Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Work Session
Thursday, July 9, 2026
4:30 p.m. at 201 West 3rd St. Jamestown, NY 14701 & via Zoom
Directors Present: Don Emhardt, Jim Andrews, Pierre Chagnon, Andy Goodell, Twan Leenders, Heather Nolan-Caskey, Bruce Erickson, Ellen Barnes, Mike Moss (Zoom), David Chertoff, Paul Wendel Jr.
Directors Absent: Rob Yates, Martin Proctor, Mike LaTone, Janet Bowman, Rick Syper, Whitney Gleason, Larry Anderson
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director and Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator
______________________________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order
P. Chagnon called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 4:32 PM. A quorum of 11 out of 18 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.
II. Approval of the 6/11/2026 Board Meeting Minutes
B. Erickson made a motion to accept the minutes from the 6/11/2026 Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by D. Emhardt and was approved unanimously.
III. Financial Update
R. Perry provided an overview of the unaudited financial summary report for June along with the 2nd quarter Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement prepared by the Alliance’s outside bookkeeper. B. Erickson made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was passed unanimously.
IV. Lake Management Consultant update
R. Perry indicated that A.J. Reyes of GEI Consultants is slated to attend at least one of the Alliance’s upcoming meetings between August and September. R. Perry indicated that Reyes and GEI staff performed a lake reconnaissance survey on July 1 and 2, and are planning to perform a second survey in August. R. Perry indicated that the survey covered high-use areas, and thanked The Jefferson Project and Chautauqua Institution for coordinating use of the County’s research boat. R. Perry thanked CLA and H. Nolan-Caskey for inviting A. Reyes to participate in a media interview.
H. Nolan-Caskey indicated that Spectrum News was reporting a story on statewide invasive species, and that news reporters met with her and A. Reyes.
R. Perry indicated that GEI collected a few water samples for algae analysis by C. Wigdahl-Perry at the SUNY Fredonia Biology Department. R. Perry indicated that GEI plans to focus their August survey efforts on invasive starry stonewort. R. Perry indicated that Alliance staff continue to coordinate a potential August Alliance-hosted public event with participation by DEC and GEI staff.
V. Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program
R. Perry provided the Board an overview of the funds the Alliance has allocated as part of the 2026 Consolidated Funding Program, as well as currently unallocated funds.
R. Perry indicated that Everwild Land Trust has submitted an application for program funding for 2026. R. Perry indicated that this funding would be used to conduct research of starry stonewort growth and management via mesocosms. R. Perry indicated that the $2,000 funding request proposal was shared with the Board.
T. Leenders indicated that his staff is currently conducting mesocosm research of starry stonewort growth in three 300 gallon tanks at the Everwild Prendergast Point preserve. T. Leenders indicated that the research is intended to help identify methods of reducing starry stonewort reproductive viability, using different management techniques. T. Leenders indicated that this funding would increase the scale of the experiment, and potentially yield data that DEC staff would like to see before issuing permits for new management methods. T. Leenders indicated that the mesocosms can be used over the winter to continue monitoring starry stonewort reproductive bulbils.
A. Goodell indicated that he recently came upon research being done by the University of Toledo in which algaecides are released via buoys over extended periods of time. A. Goodell asked if that is an option that could be considered.
T. Leenders indicated that the experiments can be scaled up in several different ways if desire and funded. T. Leenders indicated that one potential issue with treating starry stonewort with algaecides is the density at which the algae grows.
A. Goodell made a motion approving the Everwild Land Trust funding proposal for starry stonewort mesocosm research. The motion was seconded by D. Emhardt and was approved unanimously with one abstention (T. Leenders).
VI. 2026-2027 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program Update
R. Perry updated the Board on the plan for the 2026-2027 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program. R. Perry indicated that the request for funding applications was sent out to Alliance Members on 7/9/26, and are due back on 9/9/26 at 4 p.m.
P. Chagnon indicated that he and R. Perry had a good meeting with The Lenna Foundation President R. Ordines regarding the upcoming Alliance consolidated grant program. P. Chagnon expressed his appreciation for R. Ordines’ willingness to meet and provided the Board an overview of what was discussed including updates on the positive steps the Alliance and its Members have taken this year, suggestions for approaching the 2027 grant request, and the possibility of a follow-up meeting with members of the foundation’s board.
VII. 2026 NYS Consolidated Funding Application Update
R. Perry indicated that the application window remains open for the 2026 New York State Consolidated Funding Application grant program, and that applications are due on 7/31/26.
R. Perry indicated that staff are currently partnering with members on three CFA applications, including: an application with Chautauqua Institution and the Town of Chautauqua for a green infrastructure stormwater management project at Elm Lane at the Institution; an application with the Village of Lakewood for Hartley Park Improvements; and an application with the County for dredging of Bemus Creek.
T. Leenders asked if the Bemus Creek project intends to dredge the mouth of Bemus Creek.
R. Perry indicated that the dredging is expected to focus on the priority area near the delta at the mouth of the creek, and that engineering and permitting would likely be done to allow dredging in a larger area if future funding can be secured.
T. Leenders indicated that Everwild has been contacted by residents about the potential of dredging the area.
A. Goodell asked if the project plans for any streambank stabilization work.
R. Perry indicated that dredging is currently the main goal of the application.
A. Goodell asked if the Alliance was working with Soil and Water on any grant applications. R. Perry indicated that they were not working together directly but had exchanged information on what each group was working on.
VIII. Update on Alliance Communications with DEC and Potential Meeting
R. Perry indicated that Alliance staff met with DEC on 6/23/26 for a debrief of the 2025 Invasive Species grant application that was not funded. R. Perry indicated that overall there were no issues with the content of the application. DEC staff indicated that it was a very competitive year with around three times as many applications as the previous round. R. Perry indicated that Chautauqua Lake invasives applications do not score well in the disadvantaged area criteria, and that the lake’s starry stonewort infestation in particular does not score well in categories related to its detection date, acreage of infestation, and state/regional tier ranking. R. Perry indicated that DEC does not have additional funds from the program to be disbursed this year. R. Perry indicated that DEC staff was open to hearing recommendations about the program’s scoring criteria from the Alliance Board and GEI.
P. Chagnon indicated that it would be good if T. Leenders and A. Reyes could work together to respond to DEC regarding the program’s scoring criteria.
A. Goodell indicated he agreed with P. Chagnon.
R. Perry indicated that he has met with DEC staff regarding the Board’s desire to invite DEC to a public information meeting. R. Perry indicated that he is waiting to hear back about the potential availability of Acting Region 9 Director Chad Staniszewski. R. Perry indicated that he is also in communication with A. Reyes regarding his availability for the event.
A. Goodell indicated that it may be useful if DEC also includes a fisheries representative, if possible.
A discussion occurred of the Alliance public information session scheduling, including venue, attendees, structure, etc.
IX. Other
R. Perry indicated that the Board is scheduled for a work session open to invited Members and funders on 9/10/26.
A. Goodell indicated that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership lake rally at the Village Casino went well, and highlighted the adaptive management approach. A. Goodell thanked all those involved and attendees.
P. Wendel indicated that he had recently recorded a video message to the public along with H. Nolan-Caskey of CLA. P. Wendel indicated that it is difficult to know why conditions are improved this year versus 2025.
P. Chagnon indicated that public beaches at Long Point State Park and Chautauqua Institution were recently closed due to algae blooms.
A. Goodell indicated that the Bemus Stow Ferry was recently down for repairs due to a broken cable, which has since been fixed.
X. Adjourn
B. Erickson made a motion to adjourn the July 9, 2026 meeting. The motion was seconded by A. Goodell and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:32 PM.
———————————————————————————————————————
The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 7/9/26 Meeting Minutes on 8/18/26.