Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Chautauqua NY

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May 2022 Minutes

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Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting

Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 4:30 PM ET* at The Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 & via Zoom

*Start time of Annual Meeting that preceded Regular Monthly Meeting

Directors Present: Bruce Erickson, Paul Wendel, Jr. (via Zoom), Mike LaTone, David Shepherd, Pierre Chagnon, Mary Hutchings (via Zoom), Don Emhardt

Directors Absent: Rob Yates, Jim Andrews

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; Lisa Lynde – Chautauqua Region Community Foundation; Cassie Pinkoski – Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District; Craig Butler; Joe Fabrizio; Ted McCague

Member Representatives in Attendance: Jim Wehrfritz – Town of Ellery; Becky Nystrom, John Jablonski and Janis Bowman – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC); Doug Conroe – Chautauqua Lake Association; Toby Shepherd – Chautauqua Institution; Dave McCoy and Martin Proctor – County of Chautauqua; Louise Ortman – Town of North Harmony; 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 5:09 PM. A quorum of 7 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting. 

II. Approval of 4/14/2022 Board Work Session Minutes

D. Emhardt made a motion to accept the minutes from the 4/14/2022 Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by D. Shepherd and was approved unanimously.  

III. Projects Update

T. West gave the following projects update to the group.

  • 2018-2022 Invasive Species Early Detection – Volunteer Task Force
    • Water Chestnut (>100 plants) found/removed in Chautauqua Lake Outlet in June-August 2021
      • Collaborative efforts among RTPI, ACNC, CWC, Alliance, and Volunteers
    • Contact the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) to get involved
  • 2018 Busti Precision Swales Stabilization (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Final punch list items have been completedby Rock of WNY and EcoStrategies
    • 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
    • Engineering underway by EcoStrategies
  • 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
    • Received award letter from NYS on 1/11/2022
    • Engineering underway by EcoStrategies
  • 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.
    • Received award letter from NYS on 1/11/2022
    • Currently awaiting receipt of contracting documents from NYS
  • 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

IV. Alliance Committees Update

a.) Data Analysis & Research Committee

D. Shepherd indicated that the Committee has not met since the previous Board meeting.

b.) Lake Management Committee

M. LaTone indicated that the Lake Management Committee met on 5/11/22, and indicated that spring work is in progress.

c.) Watershed Management Committee

R. Perry indicated that Watershed Management Committee chair R. Yates is not present and that the Committee has not met since the previous Board meeting.

V. 2022-2023 Membership Drive Update

R. Perry thanked Members for their participation with the Alliance in 2021 and expressed his hope that Members consider rejoining for the coming year. R. Perry indicated that the current membership year runs until June 30, 2022 and that the next year of membership runs from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. R. Perry indicated that he is happy to meet with Members upon request.

VI. Other

B. Erickson thanked P. Chagnon for all his work on the Board and welcomed M. Proctor to the seat appointed by the Chautauqua County Legislature. B. Erickson indicated he looks forward to working with the new board, and thanked the Alliance staff for their work.

P. Chagnon asked for an update on 2022 New York State Consolidated Funding Application (NYSCFA) grants.

R. Perry indicated that the NYSCFA application window opened on May 2, 2022 and will close on July 29, 2022. R. Perry indicated that prior to and since the window opening Alliance staff have been in dialogue with Members about potential project applications. R. Perry indicated that this update is very preliminary and that examples of applications being considered are for green infrastructure improvements in Chautauqua Institution, work in the Chadakoin River in conjunction with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, and culvert improvement in the watershed. R. Perry indicated that watershed projects or preliminary studies/engineering for future projects may be good candidates for applications in this round of grants. R. Perry asked that any interested Members contact staff.

D. Emhardt indicated that the Town of Chautauqua was recently awarded a Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant for the extension of municipal sewers between Hartfield and Chautauqua Lake Estates. D. Emhardt indicated that the Town is also working to secure funding to extend the project to the town line on Thum Road in the future.

J. Wehrfritz asked what the status of the DAR Committee is, given they have not met recently.

D. Shepherd indicated that he has not attended a Committee meeting since his appointment as Board Representative yet. D. Shepherd indicated that he would like to meet with the Committee to discuss how it might aid the Alliance Board in evaluating or producing robust data sets.

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

No discussion occurred under this agenda item.

VIII. Adjourn

M. LaTone made a motion to adjourn the May 12, 2022 Board meeting. The motion was seconded by D. Emhardt and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:19 PM.

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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 05/12/2022 Meeting Minutes on 06/09/22.