Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Chautauqua NY

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January 2023 Minutes

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Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting

Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:30 PM ET at The Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 & via Zoom

Directors Present: Bruce Erickson, Paul Wendel, Jr., David Shepherd, Janis Bowman, Jim Andrews, Martin Proctor, Don Emhardt, and Ellen Barnes

Directors Absent: Mike LaTone

Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director, Taylor West – Alliance Project Manager, and Jay Young – Communications Coordinator

Others in Attendance: Linda Swanson – Sheldon Foundation; Craig Butler; Dan Bowman

Member Representatives in Attendance: Becky Nystrom (via Zoom), John Jablonski – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy; Dave McCoy, Pierre Chagnon (via Zoom) – County of Chautauqua; Cassie Pinkoski (via Zoom) – Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District; Jeff Molnar – Village of Bemus Point; Doug Conroe – Chautauqua Lake Association; Jim Wehrfritz – Town of Ellery; Jim Cirbus – Chautauqua Lake Partnership

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I. Call to Order

B. Erickson called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:28 PM. A quorum of 8 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting. 

II. Approval of 12/8/22 Board Work Session Minutes

D. Emhardt made a motion to accept the minutes from the 12/8/2022 Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was approved unanimously.  

III. Projects Update

T. West indicated that the Alliance is making good progress on its partnered New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Round 17 Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP), which include the Village of Lakewood’s Grandview Stormwater Management Project, Town of North Harmony’s Ball Creek Stabilization Project, and the Town of Chautauqua’s Swales Stabilization Project. T. West indicated that the engineering design for the Ball Creek and Grandview Projects has been progressed, and that team members have worked on drafting a request for proposal for the Town of Chautauqua Project. T. West indicated that state assistance contracts between the grantees and the state have been executed, and that Lakewood and North Harmony will be putting out solicitations for construction while Chautauqua will be soliciting for engineering.

T. West indicated that there have been recent updates to the Alliance’s website projects page, which now includes new project sheets. T. West indicated that more updates are planned and thanked J. Young for his work developing the page.

The following project information was provided in a meeting handout.

  • 2018-2022 Invasive Species Early Detection – Volunteer Task Force
    • Water Chestnut (~330 plants) found/removed in Chautauqua Lake Outlet in June-October 2022
      • Collaborative efforts among CWC, ACNC, Alliance, WNY PRISM, and Volunteers
    • Starry Stonewort found in Chautauqua Lake in Ashville Bay and near Prendergast Point in August 2022. Management planning work underway by CWC
      • This species of macro-algae has been found in Chautauqua Lake since around 2009.
      • CWC’s 2022 surveys have documented at least 7.25 acres of Starry Stonewort across two areas of the lake (Ashville Bay and Prendergast Point)
    • Contact the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) to get involved
  • 2018 Busti Precision Swales Stabilization (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Grant closeout underway
  • 2021 Village of Lakewood Grandview Stormwater Management Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Project aims to create a series of pocket wetland structures to capture and treat ~100,000 cubic feet stormwater from the Grandview subdivision with the goal of reducing flooding along Rte. 394 and sediment and nutrient loading in Chautauqua Lake. A trail is planned for around the project providing an educational and recreational opportunity for the public
    • State Assistance Contract execution complete
    • Engineering underway by EcoStrategies
    • Preparing Invitation for Bids
  • 2021 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Project aims to stabilize ~440 linear feet of streambank along Ball Creek in the Town of North Harmony to reduce sediment and nutrient loading in Chautauqua Lake
    • Engineering on Tri-James Bend underway by EcoStrategies
    • State Assistance Contract execution complete
  • 2021 Town of Chautauqua Roadside Swales Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Project aims to stabilize ~16,000 linear feet of swales within the Town of Chautauqua to reduce sediment and nutrient loading in Chautauqua Lake.
    • State Assistance Contract execution complete
    • Preparing for engineering Request for Proposals (RFP) process
  • List of Alliance-partnered NYS grants that have been closed out:
    • 2015 NYS Invasive Species Management Grant (C. Young Senate Initiative), closed ca. Apr 2019
    • 2016 Lakewood-Busti Stormwater Mgmt. Engineering Study (DEC/EFC EPG), closed ca. Jan 2019
    • 2013 Celoron Breakwall & Boardwalk LWRP Phase I Grant, closed ca. Sep 2018
    • 2016 Celoron Breakwall & Boardwalk LWRP Phase II-III Grant, closed ca. Aug 2019
    • 2017 Mayville-Chautauqua Stormwater Mgmt. Engineering Study (DEC/EFC EPG), closed ca. Feb 2020
    • 2015 County Round 12 WQIP Streambank Stabilization Projects at Ball, Bemus, Goose, Prendergast, Dutch Hollow (Phase 1 & 2), and West Dutch Hollow Creeks, closed ca. April 2022
    • 2017 Celoron Park Improvement (Amenities Building) LWRP Phase IV Grant, closed ca. Mar 2021
    • 2018 Lakewood Chautauqua Avenue Green Street Retrofit (NYSEFC GIGP), closed ca. Jan 2022
    • 2018 County Round 15 Skimming Capital Equipment (NYSDEC WQIP), closed ca. Apr 2022

Additional information is available on the Alliance website Projects page and in our Annual Reports:

IV. 2022 New York State Consolidated Funding Application (NYSCFA) Update

R. Perry indicated that there have been recent announcements regarding certain 2022 NYSCFA grant awards, and indicated that the award announcements are being made on different timelines depending on the state agency that is administering them. R. Perry indicated that the Village of Celoron has received a New York State Parks grant to cap off their comprehensive improvements to Lucille Ball Memorial Park with a new playground. R. Perry congratulated the Village and thanked them for all of their work to improve the Park. R. Perry indicated that the grant funding is approximately $220,000, with up to $165,000 coming in new state funding. R. Perry indicated that over the last decade the Village has secured approximately $1.4 million in state and local investments for the waterfront, including a new breakwall, timber boardwalk, kayak launch and amenities building. R. Perry indicated that public/private partnerships have also provided for the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel next door, new park basketball court, parking lot improvements, and new boat launch.

R. Perry indicated that the Alliance is still waiting to hear on the status of three Alliance-partnered Engineering Planning Grant NYSCFAs. R. Perry indicated that these include grants for culverts in the Town of Chautauqua, sedimentation issues on Ball Creek in the Town of North Harmony, and stormwater issues along Mall Boulevard in the Village of Lakewood.

R. Perry indicated that several Members also secured grants that the Alliance did not partner on. R. Perry indicated that the Village of Mayville secured a lakeside park improvements grant through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), working in conjunction with the County and Partnership for Economic Growth. R. Perry indicated that the City of Jamestown secured grant funds for work along the Chadakoin River through the Empire State Development program, and indicated that a WQIP grant for work on the Chadakoin is still pending. R. Perry indicated that the Chautauqua Regional Economic Development Corporation secured a grant to promote craft beverage and eco-tourism assets. R. Perry indicated that the County also secured an LWRP grant for areas along the Lake Erie shoreline. R. Perry indicated that approximately $1.4 million in awards have been announced so far. R. Perry indicated that the County and the South & Center Sewer Districts also secured a Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Grant (WIIA) for the Phase II West Side Sewer Extension, while the Town of Chautauqua secured a water supply grant. R. Perry indicated that those two WIIA grants account for approximately $10 million in funding. R. Perry indicated that CWC received approximately $50,000 in grant funding for the Conservation Partnership Program. R. Perry asked if anyone in attendance has other grant news to share.

P. Wendel indicated that Regional Economic Development Council grant opportunities and awards will be made on a rolling basis throughout the year, which is a change from years past.

V. Other

B. Erickson indicated that at the 12/8/22 Alliance Board Work Session the Board met with Julie Barrett O’Neill, recently appointed Regional Director for New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Region 9. B. Erickson indicated that he was pleased with the discussion and indicated that J. Barrett O’Neill stressed the importance of cooperation. B. Erickson indicated that the Alliance plans to coordinate a meeting of stakeholders stemming from that conversation, and that more information will be forthcoming.

R. Perry indicated that the Sheldon Foundation has awarded the Alliance one third of the Consolidated Foundation Funding Request that was submitted in November, which is an award of $266,666. R. Perry indicated that the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is expected to reach a decision on their grant award in February.

P. Wendel made a motion to accept the grant and authorize R. Perry to execute the agreement with the Sheldon Foundation. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was approved unanimously.

C. Butler asked for clarification that the grant award was for one third of the total request.

R. Perry indicated that was correct, and that two-thirds of the request have been secured so far following awards by the Sheldon Foundation and The Lenna Foundation. R. Perry thanked the foundations for their grant awards.

J. Cirbus asked for clarification on this year’s foundation request versus last year’s request.

R. Perry indicated that the requested amounts were the same over the last two years ($800,000), and that $695,000 was received last year.

B. Erickson indicated that R. Perry will be sitting for an interview with Greg Peterson on January 17, 2023 as part of the Turner Winter Series at the Robert H. Jackson Center. 

VI. Open Floor: Member Representatives and Community Members in Attendance.

J. Wehrfritz indicated that originally, $7 million in County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds had been designated for the West Side Phase II Sewer Extension. J. Wehrfritz asked P. Wendel if that funding will now be available for lake programs following the successful WIIA grant.

P. Wendel indicated that he is proposing to put a share of that ARPA funding towards the lake, but not all $7 million.

J. Wehrfritz asked what is the next step regarding the summary of rake toss methods table, which was sent to the Lake Management Committee. J. Wehrfritz indicated that part of the discussion was about the redundancy of performing two separate lake surveys each year, and whether or not two are necessary. J. Wehrfritz indicated he thought it was a good summary, and asked if the rake toss methods table has been sent to the Data Analysis and Research Committee (DAR) for their assessment and recommendation.

R. Perry indicated that at the 11/2/2022 Lake Management Committee Meeting there was a discussion of the different macrophyte survey methods that have been used on the lake by different organizations. R. Perry indicated that following the Committee meeting, the rake toss summary table was generated and provided to the Board for review at the 12/8/22 Board Work Session. R. Perry indicated that the table was then shared with the Lake Management Committee after review by the Board. R. Perry indicated that inquiries to the DAR Committee would come from the Board. R. Perry indicated that the initial questions raised were concerned primarily with the different methods used.

J. Bowman indicated that the table was presented at the Board meeting in which there was a lengthy discussion with J. Barrett O’Neill. J. Bowman indicated that in light of that, the Board wished to take some time to review the information.

J. Wehrfritz asked when the Board might want to act on the information, and potentially send it to the DAR Committee.

D. Conroe indicated that considering the Lake Management Committee discussion, the creation of the summary table was not a sufficient substitute for DAR input. D. Conroe indicated that the DAR still needs to look at every document in total.

B. Erickson indicated that discussion of the topic was tabled at the 12/8/22 Board Work Session, potentially for future discussion at the February Work Session. B. Erickson indicated he had no reason to oppose sending the summary table to DAR.

J. Cirbus indicated that the summary table shows that rake toss methods are very similar, with minor differences. J. Cirbus indicated that the methods are semi-quantitative in nature, as there is no better available method, and that not much time should be spent on the topic. J. Cirbus indicated that the technique is left to the professionals conducting the surveys, and indicated that the timing of the surveys is more important than small differences in method.

J. Wehrfritz asked if J. Cirbus was suggesting that the DAR should evaluate the different surveys to make a determination on the best timing.

J. Cirbus indicated that the DAR should look at the summary table, and indicated that they would hopefully come to a similar conclusion regarding slight variations in method. J. Cirbus indicated he would not want to spend a great deal of time on the methods topic.

J. Wehrfritz asked if there is still an active DAR Committee, and asked if Mike Jabot still chairs the Committee.

R. Perry indicated that there have been no changes to the Committee.

J. Cirbus asked if there has been a DAR meeting in the last year.

B. Erickson indicated there has not.

D. Conroe indicated his support for the DAR looking at all the reports and drawing their own conclusions.

D. Conroe indicated that the Alliance has not had a Treasurer’s Report on its meeting agendas, and suggested adding one.

B. Erickson indicated his support for that.

J. Jablonski asked if there could be a motion to refer information on the studies to the DAR Committee tonight.

D. Emhardt made a motion to refer information on the plant surveys to the DAR Committee. The motion was seconded by J. Bowman and was passed unanimously.

P. Wendel asked if the Board could ask for a deadline for a response from DAR, perhaps by March.

B. Erickson indicated his support for that.

J. Bowman indicated that there is generally a standard method for rake toss surveys, and that whoever is performing a survey should be following the guidelines of the DEC. J. Bowman indicated that is something the DAR could take a look at.

B. Erickson indicated that J. Jablonski will be stepping back from his role as CWC Executive Director.

J. Jablonski indicated that starting on February 15, 2023 Whitney Gleason will be the CWC Executive Director and he will move to the Deputy Director position. J. Jablonski indicated he will move to the Special Projects Coordinator position on April 1, 2023.

B. Erickson thanked J. Jablonski for all he has done.

C. Butler indicated there are a number of ways to approach a Treasurer’s report, such as a profit and loss statement. C. Butler indicated that scheduling the timing of such a report is one consideration.

B. Erickson indicated that the Alliance did recently complete its audit, which contains much of the relevant information.

A discussion followed regarding the Treasurer’s report including information that could be included and frequency.  

VII. Adjourn

D. Emhardt made a motion to adjourn the January 12, 2023 Board meeting. The motion was seconded by M. Proctor and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM.

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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 01/12/23 Meeting Minutes on 2/16/23.