The
Hatcn Act of 1965, concerning the filling or altering of inland waters, was
probably the most important, but difficult to enforce Amended twice, as the
need for protection of wetlands became more urgent, the Act now (effective
^cctober 16, 1972) gives all Conservation Commission regulatory powers over land
development to prevent damage to natural resources II'
Thus the public's increasing awareness and concern about the environment
and its impact on living conditions has made an impact on our body of laws; and
each Town now clearly has the responsibility to preserve and protect the natural
resources within its bounds
Tne importance of Brooks, Streams, Wetlands - Primary Resources 1
4 �
Why should brooks, streams and swamps or wetlands be protected so that
they are left undisturbed insofar as possible? The most obvious reason is
food control In wet seasons swamps and wetlands hold water, which either
-uns off slowly or seeps into valuable ground water supplies throughout the
i=,er destruction of wetlands may allow water to charge destructively down-
stream, dumping silt and debris into our harbors
For this reason, particularly since 1970 when legislation authorizing
conservation restrictions or easements has been in effect, the Lexington
Conservation Commission as well as Planning Board have emphasized the need 'o
Drotect the major brooks of Lexington II
i
The Clematis Brook and Its Associated Wetlands
This Brook begins in several streamlets in the vicinity of Waltham Street
ant 4arrett Road in Lexington Some of these beginnings are protected by
Le ington' s early conservation land purchases; other creeks and waterways have
been dumps--d into and filled-around for development or formed into Irrigatior
:anal, by farmers Thus the wetlands near the Clematis Brook at Concord Avenue
are especially important, as the stream courses into Belmont, becoming the
=_avr Brook and eventually flowing into the Charles River Efforts to
improve the quality of the Charles have been well publicized in recent years
Key to this endeavor is the protection of banks and natural watersheds of
tributaries such as Clematis-Beaver Brook