For Release: Monday, August 15, 2005
DEC Proposes Revised Putnam and Dutchess Wetland Maps
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the release of draft revised State Freshwater Wetland Maps for Putnam and lower Dutchess counties, which include portions of the New York City Watershed.
"Wetlands are extremely critical areas that provide many important benefits to all residents of New York State and to the overall health of our environment," Commissioner Sheehan said. "Wetlands naturally cleanse and purify water by removing nutrients and other impurities and keep these pollutants from entering our streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. These areas are especially important in protecting the long-term quality of the New York City drinking water supply."
The State has identified 121 additional wetlands within those communities in Putnam and lower Dutchess counties, which includes the New York City Watershed, that are now protected under the State's Freshwater Wetlands Act. Wetlands and other waters of the United States are also protected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act. In addition, municipalities may also regulate wetlands under local municipal law.
The scope of the proposed remapping amendment includes Putnam County and that portion of lower Dutchess County that falls within the New York City Watershed. The draft amendments consist primarily of the addition of previously unmapped wetland areas. Within the New York City Watershed portion of Putnam and Dutchess counties, approximately 4,520 acres of wetlands were added and an additional 1,400 acres of wetlands were added just outside the Watershed in Putnam County. An additional 5,920 acres of wetlands will now appear on the Article 24 Freshwater Wetland Act Regulatory Maps.
Copies of the draft revised maps depicting the proposed amendments may be viewed at local government clerks' offices, at local town libraries, at the DEC's Region 3 Office located at 21 South Putt Corners Road in New Paltz, and at the DEC website or http://www.bagdonenvironmental.com/ . Full-size copies of the maps can be purchased from http://www.btimages.com/ or http://www.syracuseblueprint.com/
To provide all interested parties with an opportunity to view the proposed amended maps and get additional information on the Freshwater Wetlands Program, DEC has scheduled two informational meetings for September 13 and 14, 2005 at the Carmel Town Hall located at 60 McAlpin Avenue, Mahopac, Putnam County. The information meetings start at 2 p.m. and conclude at 7:30 p.m. In addition DEC has scheduled a public hearing on September 14 at the Carmel Town Hall, to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed map amendments. The public hearing will start at 7:30 p.m.
The Freshwater Wetlands Act, Article 24 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law, provides DEC with the authority to regulate the State's freshwater wetland resources. The Act regulates wetlands 12.4 acres or greater in size, certain smaller wetlands identified as unusual local importance and a 100-foot buffer area around mapped wetlands. A wetland must be shown on the official Article 24 Freshwater Wetland Maps in order to be regulated under the Act. The Act also allows DEC to amend maps in order to add, modify or delete areas from the Article 24 Freshwater Wetland Maps. For additional information regarding the Act, please visit DEC's website.
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