What was about to become one more shopping plaza may now become preserved as a valued natural area and wetland within the city limits of North Tonawanda. This has occurred because of the work of ordinary citizens, now organized into Citizens for a Green North Tonawanda. We have made great strides with the help of Audubon Society and other environmental groups.

The Klydel Wetland is a Class II freshwater wetland, regulated by both state and federal wetland laws. The approximately 70 acres that remain of this mature, forested wetland are located north of Meadow Drive, across from North Tonawanda High School.

This wetland was ironically named after a Canadian developer. It was first described in 1977 by DEC Wildlife Biologist James Snider in a memo to his supervisor, Steven Doleski, "It is unusual to find a wooded wetland of this size within the boundary of a city the size of North Tonawanda in Region 9. This area certainly has a great deal of potential as a nature study area for the City of North Tonawanda". At that time, he noted it consisted of 102 acres.

Through the years many developments have been proposed for the Klydel Wetland. A dozen streets dead-end on it. The DEC stopped the developer of Fairfield Drive from going any further (rightfully so), while it allowed the developer of Daniel Drive to build five houses in the wetland buffer. Much of the wetland was lost to the recent Gable Heights subdivision. It was approved by the city in 1969. This unbuilt subdivision was "grandfathered" by the DEC in 1981 and was brazenly built into the middle of the federal wetland. After another street was built right on top of the wetlands, around 1993, the surrounding neighborhoods have been plagued with increased flooding.

The latest controversy over the Klydel Wetland came last November (1996). The N. Tonawanda Common Council was asked by the mayor to quickly refer to the Planning Commission an 18 acre parcel to be developed by Benderson Development Corp. for a supermarket/retail complex. Members of the Council were not informed by the mayor that the land for the development was partly owned by his son. Both the Tonawanda News and the Buffalo News were quick to report this entanglement, as well as the ecological value of the wetland to the community. At an informal public hearing held by the Planning Commission, Benderson unveiled their plans to the public, but wisely decided to withdraw their proposal after receiving negative public response.

Concern over the potential for additional major impacts to the wetland led to the formation of Citizens for a Green North Tonawanda, led by Steve Slivan and Liz Kaszubski. The Klydel Wetland was made a priority for potentially receiving State Environmental Bond Act monies for possible acquisition after the group presented its case at the February 13, 1997 meeting of the State's Region 9 Open Space Committee. Ecologist Chuck Rosenburg pointed out these benefits of preserving this beautiful site:

1) An exemplary, mature forested wetland, containing an area of about 10 acres with old growth trees dated at 180+ years,

2) A refuge for wildlife and plants, including some uncommon or rare species for this area,

3) Prevention of additional flooding of neighborhoods with overtaxed storm sewers,

4) Furnish badly needed green space in the city,

5) Provide inexpensive and unique recreational opportunities (e.g. birdwatching of the 100 species recorded in the wetland), &

6) Support an excellent outdoor laboratory for the city's public schools, which abut the site.

Citizens for a Green North Tonawanda feel it is imperative to stop development in the wetland, preserve it for public use, and reach out to any landowners willing to sell. Therefore, on March 17, 1997 we held and informal public meeting to an overflow crowd in the city common council room. Joining our group were Chuck Rosenburg and naturalist and old growth expert Bruce Kershner. John Whitney of the Western New York Land Conservancy answered questions concerning conservation easements. The meeting was covered by Channel 7 News and by the Buffalo News and the Tonawanda News. The television coverage included Bruce Kershner's plea to preserve the old-growth trees as part of the city's centennial celebration as he handed out letters of support provided by Sierra Club and the Adirondack Mountain Club to the city's Common Council members. The Common Council president said he would be happy to deliver a copy of the letters to the mayor, who was invited to the meeting by the group, but chose not to attend.

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