Why is protection of water resources important?

Water resources provide habitat for wildlife, and serve as environmental, recreational and scenic assets.

Becket provides important water resources for Southern New England. The headwaters of three major New England rivers lie within its borders: the Westfield (a nationally designated Wild and Scenic river), the Farmington, and the Housatonic. There are also numerous lakes and ponds in Becket.  And Becket’s many wetlands keep rivers, lakes, ponds and groundwater supplies clean and protect against flooding.

Since Colonial times, almost one third of Massachusetts’ wetlands have been destroyed. Today, wetlands are protected by state and federal laws. The Becket Conservation Commission works hand-in-hand with state agencies to make sure that our water resources remain in tact for the future generations.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the information on this website is meant to simplify very complicated regulations, and is not meant to substitute for applicants' responsibility to understand and follow applicable laws, and read the official forms and instructions carefully. In cases where information on this website disagrees or appears to disagree with state and local regulations and policies, the official regulations and policies take precedent.

Thanks to the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for contributing to information on this website.