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Resident urges town support for Japanese barberry removal; commission points to MACC resources and volunteer crews
Summary
A resident, Ethan Leis, asked the conservation commission for resources to tackle widespread Japanese barberry infestations along waterways; staff pointed to the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) resources and advised filing a request for determination in buffer zones.
A Hampden resident urged the Town of Hampden Conservation Commission to help organize resources to remove invasive Japanese barberry that has spread along town waterways and riparian buffers.
"Around the town there's clearly a ton of Japanese barbar bushes...it's a compounding issue," resident Ethan Leis said, explaining that the shrubs produce large numbers of new plants and that infestations can be deep-rooted and difficult to eradicate. Leis said he had portions of his 100-foot riverfront buffer heavily infested and asked whether the town could incentivize removal or help organize volunteer crews.
Staff advised that, for vegetation inside protected buffer zones, property owners typically must file a request for determination before work can proceed. A staff member also noted there is no specific state monetary program for this issue but recommended resources from the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) and said the commission could help publicize volunteer removal efforts or certify community-service hours to encourage participation.
Commission members discussed past successful volunteer projects (including Eagle Scout projects) and suggested volunteers could be mobilized if the commission provides an official endorsement or assistance with permitting. The staff member said the only reliable long-term control is removal plus monitoring and that the property owner is generally responsible for work within their buffer; the commission said it would consider outreach and follow up with the resident about volunteer organization and permit steps.
The commission did not announce any new funding but said it would keep the resident informed about possible volunteer initiatives and provide MACC references.
The commission's guidance to the resident emphasized permitting steps for work in buffer zones and the importance of follow-up monitoring to prevent reestablishment of the invasive shrubs.
