This is a proposed updated Action Plan in the Buzzards Bay CCMP 2024 Update.

Protecting Open Space

Problem

There are many different land uses within the Buzzards Bay watershed, but much of the watershed remains undeveloped. However, undeveloped land has been disappearing at a rapid rate. In 1971, 64.5% of the watershed consisted of open and undisturbed forestlands and only 12.9% was developed. By 1999, open and undisturbed forested lands decreased to 56.5% of the watershed, while developed lands increased to 19.8%. The percent of lands classified as developed continues to increase, especially in the more rapidly growing communities.

Because of these concerning trends, focused efforts began in the 1990s to permanently protect lands as open space. In 1995, permanently protected open space only totaled 5,543 acres. By 2024, this had grown to 85,358, or nearly 31% of the watershed.

There are ecological, cultural, and aesthetic reasons to protect open space. Naturally vegetated landscapes control flooding, can protect water supplies, reduce erosion, reduce pollutants from watersheds, and provide upland and wetland habitat. Despite these and other benefits, protection of open space and habitat is a financial and political challenge for most municipalities. Some municipalities have considerable amounts of open space; some have modest amounts of open space. Because the Buzzards Bay watershed already exceeds the state’s “30 x 30” goal (30% protected by 2030), the NEP and its partners seek to permanently protect 40% of the Buzzards Bay watershed as open space by 2030.

Goals and Objectives

Changes: Some objectives were re-worded improve clarity and readability. Three new objectives were added including a “40×30” goal.

Goal 12.1. Preserve the ecological integrity of Buzzards Bay and its watershed by increasing the amount of permanently protected open space.
Objective 12.1. Improve and protect coastal and inland surface water quality and groundwater supplies through land protection.
Objective 12.2. Permanently protect land that supports species biodiversity in the watershed.
Objective 12.3. Increase local land conservation capacity to protect open space.
Objective 12.4 Protect land which will allow for the migration of salt marshes with sea level rise or provide connectivity to other habitats. (New)
Objective 12.5. By 2030, permanently protect 40% of the Buzzards Bay watershed. (New)
Objective 12.6. Manage protected open space to maintain and promote the greatest possible degree of natural biodiversity and to maintain appropriate amounts of natural groundwater recharge. (New)