The Westport Conservation Department is committed to preserving and improving the natural beauty and ecological diversity of our town's inland wetlands and watercourses. Our mission is to ensure that these vital resources remain healthy and vibrant for wildlife and future generations to enjoy. To accomplish this, we work tirelessly to enforce environmental regulations, conduct outreach with the public, and engage in sustainable practices that protect our natural resources.

This is accomplished through the administration and enforcement of:

• The Regulations for the Protection and Preservation of Inland Wetlands and Watercourses for the Town of Westport

• The Waterway Protection Line Ordinance

• Westport Shellfish Regulations

• The Aquifer Protection Regulations

• The Water Use for Tree Spraying Ordinance

• The Leaf Blower Ordinance

• The Retail Checkout Bags Ordinance

• The Single Use Plastic Food Service Products Ordinance

• Cockenoe Island Administration + Caretaking

The Conservation Department also has advisory memberships with the Sasco Brook Pollution Abatement Committee and the Sherwood Mill Pond Advisory Committee.

It is the Department’s goal to ensure sound growth in the community by balancing the rights of the property owner with the need for environmental protection. We recognize that our work is not just about protecting the environment today, but also about ensuring future  enjoyment of these natural resources. Protecting our town's natural resources is a top priority. Westport’s inland wetlands and watercourses provide a wide range of benefits to our community. They help filter pollutants from the water, regulate water flow, and provide habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

To protect these resources, we enforce environmental regulations that are designed to prevent harmful activities from occurring in or near these areas. The Department will abide by state and local environmental laws.  We will update current regulations and develop new regulations, policies, and standards as necessary to achieve These goals.  Our team is dedicated to ensuring that all development and construction activities are conducted in a manner that minimizes environmental impact on local ecosystems.  Additionally, we strive to implement and support sustainable initiatives that help protect our environment. 

Climate change, rising temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns have a significant impact on our local natural resources. We work to reduce our town's impact on the environment by promoting sound environmental construction and the use of renewable energy sources.

We also recognize that Invasive species can have a significant impact on our local ecosystems, outcompeting native species and reducing biodiversity. We will continue to work to identify and control invasive species in our town's wetlands and watercourses.

Also, we recognize the importance of public education and outreach. By educating the public about the importance of protecting our natural resources, we can increase support for environmental protection and encourage more sustainable practices. We strive to engage with the community through outreach programs, public meetings, and educational materials to promote a culture of environmental stewardship.

Our team is dedicated to staying up to date on the latest environmental issues and taking action to address them.  We will continue to strive to provide superior customer service to the Town, and we will continue to facilitate discussions that give individual attention to each applicant, citizen, and environmental issue that arise.

Wetlands, Watercourses and Aquifers Town Facts

• The Town of Westport has 13 named watercourses and many other unnamed tributaries

• At least 40% of the town has regulated inland wetland soils

• Approximately 50% of the town is regulated by the Waterway Protection Line Ordinance

• Two areas in the town are designated as an “Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone” because groundwater in these areas directly drains to the wellfields used for our drinking water supply