We urge Town of Nelson residents who care about our lakes to contact any Democratic Assembly person or Senator. Most of our Republican State representatives support amending the Freshwater Wetlands Act to exempt navigable waters.
Use the Word doc template below, make it your own and assert your voice!
Find addresses for Assembly Reps here:
Find addresses for State Senators here:
https://www.nysenate.gov/contact
OR
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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3656
Dear Assemblyman/Senator ________:
I’m writing as a private citizen, taxpayer, voter and property owner
(waterfront property owner, if true).
I urge your across-the-aisle support for A4692
(for Assembly representatives or S3656 for Senators).
The Freshwater Wetlands Act went into effect 1/1/25.
It includes well-intended language to protect and oversee wetlands.
Generally, we support expanding the wetlands overseen by DEC.
However, submerged weedbeds in navigable waters are NOT wetlands.
I oppose defining and regulating them as such.
Many of your waterfront-owning constituents may not realize the impact the Freshwater Wetlands Act will have on their property.
DEC has drafted a general permit that purports to fast-track typical waterfront improvements on private property. For instance repairing or replacing a break wall or dredging around a dock seems to be covered under the general permit.
Reading further reveals that most of these projects will NOT meet the “negative jurisdictional determination”. Instead, they WILL be subject to increased, time-consuming additional red tape and delays.
On-site visit requirements will extend the private owners’ permit experience from one year to two years or more.
-In Nelson, our two lakes are reservoirs regulated by the Canal Corp.
Will CC require a permit for every water level adjustment or draw down?
-If the lake associations elected to treat invasive weeds via mowing or chemicals will we be subjected to added bureaucracy and delays in obtaining a permit?
-Most weed-beds are near the shoreline. As of January 1, 2025 weed-beds in navigable waters will include a one hundred foot buffer that will encompass private waterfront properties in many cases. Will a permit for break-wall repair or dredging around our dock be reasonably obtainable?
-Wealthy permit-seekers are hiring high priced waterfront contractors who claim to handle their permitting. What about middle class folks who must run the bureaucratic gauntlet themselves?
The Freshwater Wetlands Act will protect millions of acres of heretofore unregulated swamps and bogs. I support this, but again submerged weed beds in navigable waters ARE NOT wetlands. A4692 (or S3656) will exempt navigable waters and still allow DEC oversight of millions of acres of previously unregulated wetlands.
Further, many small NYS lakes are left out of the exemption because they are smaller than 150 acres. Hundreds of our lakes are under this arbitrary cap and thousands of voting taxpayers will be left out if the exemption is not expanded to include them.
I support most of the goals of the Freshwater Wetlands Act.
I want to continue to be good stewards of our lakes and wetlands.
I have and will comply with reasonable regulations.
Please consider bipartisan collaboration with your colleagues to fine-tune this particular overreach?
Your many lakefront owner and water-quality advocating constituents and supporters will thank you.
Sincerely;
