BEMUS POINT – The third in a series of meetings about updated state wetlands regulations and their potential impact on Chautauqua Lake will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bemus Point Golf Club.

The meeting will be led by Jim Wehrfritz, a longtime advocate on Chautauqua Lake issues, who earlier this year began raising concerns about the new wetlands designation and its potential impact on Chautauqua Lake. Concerns initially focused on the Burtis Bay area of Chautauqua Lake in the town of Ellicott and village of Lakewood, though Wehrfritz has said the new regulations could affect the entire lake. Homes along Chautauqua Lake’s shores make up more than 25% of the county’s total taxable value.

The meeting will include a review of key issues and an update of state DEC plans and actions being considered.

The 2022 Wetlands Law amendments and 2023 draft regulations can regulate the use of significant portions of the lake and adjacent shoreline with major negative impacts on tourism, commercial interests, property values, and ultimately, property, school, and sales tax revenue.

There have been differing opinions on how much the regulations will impact Chautauqua Lake, though state Sen. George Borrelo, R-Sunset Bay, recently introduced legislation that will exempt inland lakes that are navigable waterways and have an area of 150 acres or more from freshwater wetlands designations. The bill will further exclude the Great Lakes from the definition of “inland lake.”

“Landowners and developers often advocate for exemptions to protect their property rights and investments,” Borrello said in his legislative justification. “Wetland designations can impose restrictions on land use, potentially decreasing property values and limiting landowners’ ability to use their land as they see fit. Exempting inland lakes of one hundred fifty acres or more can facilitate continued use for boating, fishing, tourism, and other water-based recreation, which are crucial for local economies and community enjoyment. By excluding the Great Lakes and focusing on inland lakes, the regulation ensures that the ecological importance of the Great Lakes is acknowledged and protected under state and federal regulations, while inland lakes with less critical but still significant ecological roles are managed appropriately.”

The non-profit Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association formed in the aftermath of the regulation’s release. The association is focused on “protecting the interests of property and business owners and lake users” and is independent of the DEC, Chautauqua County and New York state.