BILL NUMBER: S9799

SPONSOR: BORRELLO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
exempting certain inland lakes from wetlands designations

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would exempt inland lakes that are navigable waterways and
have an area of one hundred fifty acres or more from freshwater wetlands
designations. The bill will further exclude the Great Lakes from the
definition of "inland lake."

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 9 that states, inland lakes which are navigable waterways,
and which have an area of one hundred fifty acres or more shall be
exempt from designation as a freshwater wetland, whenever the commis-
sioner is delineating boundaries of freshwater wetlands pursuant to
              

subdivision two of this section. For the purpose of this section,
"inland lake" shall not include any of the great lakes.

Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Landowners and developers often advocate for exemptions to protect their
property rights and investments. Wetland designations can impose
restrictions on land use, potentially decreasing property values and
limiting landowners' ability to use their land as they see fit. Exempt-
ing 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 enjoy-
ment. 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.

This piece of legislation is necessary to balance environmental
protection with economic and recreational interest. This approach allows
for targeted conservation efforts by focusing on areas where wetland
protections are most needed while also accommodating responsible land
and water use.