What We Do. Committee meets once a month in the evening in the home of a member or on the site of a potential development development project. Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of each month - 150 Sunset Drive, Brighton.

Our purpose is to advocate for the preservation of local wetlands threatened by human development while educating committee members with respect to wetlands--how to identify them, how they function, what are their values to plant and animals, including humans.

How to Contact Us. E-mail Sara Rubin, Wetlands Committee Chair with a concern about a development project or to discuss coming to a meeting.

Need to find a wetland?  Get a map at National Wetlands Inventory Home Page Welcome to the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). We produce and provide information on the characteristics, extent, and status of the Nation's wetlands and deepwater habitats and other wildlife habitats.

Thinking About Wetlands

 Everybody reading this already knows that wetlands are an invaluable resource for the natural world as well as the human environment. In addition to being the habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals, they filter our drinking water, protect us from floods, and reduce erosion.

The Wetlands Committee consists of a handful of people who meet every month to join the battle to protect wetlands. There are several ways you can help:

- Join us. We can always use new people, ideas, and energy.

- Talk to us. If you know of a wetland in your area that is threatened by development or other activity, tell us about it. We can help people get involved in protecting their neighborhoods and local wetlands.

- Talk about us. If you know somebody who would like to get involved, pass this information along. For more information or to get involved, contact Sara Rubin at 585 442 6890, Rubin150@aol.com  or Dan Grisley at 585 671 5388, cdgris55@frontiernet .

 

Wetlands Threatened

Last year, aided by a Supreme Court decision, the federal government changed its wetlands policy and no longer protects “isolated” wetlands, i.e. those which are not obviously connected to navigable waterways. New York State law protects only wetlands that are 12.4 acres or more. The change in federal policy, and the weak state law, leaves a lot of important wetlands with no legal protection. They are now subject to being filled or otherwise destroyed by development projects.

Last year and again this year, the state Assembly has passed a bill that would dramatically reduce the size of wetlands protected in New York to one acre. Last year and again this year, the state Senate has failed to pass the bill. It has been stalled in committees and never gotten a floor vote.

Take five minutes to call your senator. Tell him (or his aide, or his answering machine) that you think wetlands are important and that they deserve state protection. Ask him to support legislation that protects wetlands, and to work with the Senate leadership to get the bill to the Governor.

Not sure who your senator is, or how to reach him? Go to http://www.senate.state.ny.us/ . The ‘Senators’ link can help you find who your senator is and how to get in touch.

Protecting our wetlands helps protect our water, our wildlife, and our property. It can also help to curb urban sprawl. Asking your senator to strengthen New York’s wetland protection takes very little time, and it can make a big difference to all of us.