What is a buffer zone?

A buffer zone is the area of land within 100 feet of a wetland (the state identifies a handful of wetlands with buffer zones -- the Holliston bylaw grants a buffer zone to ALL wetland areas). Any work to be done in a wetland may have an effect on the nearby wetland. Therefore, most activities done in this buffer zone, barring the minor exempt activities, are subject to regulation and review by the Conservation Commission and/or the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Generally, approval for work done in a buffer zone is subject to several conditions and limitations to ensure impact on the nearby wetlands is either minimal or ideally, nonexistent.