The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently updated regulations to protect freshwater wetlands across New York State. The regulations implement new statutory requirements under the State’s Freshwater Wetlands Act that are hoped to safeguard an estimated one million additional acres of wetland habitat.
Freshwater wetlands are lands and submerged lands — commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, and bogs — that support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation. These ecosystems improve water quality by filtering pollutants, mitigate flooding by absorbing excess rainfall, and play a significant role in carbon sequestration.
Protecting freshwater wetlands is critical to the health of New York’s natural environment, helping protect communities from flooding through natural resiliency and creating habitats for fish and wildlife.
In addition to the finalized regulations, DEC proposed a statewide general permit for various activities in state-regulated freshwater wetlands and adjacent areas, protected waterbodies, and navigable waters.
The Freshwater Wetlands General Permit (GP-0-25-003) would be for a five-year term to allow for the repair, replacement, or removal of existing structures and facilities; construction or modification of various residential, commercial, industrial, or public structures; temporary installation of access roads and laydown areas; cutting trees and vegetation; drilling test wells; and routine beach maintenance and replenishment in areas under DEC jurisdiction.
The draft permit can be found on DEC’s Freshwater Wetlands General Permit webpage.
Public comments on the General Permit will be accepted through January 27, 2025, and can be submitted via email to DEPPermitting@dec.ny.gov or via mail to NYSDEC Division of Environmental Permits, Attn: Kristen Cady-Poulin, 4th Floor, NYSDEC 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-1750.
Photo of freshwater wetland by Brianna Denoncour.
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