Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward IV, brought the issue of how the Freshwater Wetlands Act will affect the city up to the council during Monday’s meeting. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

At least one City Council member says it’s time for the city to express its opinion regarding new freshwater regulations scheduled to take effect in January..

Since earlier this year, the new wetlands regulations proposed by the DEC as a part of the Freshwater Wetlands Act has been met with protests from multiple local towns, villages and people in power. The list of those discussing the issue has now grown to Jamestown’s City Council.

In 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law revisions to the Freshwater Wetlands Act, which was originally enacted in 1975 to regulate activities near larger wetlands, greater than 12.4 acres, and smaller wetlands considered to be of unusual local importance. The new law eliminates the use of old and inaccurate maps and says that all wetland areas greater than 12.4 acres will be subject to Article 24 regulations and will be monitored by the state DEC.

Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5 brought the matter to the council during Monday’s meeting, saying that the Freshwater Wetlands Act will affect the city.

“Yes, we will be affected as a city and despite its narrowness it affects the river and McCray Point,” Reynolds said. “I’d like to make sure that this council is aware of, and the administration too, that we might want to take some action as far as delaying the implementation of the state’s power source there, the DEC.”

Reynolds noted that the DEC runs unchecked by any other power or entity in the state. He added that the people of NYS need to put their feet down and call the DEC so they know what people living in the state want.

“I’m in favor of taking some action, and maybe we can discuss that at a later point in time,” Reynolds said. “But, it is important to the city, and the lower basin and all of the lake, there is freshwater everywhere. They’re just taking the high road in trying to run something through that is not going to be appropriate for our area.”

Other areas of concern in Chautauqua County in regards to the Freshwater Wetlands Act that will be affected include Chautauqua Lake, Findley Lake, and other Class A lakes.