Our area is in crisis, and it seems as though local residents are very aware of it, while our elected officials continue to approve development after development. 

A group of concerned citizens in Bethel hired a professional mapper to plot existing, planned and potential developments in the town. 

Several huge developments on the Bethel side are very close to Swan Lake. The implications for Swan Lake and the Town of Liberty are alarming. Prof. Metts, the mapper, predicts a 500 percent increase in population in Bethel by 2030. That’s more than 25,000 additional people, many of whom will be within a quarter mile of Swan Lake. 

Fallsburg has issued a water conservation advisory. There is not enough water to sustain the current population, yet developments continue to be approved. How is this possible? 

Sullivan County is conducting a water study for the county. Bethel and Liberty, both with limited water supplies, have many developments on the drawing board.

All people are entitled to clean water; however, it is a finite resource and according to people who service wells, they are having to drill deeper to find clean water. 

Most people do not understand the fragile nature of this resource. 

Bethel does not have a water department: all residences and developments use wells and the usage is not monitored. 

Because towns are approving massive developments at an alarming rate, it will not be many years until we will all run low or out of water completely. Groundwater cannot recharge quickly enough to meet this demand. What then?

 We do NOT have the infrastructure to handle what is here now, much less what is coming in the near future. Going forward with more development is synonymous with putting the cart before the horse. The comprehensive plans and the water study must be completed before any changes take place. 

“Moratorium” is not a dirty word; it is a temporary suspension of an activity or law until future consideration warrants lifting the suspension. It is done in other places, so let’s take a breath and get things right instead of rushing into things that cannot be undone. Our children depend on us doing the right thing.

What can you do? Attend town board and planning board meetings and voice your opinion.

Nancy Levine
Swan Lake, NY