- By Carl Steckler
Many people noticed that the pond on George Road in
Dryden has been drained. I talked to Mary Ann Sumner,
the Town of Dryden Supervisor, on April 13. The action
that resulted in the draining of the pond was taken
because the blocked culvert and accompanying backup
was threatening the bank of Virgil Creek. The creek is a
protected trout stream, and the town was more or less
forced to take the action it took. The William George
Agency (WGA), the owner of the pasture, has been
asking the town to fix the problem since it first occurred
and has no plans to keep the pond permanent.
The area is too small to qualify as a protected wetland.
The New York State Department of Environmental Con-
servation (DEC) defines a wetland as having a minimum
of 12.7 acres. So as it stands this land will revert to a pond
during the rainy season and a dry pasture the rest of the
time. I talked to the CEO of the WGA, and he said that
the agency was happy that the problem had been solved.
They plan to use the land for pasture.
I then talked to the DEC, and they informed me that
the Town of Dryden committed no violation in fixing
the threat to Virgil Creek, which resulted in draining
the George Road pond. Unless someone has some pull
with WGA, it looks like the pond will be but a fond
memory.
On another note, The Town of Dryden is planning
a recreational park to the north of the Town Hall and
would welcome input from the birding community. I
will have more information at the May Cayuga Bird
Club meeting
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