Hello all,
It has been a busy beginning of the year for the Chautauqua Lake Partnership (CLP). CLP has been coordinating activities with the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Alliance (Alliance) to support the health of Chautauqua Lake regarding weed control and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The Alliance has received $590K from local foundations to support in-lake and watershed initiatives for 2021. While some monies are included in that total for weed control through herbicides, there is not a sufficient amount should the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) approve the application of herbicides.
Speaking of the application for herbicides, CLP has worked with the local townships on their applications for herbicides to control the pondweed that grows in the spring, and that was so devastating to our lake in the summer of 2020. Based on initial interactions with the NYSDEC, we are not hopeful that the applications will be approved in time for early Spring application, if at all. We have engaged our local representatives, Andy Goodell and George Borrello, to help us interface with the NYSDEC.
The CLP has continued to work with Bowling Green State University (BGSU) to address the HAB situation in the lake. BGSU has been collecting data around the lake to determine what nutrients are contributing to the HABs, and where they are originating, i.e., from the surrounding land via the tributaries, or internal to the lake. Initial indications are that the internal decay of the weeds is the primary contributor to the nutrient load that is causing the HABs. It’s a vicious circle – if you don’t control the weeds, then you end up with more of the HABs. CLP will be procuring more of the in-lake sensors, to assist in the collection of more data to help better target the nutrients and their source.
THE CLP invests a significant amount of money to help address these issues, and believes it is the only way we can improve Chautauqua Lake for all activities – fishing, boating, and swimming – while maintaining the health of the lake and the safety of those of us who enjoy it. To help us continue to generate money for these initiatives, we have registered in the Amazon Smile program. If you shop on Amazon (and who doesn’t!), you can click on the link below, and a .5% of your purchase will be donated to the CLP to support in-lake initiatives. It’s an easy way to support the lake without additional costs to you. We appreciate any support or donations you can provide!
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/02-0583646
Thanks for your ongoing support,
CLP Board of Directors