Opinion: Wetlands In Danger
In May, town elected officials quickly voted and purchased vacant land for a proposed 12,000 sq ft municipal building and solar field, directly adjacent to Goshen Land Trust property and a thriving wetland resource.
The wetland system that is partially located on the new town property is part of the West Branch of the Bantam River watershed, and the water flowing from these wetlands, eventually flows into Bantam Lake, the largest naturally formed freshwater lake in CT.
Bantam Lake is classified as a Class AA Lake, meaning that it can potentially be used for drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural uses, and recreation. 41% of this watershed is located in Goshen, making preservation of this wetland resource absolutely critical.
My concern for this wetland resource builds, as during the last significant rain event, the flags from where the surveyors marked the wetlands, were clearly inundated with water. Most concerning for Goshenites about encroaching on our wetlands is the danger of negatively impacting our wells, making our water less safe to use. The state of CT has wetland regulations and regulated areas to protect our wetland resources. The Connecticut Legislature passed the following to support that action:
Sec. 22a-36. Inland wetlands and watercourses. Legislative finding. The inland wetlands and watercourses of the state of Connecticut are an indispensable and irreplaceable but fragile natural resource with which the citizens of the state have been endowed. The wetlands and watercourses are an interrelated web of nature essential to an adequate supply of surface and underground water; to hydrological stability and control of flooding and erosion; to the recharging and purification of groundwater; and to the existence of many forms of animal, aquatic and plant life. Many inland wetlands and watercourses have been destroyed or are in danger of destruction because of unregulated use by reason of the deposition, filling or removal of material, the diversion or obstruction of water flow, the erection of structures and other uses, all of which have despoiled, polluted and eliminated wetlands and watercourses. Such unregulated activity has had, and will continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the state of Connecticut and has and will continue to imperil the quality of the environment thus adversely affecting the ecological, scenic, historic and recreational values and benefits of the state for its citizens now and forever more. The preservation and protection of the wetlands and watercourses from random, unnecessary, undesirable and unregulated uses, disturbance or destruction is in the public interest and is essential to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state. It is, therefore, the purpose of sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, to protect the citizens of the state by making provisions for the protection, preservation, maintenance and use of the inland wetlands and watercourses by minimizing their disturbance and pollution; maintaining and improving water quality in accordance with the highest standards set by federal, state or local authority; preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation; preventing loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation and the destruction of the natural habitats thereof; deterring and inhibiting the danger of flood and pollution; protecting the quality of wetlands and watercourses for their conservation, economic, aesthetic, recreational and other public and private uses and values; and protecting the state's potable fresh water supplies from the dangers of drought, overdraft, pollution, misuse and mismanagement by providing an orderly process to balance the need for the economic growth of the state and the use of its land with the need to protect its environment and ecology in order to forever guarantee to the people of the state, the safety of such natural resources for their benefit and enjoyment and for the benefit and enjoyment of generations yet unborn.
Hence, how would such a large building and solar field, proposed by our Town leadership, fit in an area such as this, without destroying wetland, wildlife and scenic resources? The short answer is: It won’t. The building and solar field do not create the win/win of scenic and wetland preservation, as well as strategic planning for municipal and emergency critical facilities that the town needs.
As a result of the rapid acquisition of the land, many within the community have come forward in opposition, as they believe they were not given adequate notice, information, or opportunity to have a voice in the purchase of the land, and what it would be used for. As taxpayers of Goshen, each voice should be heard and provided the information, time and coordination necessary to help make informed decisions about how this land will be used.
Where are the initial planning documents that led to this decision to purchase the land, and are additional studies and quotes needed? What about the already existing footprint of the firehouse? The firehouse seems to be the most cost effective and logical place for the addition of a municipal building. Will there be an opportunity for the community to decide through active participation? How can we be more inclusive of those who were not able to attend the last meeting and allow those who are over a certain age, working, or those with small children, to attend these meetings? Can we honestly say that our process was at all inclusive?
If you too are concerned that your voice was not heard, I urge you to contact our elected officials. Let them know that you would like a more transparent process and ask for a pause in the development of this land, until the community can decide how to proceed.
Someone mentioned recently, that Goshen needs a community area, one where people can walk, socialize, be in solitude and enjoy the outdoors. Isn’t this land better suited for such a use?
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and are not necessarily those of The Goshen News.
