Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Chautauqua NY

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May 2023 Minutes

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Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting

Thursday, May 11, 2023

4:30 p.m.* 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, Janis Bowman, Mike LaTone, David Shepherd, Don Emhardt, Ellen Barnes, Martin Proctor

Directors Absent: Paul Wendel Jr., Jim Andrews

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

Others in Attendance: Linda Swanson – Sheldon Foundation; Craig Butler; Jane Conroe; and Howard Akin.

Member Representatives in Attendance: Becky Nystrom – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC); John Ford – Chautauqua Lake Association; Mark Wenzler and Dick Gunnell – Chautauqua Institution; Dave McCoy and Pierre Chagnon – County of Chautauqua; Louise Ortman – Town of North Harmony; Jeff Molnar– Village of Bemus Point.

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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 5:15 PM. A quorum of 7 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.

II. Approval of 4/13/2023 Board Work Session Minutes

D. Emhardt made a motion to accept the minutes from the 4/13/2023 Work Session Meeting. The motion was seconded by M. Proctor and was approved unanimously.

III. Financial Report

R. Perry indicated that a financial summary report is included in the meeting packet. R. Perry thanked the Hultquist Foundation for their 2023 grant award, and indicated that those funds have been received. R. Perry indicated that 2023 grant awards are in the process of being distributed to Members.

M. Proctor made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by D. Emhardt and was approved unanimously.

IV. Projects Update

T. West indicated that progress is continuing on Alliance-partnered Round 17 Water Quality Improvement Projects, which include the Village of Lakewood’s Grandview Stormwater Management Project. T. West indicated that an invitation for bids on that project was released today, and that bids will be due by June 2, 2023. T. West indicated that in addition to water quality improvements and flood reduction, the project is expected to have a walkable nature area when construction is completed. T. West indicated Barton and Loguidice has been selected as the engineer for the Town of Chautauqua Roadside Swales Stabilization Project. T. West indicated that engineering is in progress for the Tri-James bend of the Ball Creek Stabilization Project. T. West encouraged anyone in the area to view construction on the Stow Road bend, which is located across from the Ashville Fire Department. T. West indicated that all three Alliance-partnered 2022 Non-Point Source Planning Grants for the Town of Chautauqua, Village of Lakewood, and Town of North Harmony are currently awaiting contracting documents from the state.

The following project information was provided in a meeting handout.

  • 2018-2023 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
  • 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
    • Final Design by EcoStrategies Complete
    • Invitation for Bids for Construction released by Village 5/11/23 (due 6/2)
  • 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
    • Preparing Invitation for Bids
  • 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.
    • Town selected Barton and Loguidice as project engineer
  • 2022 Town of Chautauqua Stream Culvert Assessments (NYSDEC NPG)
    • NYSDEC announced on 3/6/23 that the Town has been awarded a non-point source planning grant to assess road/stream culvert crossings at two locations within the Chautauqua Lake watershed and will produce an engineering design report for projects that address erosion caused by failing or inadequately sized culverts.
    • Awaiting contracting documents from NYS
  • 2022 Village of Lakewood Commercial Corridor Stormwater Engineering Study – Mall Boulevard
    • NYSDEC announced on 3/6/23 that the Village has been awarded a non-point source planning grant to complete a stormwater engineering study for the Chautauqua Mall Boulevard commercial corridor to reduce excessive stormwater runoff in the study area and improve water quality entering Chautauqua Lake.
    • Awaiting contracting documents from NYS
  • 2022 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Engineering Study Phase II
    • NYSDEC announced on 3/6/23 that the Town has been awarded a non-point source planning grant to develop a streambank stabilization engineering study of ~2,640 linear feet of stream corridor along Ball Creek (from the Ball Creek mouth upstream to NYS Route 394). The engineering design report will identify areas of erosion and stream instability and identify potential management actions to reduce sediment and nutrient loading to Chautauqua Lake.
    • Awaiting 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
    • 2018 Village of Lakewood and Town of Busti Precision Swale Stormwater Retrofits (NYSDEC WQIP), closed ca. September 2022

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

V. 2023-2024 Membership Drive Update

R. Perry thanked all Alliance Members for their participation. R. Perry indicated that the Alliance Membership year runs July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024. R. Perry indicated that Alliance staff will be reaching out to prospective Members via email regarding this year’s membership drive. R. Perry indicated that he is happy to meet with Member organizations to discuss the process and the Alliance.

VI. Other

No discussion occurred under this agenda item.

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

C. Butler indicated that a celebration of life for Dave Lawson is scheduled to be held at The Lawson Center on May 28, 2023 from 2-4 PM.

VIII. Adjourn

M. LaTone made a motion to adjourn the May 11, 2023 meeting. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:23 PM.

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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 5/11/2023 Meeting Minutes on 6/8/23.