Recently, the Board of Directors of the Attleboro Land Trust voted unanimously to endorse the revised city ordinance on wetlands, extending the “no disturb zone” from 25 feet to 50 feet. The Board considers this a crucial step in reaching a sustainable strategy for balancing development with the protection of natural resources in Attleboro, where the rapid development has adversely affected the wetlands that are critical to the city’s natural environment.

Current studies indicate that a 25-foot buffer is too narrow to effectively remove sediment and pollutants or provide adequate wildlife habitat, particularly on steep slopes, in areas with silty/clay soils or a lack of vegetation, or where runoff is highly polluted. Increasing the buffer to 50 feet, as proposed in this ordinance, will most certainly enhance water quality and wildlife habitats in Attleboro’s wetlands.