Wetlands

Local Communities Rally Against New Wetlands Regulations as Invasive Species Management Struggles at Chautauqua Lake

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Lakewood, New York – Officials from Lakewood and Bemus Point are seeking legal recourse regarding new Freshwater Wetlands Regulations that they claim are negatively impacting Chautauqua Lake. This summer, crews from the Chautauqua Lake Association have removed over 19 million pounds of invasive weeds from the lake. However, local leaders assert that regulatory changes enacted earlier this year have created adverse conditions in the lake’s southern basin. The leaders have filed notices with the state Supreme Court, asking for their concerns to be taken into account in ongoing lawsuits involving the Chautauqua Lake Property Owners … Read more

Local Property Owners Association Prepares to Challenge New Wetlands Regulations in Court

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MAYVILLE, N.Y. — Officials in Mayville and nearby Chautauqua have not committed to a legal battle against newly proposed state wetlands regulations, despite mounting pressure and advocacy from local organizations. Jim Wehrfritz, president of the Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA), outlined the group’s objections and impending legal strategy during a recent village board meeting. Wehrfritz criticized the regulations for being “arbitrary and overly broad,” during his presentation in Mayville. He emphasized concerns over the State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) criteria for defining wetlands, which he suggested could unjustly affect substantial portions of shoreline … Read more

Chevron Ordered to Pay $745 Million in Landmark Louisiana Wetlands Restoration Case

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Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana — In a ruling that could reverberate across the state and beyond, a Plaquemines Parish jury has mandated Chevron to pay $745 million for damages to restore Louisiana coastal wetlands. This decision marks a significant phase in the legal confrontations over coastal damages and oil company responsibilities. It is the first among 41 parish lawsuits targeting oil firms for such damages, potentially setting precedents for future cases in Louisiana’s ongoing struggle against environmental degradation. The verdict, delivered after a month-long trial in Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana, represents a critical juncture in … Read more