The city on June 25 adopted a wetlands ordinance to better protect local resources. The local ordinance is more expansive than the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, protecting additional wetland resource areas and uplands, or buffer zones. Under the ordinance, the Newburyport Conservation Commission may order any person who removes, fills, dredges, builds upon, degrades, or otherwise alters a protected resource area or buffer zone to restore the property to its original condition. Violators also may be fined up to $300 per day for each day the violation continues. To view the 22-page ordinance, visit www.cityofnewburyport.com.