Bedford Audubon Society

The Wetlands/Watershed Protection Act S-4480-a is still alive and a coalition of environmental groups has been putting pressure on the Governor and Senator Bruno to bring this legislation to a vote and pass critically this important wetlands protection for isolated wetlands between 1 acre and 12.4 acres in size.

Bedford Audubon Society has passed a resolution in support of this legislation and thanks Senator Leibell for his support on this issue.

Members should consider sending a letter to the editor of their local newspaper on the subject to keep the pressure on the administration and on Senator Bruno (Majority Leader) and Senator Marcellino (Environmental Conservation Committee Chair) to pass this important legislation.

Below is a copy of a sample letter to the editor that I am sending to the Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review (a similar letter has already been published by The Journal News). It includes many of the facts about this issue.

Click here for a link to a copy of a recent advertisement in support of this bill sponsored by Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club and Environmental Advocates.

Feel free to contact me, Don Pachner of the Bedford Audubon Conservation Committee, for additional information.

Don Pachner
Bedford Audubon Society, Inc.
Member, Board of Directors
Member, Conservation Committee mailto:dpachner@bedfordaudubon.org

Sample Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor
RE: NY Wetlands Need More Protection

A recent federal court case (SWANCC vs. Army Corps of Engineers) has pulled back protections from all wetlands that are not connected to navigable surface waters of the U.S. These types of wetlands represent over 20% of all wetlands in our region. We see these in fragile, local wet areas covered with skunk cabbage, false hellebore and tussocks that are not located on our rivers, lakes or streams.

Although the Bush Administration backed down from a rule-change that would have allowed developers to fill many of our nation's isolated wetlands, they left similar guidance in place that instructs government agencies not to enforce the current rules without first obtaining permission from their headquarters.

New York's wetlands are especially threatened by these federal rollbacks because of a weak state law. While every other state in the Northeast protects wetlands regardless of their size, New York State's fresh water wetlands laws only protects wetlands 12.4 acres or larger, about the size of twelve football fields. Many of our state's smaller wetlands are left entirely unprotected as a result of the SWANCC court decision and the Bush Administration's "guidance."

Our communities rely on fresh water wetlands for natural water filtration, flood prevention and to provide homes for fish, birds, amphibians and other wildlife.

We cannot let these valuable resources disappear. The New York State Assembly has passed a bill that would allow the state to protect smaller fresh water wetlands. The State Senate and Governor Pataki should not end the legislative session without taking action on Bill S-4480-a.

Sincerely,