Update on Phragmites Work and New Wetlands Regulations

We wanted to share an update about this season’s phragmites management work. Recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) updated its freshwater wetlands regulations. These new rules expand which areas are considered regulated wetlands and change the process for getting permits to do any work in or near them.

Because of this, most of our current and planned hhragmites treatment sites are now on pause while new permits and preliminary determinations are completed. The only location that can move forward right now is the Parade Grounds, which already had its permit approved under the previous regulations.

While delays are never easy, this is an important step to make sure we’re doing everything responsibly and in full compliance with state policy. Wetland regulations exist to protect sensitive habitats, water quality, and the overall health of our island’s ecosystem. When the state updates these policies, it’s our job to make sure all of our work stays consistent with those changes.

We’re continuing to work closely with our partners at The Pond and Lake Connection and NYSDEC to complete the required paperwork and move forward as soon as possible. We’ll share updates once we have a clearer timeline.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about the new wetlands regulations, you can visit the NYSDEC Freshwater Wetlands Program for more information.

Pease feel free to email annarwfic@gmail.com if you have any questions.