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Discussing freshwater wetlands Town Of Cicero hosts NYSDEC presentation on regulations By Anna Edwards On Wednesday, July 30, the Town of Cicero hosted a New York State Department of Energy and Conservation (NYSDEC) presentation on new freshwater wetland regulations implemented by the NYSDEC earlier this year. DEC Deputy Regional Permit Administrator Jonathan Stercho, along with DEC Biologist Thad Yorks from the Bureau of Ecosystem Health, gave a presentation on the regulations and answered community questions. The new regulations, which were adopted on Jan. 1, 2025, introduced a new classification system that includes protections for smaller wetlands and wetlands of unusual importance. The new regulations also expand the DEC’s regulatory jurisdiction to include wetlands that were not mapped previously. The Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975 was the previous legislation regarding wetlands. The act protected wetlands that were 12.4 acres or larger. The new regulations still include wetlands of this size, but also add new standards. “We regulate both impacts to a wetland and the 100-foot adjacent area around the wetland. They both have special characteristics that New York State has determined is worth protecting,” said Stercho. Yorks said the regulations were approved by the legislature in 2022, sent for public feedback
sessions and then signed by the legislature in late 2024. To be classified as a protected wetland through the 2025 legislation, the wetland must be 12.4 acres or greater, or meet any of the 11 unusual importance criteria. The criteria are: watersheds with significant flooding, urban areas, wetlands with rare plants, wetlands with rare animals, areas of unusual local importance, Class 1 Wetlands, previously mapped lands, lands of regional significance, floodways, wetlands with significant importance to protecting the state’s water quality, and vernal pools, which Yorks said are typically temporary isolated wetlands. The speakers emphasized that not every property has classified wetlands. “Every property is not subject to these regulations. It’s only if there are protected wetlands, either in the lake in front of your property, or if there are protected wetlands on your property,” said Stercho. To find out if a property contains wetlands, property owners can request a parcel jurisdiction (JD). The DEC will then look at the land to decide if there are wetlands on the property or if the 100-foot adjacent area of a protected wetland falls in the property. A parcel jurisdictional determination determines if a parcel meets the criteria for classification as a regulated freshwater wetland.
Anna Edwards
The DEC hosted a meeting in Cicero to discuss new freshwater wetland regulations implemented by the NYSDEC earlier this year. “It’s determining and figuring out if there are any wetlands there or adjacent areas that are regulated,” said Yorks. “A wetland delineation is to determine where the wetland ends, or vice versa.” To request a parcel jurisdiction, visit d e c . n y. g o v / n a t u r e / w a terbodies/wetlands/ freshwater-wetlandsprogram/freshwaterwetland-jurisdictionaldetermination and fill out the online jurisdiction form. The DEC’s team will review the parcel and provide an answer within a 90 day period. Yorks said if the parcel JD is positive, landowners should fill out a project JD before they complete a project on the wetland area. A project JD is a way of assessing the proposed activity and its impacts to the wetland or adja-
cent area. The DEC’s website states that after determining the impact, potential mitigation measures are looked into and permitting is required. There are also general permits, which Yorks said cover more common activities. General permits often include activities that have a limited environmental impact. “General permits streamline the process. They are sort of a template that covers a number of activities… It’s nicely packaged,” said Yorks. Some activities will be exempt from the Article 24 Freshwater Wetlands Act, and therefore do not require a permit. Exempt activities include maintenance, repair of existing structures, resurfacing, seasonal removal and installation of docks and outdoor recreation such
as boating and fishing. Activities that are prohibited in regulated areas until permits are in place are called regulated activities. These activities include clear cutting vegetation, excavation, dredging, draining, installing and expanding new docks, use of pesticides, use of herbicides and new construction of buildings, driveways or accessory structures. Yorks said that this can be thought of as new activities, instead of ongoing. “The continuing lawful use of your property is not going to require a permit,” said Stercho. The DEC currently does not have a map of the jurisdictional wetlands in the lakes, and a regulated wetland cannot be determined without a JD. Yorks said that the DEC’s Environmental Re-
source Mapper can provide an overview, but that it is not a complete map. Community members raised concerns about a lack of information regarding what constitutes wetlands, as there are no maps which display current wetland status. They expressed worry about not being able to make decisions regarding building on their own land. Attendees asked if the changes had anything to do with the displacement of wetlands taking place with the Micron project, but Stercho and Yorks said they did not. Attendees also shared concerns regarding 90day wait times for permits. According to the NYSDEC website, “wetlands are essential for maintaining biodiversity, mitigating flooding, and protecting water quality.”
People’s choice
CNY’s premier horn band, Brass Inc. makes its Johnson Park debut on Monday, Aug. 11 By Russ Tarby Contributing writer
W
hen the 2025 Syracuse Area Music Awards were announced in March, the winner of the People’s Choice Award for Best Band went to the ninepiece powerhouse horn band, Brass Inc. In fact, the popular vote total was nothing short of a landslide. “I’m told by those in charge, the win was a landslide,” said Brass Inc. keyboardist Rhys Brigida. “Literally thousands of people voted. Our audience is loyal, the proof is in the pudding and we’re blessed.”
The popular Syracuse-based dance band makes its Johnson Park debut at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 as part of the 39th annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series. Audience members should bring a lawn chair or blanket. Admission is free at all performances. For more information visit liverpoolistheplace. com. The award-winning band features keyboardist Rhys Brigida, trumpeter Brian Burke, bassist Mike Cieply, vocalist Dee Englebrecht, lead guitarist Pat Hodson, tenor saxman and flutist Tony Mastrobattisto, trombonist Clayton Morgan and lead vocalist and saxophonist Walt Tanner.
Submitted photo
This year’s Sammys People’s Choice for Best Band, Brass Inc., will perform a free concert at Johnson Park debut at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, in Liverpool. “One thing for sure,” Brigida said, “our featured horn section is by far the best at what they do, and their powerful command of expertly crafted charts are a thing of envy, world class.” Brass Inc. songlists are dominated by material from
the 1960s and ’70s – Motown, Beatles, BeeGees and B-52s – but the combo also covers more recent tunes by Kiki Dee, Bruno Mars and Amy Winehouse. “We’re a solid cover band,” Brigida said. “We haven’t produced original music yet, but all the ingredients are there to
make it happen. Recordings are in discussion.” The 39th annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series will conclude with the DeSantis Orchestra celebrating 77 years of music-making at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Johnson Park.
Volume 132, Number 32 The Star-Review is published weekly by Eagle News. Office of Publication: 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206. Periodical Postage Paid at Syracuse, NY 13220, USPS 316060. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Star-Review, 2501 James St., Suite 108, Syracuse, NY 13206.
LIBRARY NEWS: Liverpool Library celebrates summer.
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movers & shakers: Local accountants promoted.
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history ������������������������ 7
PennySaver ���������������� 8 scholars ��������������� 2,12
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