April 2018 Minutes

Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, April 12, 2018
4:00 p.m. at Stow Senior Center

Directors Present: Jim Andrews, Linda Barber, Pierre Chagnon, Dave Spann, and Dave Wesp.

Absent: George Borrello, Ken Shearer, and Dave Shepherd.

Others in Attendance: Erin Brickley – Alliance Executive Director & Randall Perry – Alliance Project Manager. Tory Irgang & June Diethrick – Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. Linda Swanson – Sheldon Foundation. Bill Boria – Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services. Interested citizens: Doug Champ, Bill Wohler, Frank Witgen. EcoLogic: Liz Moran & Liz Meyers; Anchor QEA: Jim Rhea & Mike Werth. Post-Journal: Katrina Fuller.

Member Representatives in Attendance: John Jablonski, Claire Quadri, Mary Laumer & Bill Locke – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), Craig Seger – Village of Lakewood, John Shedd – Chautauqua Institution, Cassie Brower – Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District, Dave McCoy – Chautauqua County, Debbie Moore – Chautauqua Lake Association, Jim Cirbus & Paul Johnson – Chautauqua Lake Partnership (CLP) & Marla Connelly – NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – Allegany Region.

Scientific Review & Advisory Committee Members in Attendance: Tom Erlandson.

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I. Call to Order:

Mr. Chagnon called the meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:03 pm. It was noted for the record that there was a quorum (5 of 8) present. Mr. Chagnon requested a moment of silence in honor of Sally Carlson and her decades of service to the community in various roles as well as a Director of the Alliance.

II. Presentation of DRAFT 5 Year Implementation Strategy for the Management of Chautauqua Lake & Watershed:

The consulting team from EcoLogic and their subcontractor Anchor QEA were in attendance to present publicly on the draft of the 5 Year Implementation Strategy, review the steps taken during the process, and be available for a question and answer session. The PowerPoint presentation given is attached to these minutes. The goal for presenting this draft in April publicly was to build in a second layer of community participation and feedback (in addition to the questionnaires and focus groups held earlier in the process). Ms. Brickley advised that the draft documents will be emailed to the full Alliance email list serve tomorrow 4/13/18 for review and comments. It was requested that all comments and suggested edits be emailed to Ms. Brickley by 4/26/18 for collation and forwarding to the project consultants for consideration. The final Strategy will also be publicly presented by the consultant team at the 5/10/18 Alliance board meeting.

III. Approval of Minutes:

Mr. Wesp made a motion to accept the minutes of the 2/8/18 Board Meeting, seconded by Mr. Andrews. The motion was approved unanimously.

IV. Update on Current Alliance/Member Projects:

Mr. Perry gave an update on the status of the eleven funded Alliance/Member projects in process:

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grants (six in total):

Implementation status:
- Dutch Hollow Creek & West Dutch Hollow Creek:
  - Construction is out for bids (due 4/13/18)
  - Target Construction: Summer 2018
  - DEC permits granted Dec 2017; USACE permits granted Feb/Mar 2018; SWPPPs compl.
- Ball Creek: Additional site prep/planting coordination with CWC in progress; Construction completed Nov/Dec 2017
- Goose Creek: Target construction Summer 2018; construction contract executed
- Bemus Creek: No significant change; construction phase largely complete
- Prendergast Creek: No significant change; construction phase largely complete
- MWBE reports submitted April 2018
- Quarterly progress reports in preparation (due end-April)
- NYS reimbursement reports under review by NYSDEC

Invasive Species Management Grant (Senator Young $50K local assistance grant via County pass-through):

Coordination among Alliance and implementing partners in progress
Audubon work complete; RTPI/Evergreen Outfitters/Alliance collaboration in progress
Public-Private collaboration with Evergreen Outfitters for equipment & 2018 field event support
Equipment purchases in progress
2018 event planning in progress by RTPI (12 total); 4 field/workshop events and 8 informational sessions
Primary Objective: Establish framework for enhanced Early Detection program on/around Chautauqua Lake for priority invasive species

Lakewood/Busti Stormwater Management Engineering Study (DEC/EFC Engineering Planning Grant):

- Engineering work underway by Barton & Loguidice (Target Completion ca. May 2018)
- Enhanced survey underway for Top 6 recommended projects for preliminary design, which include:
  - Village Square Green Infrastructure Streetscape
  - Roadside swale retrofits (stabilization) – multiple locations in Town & Village
  - Lowe Park stream daylighting and sediment capture
  - Stream restoration (channel grade and bank stabilization) – Hillcrest Ave
  - Pond retrofit/establishment (coupled project with stream restoration above)
  - Rod & Gun Club property Stormwater Management Area

- Project scope also includes:
  - Evaluation for conservation opportunities related to other stormwater management improvements – e.g., other potential stormwater management areas and/or undeveloped or underdeveloped areas possessing high hydrologic and hydraulic function
  - Zoning review and build-out scenarios with hydrologic and hydraulic modeling

Celoron LWRP grants (2013/2016):

Construction started 2/19/18; Partial completion achieved 3/15/18
Project includes enhanced waterfront access, shoreline stabilization, and water quality and habitat improvements:
- - Replacement of ~430 linear feet of vertical concrete breakwall with sloped (irregular) heavy stone fill shoreline
  - Installation of ~60 linear feet of rootwad and random boulder revetment (aquatic habitat enhancement) with native plantings at eastern end
  - Overall reduction in area of asphalt pathways near lake shore
  - Pending installation of ~390 linear feet of timber boardwalk atop new stone fill and helical piles
- Pending installation of ADA-compliant floating kayak launch and gangway near western end
Close-out reporting and reimbursement for older grant is underway
Next completion milestone ca. Aug 2018; Final completion ca. Oct 2018

Celoron Park Improvement (Phase IV) LWRP grant (2017):

Project initiation call with Village and NYSDOS March 2018
Assistance with State Assistance Contract establishment
Other coordination between Alliance & Village in progress – e.g., engineer procurement, timeline, budget

Mayville / Chautauqua Stormwater Mgmt. Engineering Study (NYS DEC/EFC Engineering Planning Grant):

Project kick-off meeting with Village/Town team held 1/22/18
Engineering RFP assistance in progress
Alliance assistance with other initial Grant Agreement Checklist items complete or in progress

V. Update on New York State led Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Initiative:

Late in December 2017, Governor Cuomo announced a new program regarding the state’s commitment to protect New York lakes from HAB’s via a new state led initiative that partners state experts with local expertise and resources. The HAB initiative identified 12 priority waterbodies that are vulnerable to HAB and are critical sources of drinking water and vital tourism and Chautauqua Lake was named one of these twelve. The press release noted that the state will commit up to $500k to each of the twelve waterbodies to collaboratively develop a HAB Action Plan and then make $60 million available statewide, likely via its competitive grant process, for action plan implementation work.

Ms. Brickley advised that she was in attendance at the March 26^th Western Group HAB Summit held in Rochester along with many Alliance member representatives also in attendance from Chautauqua Lake. The full day event was by invitation only, followed by a public session the same day. The agenda for both sessions is attached to these minutes as well as the handout specific to Chautauqua Lake. Many of the presentations and discussions revolved around known factors that typically impact HAB formation such as nutrient load, light penetration through the water column, warm temperatures, calm winds, seed population and possible impacts of invasive Zebra mussels. All of these factors can play a role in HAB formation and all are important but we as lake and watershed managers can really only influence or aim to control one factor, which is nutrient levels (both from entering the lake as continual inputs and with-in the lake via episodic internal loading). It was also noted that there was confirmation at this meeting that the state funding described in the Governors press release last year would indeed be part of the existing NYS Consolidated Funding Application or CFA process. The CFA process is a competitive state grant program open once each summer which encompasses multiple types of state funding grants, typically opening May 1^st and closing July 31^st. Mr. Champ expressed that the timing is overlapping with when the priority lake action plan will come out the end of May which will be a challenge. Ms. Brickley agreed and advised that many in attendance at this board meeting were also in attendance on March 26^th and requested they share their observations or known updates.

Mr. Boria advised that NYS Health department is already working on a new certification program for private labs for Microcystis analysis (a class of toxin producing cyanobacteria (HAB)) in order to increase available labs in NYS that can assist in real time sample testing. Mr. Boria also noted that the maximum acceptable limits set for HAB testing, considering public health risks, are already very conservative and protective but they may get even more protective in the future based on this initiative. He also commented that the health department can assist in advising of additional management options that would increase processes protective of drinking water sources on a county wide scale.

VI. Approval of Audit Committee Recommendation for Submission of 2017 Financial Statement and 990 Tax From:

Mr. Chagnon advised that Rob Kocur of Kocur, Saxton & Associates performed financial services for the Alliance again this year. The Audit was done with the Executive Director Ms. Brickley and once Mr. Kocur completed draft versions of the 2017 financial statement and 990, the Alliance Audit Committee met and reviewed drafts as presented by Mr. Kocur. Final drafts of both were sent to the full Board for review prior to today’s meeting. Mr. Chagnon, expressed appreciation to the Alliance Audit Committee members. Mr. Spann made a motion to accept the Audit Committee’s recommendation to approve the final reports, seconded by Mr. Andrews. The motion was approved unanimously.

VII. Approval of Seasonal Grant Writer (Budget Placeholder):

Ms. Brickley advised that the original request for a full time grant writer and communications coordinator position from last December had now been adjusted to reflect a part-time grant writer who would work remotely from mid-April at this point through the end of the CFA cycle at the end of July. Mr. Chagnon commented that he appreciated that the adjusted maximum costs were far below the budget placeholder assigned 12/2017. Mr. Wesp commented that he considers this an investment to increase the number of CFA applications the Alliance can lead given that the 5 Year Implementation Strategy as well as the NYS HAB initiative that will both be finalized in May which leads to an extremely tight timeline of events to complete vetted CFA grant submission by the end of July. Mr. Spann commented he was generally opposed but would not stand in the way of Alliance goals. Ms. Barber made a motion to approve the hire of a part time seasonal grant writer under the identified parameters, seconded by Mr. Wesp. The motion was approved unanimously.

VIII. Open Floor / Member Updates:

Mr. Chagnon opened the floor to any Member updates or upcoming events and/or comments from the general public in attendance:

Mr. Jablonski shared that CWC will host upcoming event to kick off the spring trout fishing season with updates on the state of the Chautauqua Lake trout fishery and Chautauqua Lake WQIP erosion control projects on lake tributary streams. The event will be held on Thursday, April 19th at 5:00 PM at the Southern Tier Brewing Company’s upstairs tasting room.
Ms. Connelly shared that Long Point State Park will be participating in the I Love My Park Day program Saturday May 5^th and you can register online to participate. This is a volunteer opportunity to assist in cleanup, park improvements and beautification and all are encouraged to participate. Mr. Chagnon commented that he had already registered and hoped others would join him.

IX. Adjourn:

Mr. Wesp motioned to adjourn at 5:28 p.m., seconded by Mr. Andrews. The motion was approved unanimously.

Additional Files: CLWMA Presentation (Draft)