Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Work Session
Thursday, June 11, 2026
4:30 p.m. at 201 West 3rd St. Jamestown, NY 14701 & via Zoom
Directors Present: Don Emhardt, Martin Proctor, Jim Andrews, Pierre Chagnon, Andy Goodell, Mike LaTone, Whitney Gleason, Twan Leenders, Heather Nolan-Caskey, Bruce Erickson, Ellen Barnes, David Chertoff, Rob Yates, Rick Syper, Janet Bowman, Mike Moss (Zoom)
Directors Absent: Paul Wendel Jr., Larry Anderson
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director and Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator
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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 16 out of 18 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.
II. Approval of the 5/14/2026 Board Meeting Minutes
D. Emhardt made a motion to accept the minutes from the 5/14/2026 Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by R. Syper and was approved unanimously.
III. Financial Update
R. Perry provided an overview of the unaudited financial summary report for May.
B. Erickson made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by R. Yates 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 July and September. R. Perry indicated that Reyes and GEI staff are scheduled to perform a lake reconnaissance survey next week, weather permitting, and are planning to perform a second survey in August. R. Perry indicated that GEI performed 2025 surveys in April and July. R. Perry indicated that A. Reyes recently help lead a meeting with CLA, CLP, and Ready Scout to discuss the commercial navigation zones, including how the groups can coordinate efforts regarding timing, communication with the public, marking, and integrating both herbicides and harvesting into the work to maximize effectiveness. R. Perry indicated that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership has received permits to perform herbicide treatments of commercial navigation lanes sometime before the end of August but that the actual treatment plan will be determined based on actual conditions as the summer unfolds. R. Perry indicated that GEI has performed novel data collection of starry stonewort reproductive bulbils alongside staff from Everwild Land Trust, and that planning and coordination is underway for diver-assisted suction harvesting of the invasive algae and the creation of a technical advisory group.
H. Nolan-Caskey indicated that during the commercial navigation lane meeting, the group discussed potentially marking lanes with a center line of buoys, and also discussed the potential width of the lanes. H. Nolan-Caskey indicated that Glenn Sullivan of Ready Scout is planning to perform herbicide treatments of the Celoron marinas as early as next week.
Discussion occurred regarding the width of the navigation lanes and adjustments that were made as a result of communication between Ready Scout and CLA about the establishment and maintenance of the lanes.
H. Nolan-Caskey indicated that G. Sullivan will be sharing updated maps soon.
R. Yates asked T. Leenders how the data collection of starry stonewort bulbils was done.
T. Leenders indicated that the team has been collecting core samples of sediment at starry stonewort work areas in Ashville Bay and at Prendergast Point, and filtering out the cores to count reproductive bulbils. T. Leenders indicated that Prendergast Point, which has a larger area of starry stonewort growth, appears to have a greater bulbil density than Ashville based on preliminary analysis of the data. T. Leenders indicated that the bulbils are small white stars which appear to be germinating around this time of the year. T. Leenders indicated that there is currently no visible starry stonewort growth, and that EWLT staff are also growing bulbils in mesocosms.
V. Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program
R. Perry indicated that the meeting materials include a table outlining funds the Alliance has allocated as part of the 2026 Consolidated Funding Program, as well as unallocated funds.
A. Goodell and R. Perry discussed the sources and amounts of funds that are currently unallocated but available for use by the Alliance Board in 2026.
VI. 2026-2027 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program Update
R. Perry briefed the Board on the plan for the 2026-2027 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program. R. Perry indicated that the Board will be scheduled to make a program funding request from the local foundations by October of 2026, with a Letter of Intent, broadly outlining the anticipated request, due to the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation in September. R. Perry indicated that he plans to send Alliance Members the request for applications in July with a due date in September.
R. Perry indicated that he plans to have Alliance Staff use the Alliance’s Multi-Criteria Analysis Tool for an initial screening to evaluate general alignment with the stakeholder and consultant-derived criteria. GEI will perform its technical review based on its professional judgement and experience and provide its feedback to the Board. R. Perry indicated he will be working to streamline the application as well as incorporating GEI’s 2025 recommendations into the process.
Discussion occurred regarding the overall economy, possible adjustments in funding levels for the coming year, and considerations for engaging new and existing local funders to update them on the recent improvements made by the Alliance and its Members.
VII. 2026 NYS Consolidated Funding Application Update
R. Perry indicated that the application window is 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 have been attending meetings and webinars related to the CFA, and are assessing potential applications and program pathways.
R. Perry indicated that one likely CFA is underway with Chautauqua Institution and the Town of Chautauqua for a green infrastructure stormwater management project at Elm Lane at the Institution.
R. Perry indicated that there is a lot of interest in possible state grants for HAB research or in-lake nutrient management, but we are awaiting the DEC’s own internal loading study, which is not expected to be ready until after the CFA window closes. Dredging at the mouth of Bemus Creek is also being evaluated for a potential funding pathway.
R. Perry indicated that the Alliance does have funds available for potential match on 2026 CFA projects if necessary. R. Perry indicated that he plans to update the Board at the July meeting, but he may also contact the Board for approval of matching funds via email if necessary based on the timing of meetings and the grant deadline. R. Perry indicated that the Alliance was partnered on nine active state grants going into 2026, valued at around $2.4 million.
P. Chagnon indicated that CFA projects are sometimes a result of the Alliance approaching members to develop a project, or a member coming to the Alliance with a project idea. P. Chagnon encouraged Members to be thinking about possible state CFA projects.
VIII. Other
R. Perry indicated that the Board is scheduled for a closed work session on 7/9/26 and a work session open to invited Members and funders on 9/10/26. R. Perry indicated that the CLP will be holding a public Lake Rally at the Village Casino on 6/27/26.
R. Perry indicated that Alliance staff are scheduled to meet with DEC on 6/23/26 for a debrief of the 2025 Invasive Species grant application that was not funded. R. Perry indicated that following that meeting, GEI will address the Board’s request for a review of state scoring criteria and recommendations for how they may be improved to better consider Chautauqua Lake’s particular challenges. R. Perry indicated that during the debrief, he also plans to inquire about the possibility of any remaining or unused DEC invasive species grant funds that may be available for Chautauqua Lake.
R. Perry indicated that he is still waiting for a response from DEC regarding the Alliance Board’s resolution sent in April and letter requesting a meeting sent in May.
A discussion followed of trying to schedule a meeting between DEC and the Alliance Board.
M. LaTone indicated that the Alliance’s May Public meeting went well, and proposed holding another public meeting.
E. Barnes indicated she agreed that the Alliance should consider holding another public meeting.
A. Goodell indicated that A. Reyes did a good job of responding to public inquiries at the May meeting.
A discussion followed of timing of a future Alliance public meeting, and related public meetings.
M. LaTone indicated that the Board could consider holding a public meeting in August.
Board discussion occurred related to the desire to invite DEC to a public information meeting, and having that public information meeting be separate from the regular monthly Board work sessions.
R. Perry indicated that he would reach out to DEC about the Board’s idea.
R. Yates indicated that he will be stepping down from his position as Town of North Harmony Supervisor on 7/13/26. R. Yates indicated that Bruce Pfeil will be taking over as Alliance representative.
The Alliance Board thanked R. Yates for all of his years of work with the Alliance and the Town.
IX. Adjourn
B. Erickson made a motion to adjourn the June 11, 2026 meeting. The motion was seconded by R. Yates and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:17 PM.
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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 6/11/26 Meeting Minutes on 7/9/26.