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Committee postpones proposed local law on stream protection and clean‑water rights

5807104 · August 6, 2025

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Summary

A proposed local law intended to protect the Esopus Creek, Rondout Creek and Wallkill River and to declare local water‑rights language was postponed for further work with the executive branch; the sponsor said the measure may be re framed as a policy rather than local law.

The committee postponed consideration of a proposed local law aimed at protecting the Esopus Creek, Rondout Creek and Wallkill River and affirming residents’ rights to clean water.

At the Aug. 5 meeting the sponsor said the draft local law might be more effective as an executive‑branch policy and that she was not ready to send the proposal to public hearing. “I think this might, instead of being a local law, be a policy,” the sponsor told the committee, and asked for more time to consult with the county executive’s office about how best to pursue goals such as swimmable rivers and healthy fish.

Legislator Stewart made a motion to postpone and Legislator Nolan seconded; the committee voted to postpone the measure for another month. The chair said the item will be reworked in consultation with the executive branch before any public hearing is scheduled.

Why it matters: the draft sought local recognition of water‑quality and ecological goals for county waterways. The sponsor said the intention is to restore swimmability and healthy fish populations but that more policy work and executive‑branch coordination is needed before pursuing a local law.