The Gloucester Conservation Commission on Nov. 19 ratified an enforcement order and accepted a restoration plan to repair wetlands at 145 Atlantic Road after aggressive, unauthorized vegetation removal and fill.

Consultant Mike DeRosa presented the restoration plan, saying crews would remove fill with a mini-excavator, rough-grade to preexisting contours, stabilize exposed soils this winter with seed, hay mulch and jute netting, and then install native wetland plantings in spring. DeRosa listed native species to be used for the herbaceous layer, including smooth goldenrod, blue vervain, woolgrass, tussock sedge and bulrush, and said the wetland seed mix would be native and facultative/obligate wetland seeds.

Commissioners asked for more detail about an adjacent area of cleared woody vegetation that appears to have been cut beyond the areas called for in prior approvals; several commissioners said that location likely requires canopy trees rather than only groundcover. The applicant agreed to update the plan to reflect what was removed and to provide a more detailed restoration prescription for the woody-vegetation area.

After revisions and staff input the commission voted to ratify the enforcement order as drafted (motion to ratify carried on roll call) and directed the applicant to notify staff at least 48 hours before work begins and to coordinate on-site inspections during restoration work. Commissioners agreed to require a two-year monitoring period for plant mortality and to include continuing conditions to ensure mitigation remains as ordered.

What’s next: the applicant will remove fill and stabilize the site this winter, complete plantings in spring 2026, and return with updated restoration details for the previously cleared woody area. The commission will monitor plant survival and enforce replacement as needed.