Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Chautauqua NY

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May 2025 Minutes

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Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance

Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting

Thursday, May 8, 2025

4:30 p.m.* at The Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 & via Zoom

(*Denotes start time of the Annual Meeting that preceded the Regular Monthly Meeting)

Directors Present: JoDee Johnson, Janis Bowman (Zoom), Don Emhardt, Martin Proctor, Jim Andrews, Paul Wendel Jr., Mike LaTone, Pierre Chagnon.

Directors Absent: Ellen Barnes

Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director and Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator

Others in Attendance: Craig Butler; Jim Wehrfritz, Karl Sparn Jr. – Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association; Doug Champ; Jane Conroe – Chautauqua Conewango Consortium; Mike and Peggy Newell; AJ Reyes – GEI Consultants; Linda Swanson – Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation; Sharon and RG Witchey.

Member Representatives in Attendance: John Jablonski, Becky Nystrom – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy; John Ford, Bruce Erickson, Doug Conroe– Chautauqua Lake Association; Dave McCoy – County of Chautauqua; Louise Ortman – Town of North Harmony; Jeff Molnar– Village of Bemus Point; Frank Nicotra, Mary Hutchings, Jackie Damore, Andy Goodell – Chautauqua Lake Partnership; John Shedd, Claire Johnson Baker – Chautauqua Institution; Karen Rine – South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts; Larry Anderson – Town of Ellery. ____________________________________________________________________________________

I.  Call to Order

D. Emhardt called the Board Meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (Alliance) to order at 5:06 PM. A quorum of 8 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.

II. Approval of 4/10/2025 Board Work Session Minutes

P. Chagnon made a motion to accept the minutes from the 4/10/2025 Work Session Meeting. The motion was seconded by M. LaTone and was approved unanimously.

III. Presentation by Alliance Consultant – A.J. Reyes, Aquatic Ecologist & CLM (GEI Consultants)

R. Perry indicated that the Alliance has executed a contract with GEI Consultants for professional consulting services related to lake management in 2025. R. Perry indicated that A.J. Reyes, the project lead and a certified lake manager, is in attendance via Zoom and will be delivering a brief presentation outlining the work that GEI will be performing on behalf of the Alliance Board. R. Perry outlined the process by which the Alliance Board unanimously selected GEI from a field of qualified candidates after a comprehensive search starting in December. The search included initial contact with more than 30 prospective firms and responses from seven interested parties, who were ultimately narrowed down by interviews to four firms, then two firms, before the Board selected GEI. R. Perry thanked the Alliance Board for all of their work during the consultant selection process.

A. Reyes introduced himself and provided an overview of the GEI Consultants team, as well as the firm’s qualifications and structure. A. Reyes indicated that he and his team are very familiar with a wide range of lake management techniques and strategies, and that their goal is to provide unbiased science-based advice to the Alliance Board. A. Reyes indicated that as part of this process his team will be performing background review of relevant documents and data, and meeting with lake service providers and researchers in order to understand the current state of the lake and how it is being managed. A. Reyes indicated that GEI staff performed a preliminary reconnaissance of the lake in April in order to familiarize themselves with the geography of the area and observe early-season conditions in several key areas of the waterbody. A. Reyes thanked the Alliance Board for the opportunity.

J. Damore asked A. Reyes if there were any updates regarding invasive starry stonewort.

A. Reyes indicated he was aware that starry stonewort has recently become an invasive species issue on Chautauqua Lake, and indicated that GEI staff had visited the Prendergast Point area that is known to have high levels of growth during their recent visit. A. Reyes indicated that because it is still early in the season, no starry stonewort was observed at that site as of yet. A. Reyes indicated that starry stonewort can be a challenging invasive species to manage, and that there are several different techniques available to try and control the algae.

IV. Financial Report

R. Perry indicated that the meeting packet includes an updated financial summary report for April.

P. Chagnon made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by P. Wendel and was approved unanimously.

V. Projects Update

R. Perry indicated that the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will be holding its invasive species early detection volunteer paddles in 2025, and that a schedule of those events should be forthcoming. R. Perry indicated that Chautauqua Lake Association watercraft stewards will also be stationed at boat launches in 2025 in order to address invasive species and educate the public.

R. Perry provided the following projects update as a meeting handout:

  • 2018-2025 Invasive Species Early Detection – Volunteer Task Force
    • Early detection & management will continue in 2025! Please contact the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) to get involved.
    • Be on the lookout for emerging Chautauqua Lake invasive species water chestnut, brittle naiad, and starry stonewort.
  • 2021 Village of Lakewood Grandview Stormwater Management Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Construction substantially complete in 2023-2024. Punchlist retirement underway.
    • Engineering by EcoStrategies; Built by Rock of WNY; Other assistance by Village DPW
    • ~100,000 cubic foot project has been managing Village runoff near Fairmount Ave since late 2023, reducing flood risks and improving water quality entering the lake.
  • 2021 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Construction completed in March 2025. Final contractor payments by Town in progress. 
  • 2021 Town of Chautauqua Roadside Swales Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • Construction by Town Highway Department scheduled to re-commence in Spring (about 50% done); Engineering (Barton & Loguidice) and material acquisition ongoing.
  • 2022 Town of Chautauqua Stream Culvert Assessments (NYSDEC NPG)
    • Engineering report complete (EcoStrategies); NYS grant closeout underway.
  • 2022 Village of Lakewood Commercial Corridor Stormwater Engineering Study – Mall Boulevard (NYSDEC NPG)
    • Engineering report complete (EcoStrategies); NYS grant closeout underway.
  • 2022 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Engineering Study Phase I (NYSDEC NPG)
    • Engineering report complete (JM Davidson Engineering); NYS grant closeout underway.
  • 2023 Town of Chautauqua Chautauqua Lake Prendergast Point Starry Stonewort Control Project (NYS Invasive Species Grant Program)
    • Permits received from DEC in Oct 2024; baseline plant surveys and mapping completed by CWC; based on weather, site conditions, crew safety, and other factors, DASH will be started in 2025.
    • This grant is part of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program with funding from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund.
  • 2023 Town of North Harmony Chautauqua Lake Ashville Bay Starry Stonewort Control Project (NYS Invasive Species Grant Program)
    • Permit received from DEC in Oct 2024; baseline plant surveys and mapping completed by CWC; based on weather, site conditions, crew safety, and other factors, DASH will be started in 2025. 
    • This grant is part of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program with funding from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund.
  • 2023 Village of Lakewood Fairmount Avenue Constructed Wetland Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • NYS grant contract executed. Next step is engineer selection by Village.
  • 2023 Chautauqua County Bemus Creek Stream Sediment and Debris Management Plan (NYSDEC NPG)
    • Contract execution with engineer underway with County; work scheduled for 2025.
  • 2023 Town of North Harmony Carpenter-Pringle Road Stream Culvert Replacement Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
    • NYS grant contracting underway. Next step will be engineer selection by Town. 
  • 2024 Town of North Harmony Cedar Ave Stream Culvert Assessment (NYSDEC NPG)
    • Awaiting grant contract from NYSDEC

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

J. Wehrfritz asked if starry stonewort had been observed in only the South Basin, not the North as well.

J. Johnson indicated that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership has identified three areas of growth in the South Basin, and intends to perform chemical treatments of those areas with three different products. J. Johnson indicated that the algae is growing in significant quantities at Ashville Bay, and near Prendergast Point in the North Basin, and those sites are where diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) work is planned for 2025. J. Johnson indicated that some small areas of growth have been detected in areas near Mayville, but not consistently.

M. LaTone indicated that CLP received permits to treat areas of starry stonewort in the South Basin in 2024, but the algae was not found in significant quantities so treatment did not occur.

J. Damore indicated that some scientific literature indicates that a combined approach of chemical treatment and manual removal may be advisable.

D. Emhardt indicated that the Town of Chautauqua and the Town of North Harmony secured Department of Environmental Conservation funds to perform DASH because that was the technique that was deemed most appropriate. 

VI. Update on Alliance Board Meeting Schedule and Format

R. Perry indicated that the current meeting schedule and format includes one meeting per year in May that is open to the public and Members. All other monthly meetings are closed work sessions including only the Alliance Board and Alliance staff.

R. Perry indicated that the Board approved a revised format at its April work session that will now include a public meeting in May and three work sessions during the year (March, August, and November) that will be open by invitation to the designated representatives of Alliance Member organizations and funders. The other monthly work sessions will remain as Alliance Board and Alliance staff meetings only. R. Perry indicated that Members should contact Alliance staff if they have questions about or would like to make changes to their designated Alliance representatives.

VII. 2025-2026 Membership Drive Update

R. Perry indicated that the new membership year runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. R. Perry indicated that the Alliance will soon begin its membership drive, and thanked the current Alliance Member organizations for their participation. R. Perry indicated that materials with information about the drive will be sent out via email in June. R. Perry indicated he is happy to share additional information or meet with prospective member organizations during the drive.

VIII. Other

P. Chagnon made a motion authorizing the Executive Director to sign and execute the contract for the Alliance’s 2025 allocation from the Chautauqua County 2% Occupancy Tax program. The motion was seconded by M. Proctor and was passed unanimously.

IX. Open Floor

J. Jablonski thanked all of the Alliance Board members for their work. J. Jablonski indicated that Chautauqua Lake is a public body of water, and he believes Alliance meetings should be open to the public.

B. Nystrom asked if the Alliance Data Analysis and Research Committee would engage with the new Alliance consultants in any way.

D. Emhardt indicated that the Board is still in the process of seeing how the consultant might fit with Alliance committees like the DAR.

J. Johnson indicated she had been in dialogue with J. Bowman about the DAR.

J. Wehrfritz indicated that he agreed with J. Jablonski regarding Alliance public meetings. J. Wehrfritz indicated that taxpayers fund a large amount of lake and watershed work, and Alliance meetings should be open to them. J. Wehrfritz asked if the scope of work and the contract for GEI will be made public.

R. Perry indicated that the scope was summarized in the GEI presentation and that contracts are generally kept internally.

J. Wehrfritz indicated that no scope of work has been released for The Jefferson Project’s research program.

D. Champ indicated that it would be useful to have an Alliance public meeting during the summer season when seasonal residents are around. D. Champ indicated that a recent editorial in The Post-Journal discussed the current funding model for lake and watershed work, and identified issues with it. D. Champ indicated that the sustainability of that funding model is still in question, and indicated that it is important to consider the financial challenges faced by many county residents. D. Champ indicated that federal and state funding sources are hard to predict and may not be reliable in the long term. D. Champ expressed support for objectively prioritizing work programs so that those which are cost-effective can be funded.

M. Hutchings indicated that the Alliance’s Multi-Criteria Analysis Tool is used to score prospective projects.

D. Conroe indicated that the tool has not been used.

J. Damore indicated that she and a number of local stakeholders recently attended the New York State Federation of Lake Associations conference in Lake George. J. Damore indicated there was a great deal of information shared regarding harmful algal blooms, and indicated that there does not appear to be one simple answer for managing them. J. Damore indicated that there were presentations related to the herbicide ProcellaCOR, and that there appears to be evidence that it is quite selective and not harmful to native plants. J. Damore indicated that Chautauqua Lake might be farther along in the development of its herbicide program than other lakes are. J. Damore indicated she was excited that GEI Consultants will be working with the Alliance Board and Members.

J. Wehrfritz indicated in the 4/10/25 Board minutes, D. Emhardt stated that he is pursuing an Article 24 wetlands permit for the Mobitrac program. J. Wehrfritz asked if that means that shoreline cleanup and harvesting will require permits as well. J. Wehrfritz indicated that he was under the impression that permits would only be required in wetlands, and asked if the entire lake is now considered a wetland.

D. Emhardt indicated that an Article 24 permit application has been submitted for the Mobitrac program.

J. Wehrfritz indicated that there are a lot of implications if that is the case.

J. Damore asked about the jurisdictional determination that DEC can provide for specific parcels.

D. Emhardt indicated that DEC appears to be using water depth as a contributing factor for wetland permitting requirements.

J. Wehrfritz indicated that herbicides have been used in more than 6 feet of water, but an Article 24 permit was still needed for that work.

D. Emhardt indicated that there is also a 100-foot buffer zone from any area designated a wetland.

J. Wehrfritz asked if that buffer would extend onshore as well.

D. Emhardt indicated that any property owner can put in a jurisdictional determination request to DEC.

M. Hutchings asked if this meant that the entire South Basin and the littoral zone would be designated a wetland.

D. Emhardt indicated that the state is in the process of developing a general permit, but has not finalized it yet.

B. Erickson asked if the Mobitrac stationed at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel has been serviced for the upcoming season, noting that it appeared to have been left outside during the winter.

M. LaTone indicated that the hotel staff is responsible for maintaining that machine, and that he believes it was left outside due to an issue with the maintenance building.

D. Conroe complimented the Board on its selection of GEI Consultants. D. Conroe indicated that in the future, Members would like to see an Alliance budget presented.

B. Erickson asked where the funding for the GEI Consultants contract would come from.

D. Emhardt indicated that was still being determined.

M. Hutchings asked what the cost of the contract was.

R. Perry indicated that the cost is $70,170, as noted in the 4/10/25 Work Session minutes.

X. Adjourn

P. Wendel made a motion to adjourn the May 8, 2025 meeting. The motion was seconded by M. LaTone and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:02 PM.

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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 5/8/2025 Meeting Minutes on 6/12/25.