V-166 



duck-farm waste disposal, elimination of DDT used as a pesticide 

 in several areas, and greater attention to improved v/etland use 

 and sewer outfall locations. 



MASSACHUSETTS LOCAL CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS 



Recently, qains have been made in Massachusetts in recognizing 

 conservation needs and effecting appropriate programs. During 

 this time, 38 of 60 coastal towns established conservation com- 

 missions to administer to the conservation needs of the community . 

 As stated by the 1964 Massachusetts legislature, ",,, the greater 

 effort of many coastal commissions has been directed toward the 

 protection of tidemarsh areas. Protection methods in various towns 

 have included: establishment of dredging and filling by-laws; 

 conservation district and/or subdivision zoning; and actual acguisi- 

 tion of tidemarsh acreages. Unfortunately that acguisition, the 

 most highly desired form of protection, is being exercised in 

 relatively few towns. The towns of Orleans and Chatham are leaders 

 in acquisition, having procured 400 and 170 acres respectively. 

 Acquisition in both of these towns has been by gift, purchase and 

 eminent domain. In addition to the actual acquiring of tidemarsh 

 acreages for conservation purposes, each of the above towns employs 

 zoning, and dredging and filling by-laws to further regulate the 

 use of coastal wetland areas. 



"The Town of Barnstable ... designated the Great Marshes of Barnstable 

 as the Great Marshes Conservation Area. This area comprises about 



