Wetland Permit Applications & Documents

Conservation Commission Wetland Permit Applications & Documents

• Please fill out the appropriate wetland applications on Watertown Conservation Commission (opengov.com).
• Watertown Wetlands Ordinance (WWO) Chapter XV (PDF)
• Rules and Regs for the administration of the WWO (PDF)

Obtaining wetland permit (Notice of Intent or Request of Determination of Applicability) 

Why do I need to obtain a wetland permit? Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10) and the Watertown Wetlands Ordinance, you are required to get a permit if you dredge, fill, or alter the land in any way within the 150-foot buffer zone, or within 200 feet of any perennial (year-round) stream.

To file for a wetland permit:

• Checklist for filing Watertown NOI/RDA (PDF)
• Wetland permit state forms and instructions in English- MassDEP Permitting & Reporting | Mass.gov
• Wetland permit state instructions for RDA/NOI in Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic.
• Application Watertown NOI/RDA (PDF)
• WWO fee calculation and transmittal form (PDF)

Helpful resources

• Conservation Commission: MGL Ch 40, section 8C - General Law - Part I, Title VII, Chapter 40, Section 8C (malegislature.gov)
• Watertown Wetlands Ordinance City of Watertown, MA Wetlands (ecode360.com)
• FEMA Flood map viewer - Flood Maps | FEMA.gov
• Watertown Stormwater Regulations - City of Watertown, MA Stormwater Regulations (ecode360.com)
• Watertown Stormwater Management and Erosion Control - City of Watertown, MA Stormwater Management and Erosion Control (ecode360.com)
• Watertown's Wetlands Protection Ordinance (PDF)
• Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Relevant Projects

• Greenough Boulevard Expansion Greenway Project (PDF)

Responsibilities

• Administering the State's Wetlands Protection Act (GL Ch 131 §40)
• Administering and Enforcing the Watertown Wetlands Ordinance (eCode360) for the Administration of the Watertown Wetlands Ordinance, Adopted October 2010
• Protecting the City's natural resources
• Reviewing plans for activities, including new development and redevelopment, that may affect our wetlands
• Imposing conditions to ensure that those activities do not cause erosion or pollution that would harm the waters or wetlands
• Seeking opportunities to increase and improve open space in the City
• Managing open spaces (PDF) under its jurisdiction
• Encouraging good management of the parklands along the Charles River
• Participating in developing a new open space plan for Watertown every seven years
• Submitting to the City Manager, each year prior to December 31st, a recommended plan for maintenance and educational activities for Whitney Hill Park.
• Writing the Whitney Hill Annual Report

Mayors' Monarch Pledge

City Manager, George Proakis, signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge on March 30, 2023!

The City pledges to do action items that focus on to support and expand monarch conservation city wide!

The City already has been doing some action items in 2022 and for 2023, this will be expanded to do more such as communicating about monarch conservation, opportunities to do some community focused programs and demonstrations, and encourage changes in reducing pesticide use.

Come join and be part of the larger conservation efforts for pollinator species! For any questions/comments, you can contact Katie Swan at kswan@watertown-ma.gov.