Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Work Session with Members & Funders
Thursday, December 11, 2025
4:30 p.m. at 201 West 3rd St. Jamestown, NY 14701 & via Zoom
Directors Present: Don Emhardt, Martin Proctor, Jim Andrews, Mike LaTone, Pierre Chagnon, Andy Goodell, Larry Anderson
Directors Absent: Paul Wendel Jr., JoDee Johnson
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director and Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator
Member and Funder Representatives in Attendance: Jan Bowman, Whitney Gleason – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy; Heather Nolan-Caskey, Bruce Erickson – Chautauqua Lake Association; Dave McCoy – County of Chautauqua; Jeff Molnar– Village of Bemus Point; Karen Rine – South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts; Leigh Rovegno – Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation; Rick Syper – Village of Mayville. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order
P. Chagnon called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:30 PM. A quorum of 7 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.
II. Approval of 11/13/2025 Board Work Session Minutes
D. Emhardt made a motion to accept the minutes from the 11/13/2025 Work Session Meeting. The motion was seconded by M. LaTone and was approved unanimously.
III. Financial Update
R. Perry indicated that the meeting packet includes an updated financial summary report for November. R. Perry indicated that the financial summary report includes a grant received from The Lenna Foundation for $150,000 as part of the 2026 Consolidated Funding Request.
A. Goodell asked how that grant award compares to recent years.
R. Perry indicated that the 2026 amount is lower than past grants. R. Perry indicated he has received feedback from The Lenna Foundation regarding their perspectives on the Alliance Consolidated Funding request.
A discussion followed regarding potential other foundation contributions to the Alliance’s Consolidated Funding program.
IV. Discussion with Justin Brewer and Jim Markham – NYSDEC Fisheries
The Board welcomed Justin Brewer, an Aquatic Biologist 1 with the NYSDEC Bureau of Fisheries; as well as Jim Markham, the NYSDEC Region 9 Fisheries Director. J. Brewer and J. Markham delivered a presentation covering DEC monitoring of the lake’s various fish species as well as designated fish zone. The presenters indicated that the lake’s three most popular sport fish typically draw the most attention from DEC surveys, including muskellunge, walleye, as well as large and smallmouth bass. The presenters indicated that survey methods used by DEC vary by species and include trap nets, electrofishing, gill nets, and bottom trawling. The presenters indicated that typically DEC conducts an annual spring trap net survey for muskellunge assessment and egg take, and an annual fall electrofishing survey to assess bass and walleye populations. The presenters indicated that non-annual surveys typically occur every 2-5 years, and can target other species like sunfish, perch, and juvenile panfish. The presenters outlined the differences in survey methodology, and the results of the most recent surveys conducted on the lake. The presenters described the process used by the DEC fish hatchery to manage muskellunge, and the importance of muskellunge as a keystone species. The presenters described the variability over time of average fish sizes, catch rates, and breeding. The presented discussed the lake’s fish zones and the relationship between the lake’s fishery and aquatic plants.
Discussion occurred related to lake fish survey methods; surveying of anglers; relationships between increases and decreases of different species; walleye management in the lake; musky and walleye dynamics; if any fish species specifically prefer elodea habitat; if fish zones exist in other New York lakes; the past introduction of white perch into the lake; and the possibility of relationships between fish catch rates and lake management.
The presenters indicated that they would provide the Board with more information related to fish zones in other New York lakes, as well as additional details for fish survey information once they are available.
P. Chagnon thanked J. Brewer and J. Markham for their time and expertise, and indicated that the Alliance looked forward to learning more about the Chautauqua fish zones and how they compare to other NY lakes.
V. Lake Management Consultant Update – Discussion with AJ Reyes, GEI Consultants
R. Perry indicated that AJ Reyes of GEI Consultants is attending the meeting via Zoom in order to discuss year-end recommendations with the Board. A. Reyes gave an overview of GEI’s tasks and schedule that he and his team have followed during the year. A. Reyes discussed several recommendations to the Board based on his team’s work, noting that a full summary would be provided at the end of the year.
One recommendation was to consider the creation of a starry stonewort technical advisory group to help improve coordination between the several stakeholders and management approaches currently being undertaken to address the invasive algae. For another recommendation, A. Reyes outlined how a flexible management plan using multiple strategies could be implemented to help improve conditions in the south basin, once again relying on collaboration between all local service providers. Reyes indicated that one approach could be to employ a network of navigation channels established early in the season and maintained during the recreational season using both chemical and mechanical means. A. Reyes indicated that Chautauqua Lake is already using many of the established plant management methods in the “toolbox”, and suggested that they continue, but also that service providers refine and prioritize their existing programs for maximum efficiency and outcomes. On that topic, A. Reyes recommended that more consideration be given to evaluating the effectiveness of the management techniques, which has been requested by DEC. A. Reyes recommended that additional research programs be considered, such as studies intended to determine how the reproductive structures of invasives like starry stonewort and curly-leaf pondweed persist in the environment and contribute to annual growth. A. Reyes indicated that lakewide plant surveys are an important piece of the research puzzle, but they are not designed to answer all questions that a lake community may have. Beyond the plant data, A. Reyes indicated that the Alliance and stakeholders should also consider working more closely with DEC to establish key priorities for fisheries data collection. A. Reyes suggested that the Alliance develop a method for public communication of annual water quality results. A. Reyes indicated that this approach could utilize a short scorecard, newsletter, and/or online dashboard to inform the public about general lake conditions year to year. A. Reyes recommended that the Alliance consider developing a web-based platform to catalogue all of the watershed projects that have been done to improve water quality over the past several years, as there is currently no centralized database. A. Reyes recommended that the Alliance consider a lake-wide usability survey in order to gauge public opinion on the condition of the lake. A. Reyes indicated that the Alliance could partner with a public relations firm for this purpose. A. Reyes suggested that the Alliance continue to support certain other research initiatives such as those related to HABs management, North Carolina State’s management plan, mapping of shoreline cleanup and debris accumulation, as well as aquatic plant and algae research.
Discussion occurred related to a number of topics including: starry stonewort management goals and a potential technical advisory coordinator; the potential use of navigational markers in the south basin if channels are created; collaboration on the potential creation of south basin navigation channels; previous plans to create navigation channels on the lake; state regulation of the creation of navigation channels; what management tactics are being used successfully in locations other than Chautauqua; the impact of ProcellaCOR on target versus native species; the possible use of lakewide survey data to evaluate the effectiveness of management; possible opportunities to improve grant agreement language for the Alliance and its members; the timing of curly-leaf pondweed management; the role of navigation lanes on fishing; the potential role of the County in surveying the public on lake use; the Jefferson Project presenting their findings to the County Legislature in January; and the feasibility of a technical advisory group approach for other lake management.
The Board and other attendees thanked A. Reyes and GEI for their work and presentation.
VI. Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program
R. Perry indicated that following the Board’s discussion at their 11/13/25 meeting, the CLP provided a written proposal for updating the NC State 5-year management plan, to be completed with input from the CWC and CLA, at a proposed cost of $6,000.
L. Anderson made a motion to approve the $6,000 request for CLP for the purpose of updating the NC State 5-year plan. The motion was seconded by J. Andrews and was passed unanimously with two abstentions (Abstain: M. LaTone, A. Goodell).
R. Perry indicated that there are $5,135 in unexpended funds for the CLP starry stonewort algaecide pilot grant and that the CLP has requested a no-cost time extension to carry the remainder over for the same use in 2026. R. Perry indicated that in the past, the Board has considered no-cost time extensions to allow Member grants to be used for the same purpose in the following year.
M. Proctor made a motion to authorize a no-cost time extension through 12/31/2026 for CLP’s starry stonewort algaecide pilot grant. The motion was seconded by J. Andrews and was passed unanimously with two abstentions (Abstain: M. LaTone, A. Goodell).
R. Perry indicated that there are $12,523.89 in unexpended funds for the Town of Chautauqua’s 2025 Mobitrac grant and that the Town has requested a no-cost time extension to carry the remainder over for the same use in 2026.
M. LaTone made a motion to authorize a no-cost time extension through 12/31/2026 for the Town of Chautauqua’s 2025 Mobitrac grant. The motion was seconded by A. Goodell and was passed unanimously with one abstention (Abstain: D. Emhardt).
R. Perry indicated that there are currently $21,628.35 in unallocated funds from the 2025 Chautauqua County Agency Allocation. R. Perry indicated that in the past the Board has considered moving those funds to the Alliance’s Lake Maintenance Operations and Capital Reserve.
D. Emhardt made a motion to move the unallocated 2025 County Agency Allocation funds to the Alliance’s Lake Maintenance Operations and Capital Reserve. The motion was seconded by M. LaTone and was approved unanimously.
VII. Alliance Operating Budget
R. Perry provided for the Board’s consideration a Draft 2026 Alliance Operating Budget with a comparison to the 2025 approved budget. R. Perry indicated that the only significant change for the 2026 budget is the inclusion of a line item for continuing the Board’s contract with GEI.
The Board accepted the draft and indicated they would discuss it further in Executive Session (Motion by A. Goodell; Second by D. Emhardt; motion passed unanimously).
VIII. Other
Reminders were shared regarding the upcoming Alliance Board meeting schedule, with a board/members/funders work session on 1/8/26 and a board/staff work session on 2/12/26, which will include the new expanded board.
P. Chagnon indicated that the agenda contains notes regarding two email votes performed by the Board in November. On 11/14/25, the Board voted by email to accept and authorize signature of the 2026 grant from The Lenna Foundation. On 11/17/25, the Board voted by email to adopt the Alliance Staff Code of Conduct.
IX. Executive Session
The Board entered executive session at 7:14 PM (Motion by M. Proctor, Second by L. Anderson, carried unanimously). Staff and guests left the meeting.
The Board approved the 2026 Alliance Operating Budget as presented but with an amendment to include a 3% salary increase for all staff (Motion by A. Goodell, Second by D. Emhardt, carried unanimously).
The Board adjourned executive session at 7:23 PM (Motion by L. Anderson, Second by M. LaTone, carried unanimously).
X. Adjourn
A. Goodell made a motion to adjourn the December 11, 2025 meeting. The motion was seconded by J. Andrews and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 PM.
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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 12/11/25 Meeting Minutes on 1/8/26.