Important meetings (Linked to Agenda)

• Look here for important meeting info.

News Flash

• Final Wal-Mart Scoping Document released, click here to read

Amherst Wetlands

Mother Nature left Northern Amherst with an abundance of wetlands and wetland soils areas (areas containing wetland sustaining soils but are not wetlands).  These low lying areas store an abundance of water year-round and provide flood protection and protect our water quality.  The Walmart site contains at least 14 acres of water soaking wetlands. When developing land it is crucial that wetland areas are properly identified so that adequate storm-water drainage basins can be provided and proper building techniques are used.   The ramifications for improper building techniques in Amherst wetland and wetland soil areas are well documented in the Amherst -U.S. Army Corps Structural Stability Study.

The soil types found in areas of N. Amherst exhibit higher maintenance, higher risk properties for development. These risks are not limited to private buildings but also for public roads, water lines, bridges, ditches and other infrastructure. An updated drainage plan for Amherst is needed before approving expansion of publicly owned infrastructure into environmentally sensitive, higher risk areas of Amherst. 

Under-delineated wetlands

Unfortunately, a pattern of under-delineating (underestimating) wetlands has emerged for development projects in Western New York State.  NYS Attorney General Spitzers office is now taking action to enforce proper delineation and protection of  wetlands. A review of the links below demonstrate why Amherst wetlands are a special focus of concern and why the Attorney Generals office testified to the EPA in 2003 that “Protection of wetlands in Amherst is necessary to prevent further damage”

Below are some of the Attorney Generals activities to date concerning wetlands:

• NYS Attorney Generals Office- April 16,2003 Testimony to EPA on why Amherst remaining wetlands must be preserved - pgs.30, 31,32   
• EPA- Special case designation 2220-Wehrle Dr. Amherst NY- establishes importance of wetland ditch/waterway connections
• 2220 Wehrle- Maps of Different delineations- OWENS Wilson- Lichvar etc
• 2220 Wehrle- Wetland Forum fall 2001, case description- Suchyna et.al VS. Army Corps. et.al
• Attorney General Spitzer Letter - Lysander,NY- Cites 2200 Wehrle case on PG 7. bottom
• NYS Attorney General Spitzer action on Lysander NY wetlands-
• NYS Attorney General Spitzer action on Parma NY wetlands- Spitzer wetland action letter    Rochester Democrat & Chronicle article-   Parma NY
• Attorney General action on Muir Woods development in Amherst.
• North Tonawanda, NY wetland under-delineation.

Tinkering with our watershed and wetlands

Despite the information cited above, there is an alarming amount of  tinkering with our  watersheds and wetlands. Despite the calls for a comprehensive storm-water management plan, our wetlands in Amherst are being moved from one area to another and one watershed to another to accommodate new development.  Instead of  comprehensive, regional storm-water and drainage plans, our floodplain is undergoing piecemeal reengineering, PARCEL BY PARCEL as each new proposal appears. 

Just 2000 ft. south of the Walmart proposal… and only  300 ft. away from the Ransom Creek/Hopkins Rd. collapse, a proposal is being considered to construct new wetlands in our Tonawanda Creek watershed to compensate for wetlands proposed to be removed from an Ellicott Creek watershed building site in south Amherst at 2220 Wehrle Dr.

• Click Here to read the Acquest mitigation site Proposal (Large PDF File)

2000 ft. to the north of the Walmart proposal there is another constructed wetland mitigation site.  Town drainage ditch 26C travels southward from the created wetland area  and runs directly through the Walmart parcel.  This ditch also contributes to the neighborhood flooding.  What impact will the Walmart proposal have on the wetlands or increasing flood risk for our families ? 

There are also other created wetland mitigation sites such as these in Northern Amherst.

• Tonawanda Creek RD. mitigation proposal

CUMULATIVE IMPACT

A comprehensive, regional storm-water plan is needed.  At present the Tonawanda Creek watershed effecting Amherst is sustaining significant growth and manipulation all of which can effect the existing investment in homes in the floodplain during floods. Wetlands are disappearing from the very watershed that needs them most. Development in Amherst, Clarence, Pendleton and well beyond are all contributing NEW impervious surface stormwater run-off to Tonawanda Creek. Because of our topography, all of this water backs up in the Amherst floodplain neighborhoods during floods events. Unless action is taken, our neighborhoods will receive the brunt of excessive run-off. Amherst doesn’t need a “catalyst” for floodplain development.  We need help! Comprehensive regional, cumulative-impact planning is needed for this watershed right NOW!  

[Home] [Flooding] [Wetlands] [Watershed in Distress] [Why North Amherst floods] [Site Plan] [Why We Must Down Zone] [The Comprehensive Plan] [Latest News]