Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting
Thursday, November 9, 2023
4:30 p.m. at The Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 & via Zoom
Directors Present: Bruce Erickson, Don Emhardt, Ellen Barnes, JoDee Johnson, Janis Bowman, Jim Andrews, Paul (P.J.) Wendel, Jr.
Directors Absent: Martin Proctor, Mike LaTone
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director, Taylor West – Alliance Project Manager, and Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator
Others in Attendance: Craig Butler; Tim Wright; Jane Conroe; Linda Swanson – Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation
Member Representatives in Attendance: Jeff Molnar – Village of Bemus Point, John Jablonski, Becky Nystrom – Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy; John Ford, Doug Conroe – Chautauqua Lake Association; Dick Gunnell, John Shedd– Chautauqua Institution
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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 4:30 PM. A quorum of 7 out of 9 Alliance Board Members were present at the start of the meeting.
II. Approval of 10/26/2023 Board Work Session Minutes
E. Barnes made a motion to accept the minutes from the 10/26/2023 Work Session Meeting. The motion was seconded by J. Andrews and was approved unanimously.
III. Financial Update
a.) Monthly Summary Report
R. Perry indicated that the meeting packet includes an updated financial summary report. R. Perry indicated that the summary includes information related to account balances, as well as grant awards made to Alliance Members.
b.) Audit Committee – 2022 Annual Audit and Return
B. Erickson indicated that the Audit Committee has met with Alliance auditors Saxton, Kocur and Associates. B. Erickson indicated that the auditors have completed the 2022 audit and that the 2022 Form 990 has been shared with the Board.
P. Wendel made a motion to accept the 2022 audit and submit the Form 990 to New York State. The motion was seconded by D. Emhardt and was approved unanimously.
IV. Project Update
a.) Project Manager Update
T. West indicated that a final report documenting the September modified Mobitrac starry stonewort removal is currently being drafted by the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. T. West indicated that the project seems to have been generally impactful at removing starry stonewort from Ashville Bay. T. West indicated that construction is continuing on the Village of Lakewood’s Grandview Stormwater Management Project. T. West indicated that the meeting packet includes photos of the project area, and that some of the stormwater management features have already been constructed and are performing as designed. T. West indicated that the construction is nearing completion on the Town of North Harmony’s Ball Creek Stabilization Project, and that photos of that project are included in the meeting packet. T. West indicated that engineering is continuing on the Town of Chautauqua’s Roadside Swales Stabilization Project.
The following project information was provided in a meeting handout.
- 2018-2023 Invasive Species Early Detection – Volunteer Task Force
- Water Chestnut: ~250 plants found/removed in Chautauqua Lake Outlet from June-September 2023. Status: Active monitoring and management in progress based on site specific conditions.
- Collaborative efforts among CWC, Alliance, WNY PRISM, and Volunteers
- Alliance staff pulled and removed water chestnut plants from the outlet on 6/29/23 (one plant), 7/28/23 (garbage bag), and 8/25/23 (garbage bag) during sonar surveys. The plants were reported and uploaded to iMap Invasives.
- CWC, Alliance staff and 1 volunteer found and removed ~200 plants from outlet on 9/6/23.
- Starry Stonewort: CWC found Starry Stonewort again in Chautauqua Lake in Ashville Bay (~3ac) and near Prendergast Point (~11ac) in August 2023. North Carolina State University recently documented starry stonewort in multiple areas of the lake. Lake-wide acreage based on occurrence is estimated at around 90 acres.
- Starry Stonewort Modified Mobitrac Pilot Project in Ashville Bay
- CWC-led project that used 2 Town of Chautauqua-operated Mobitracs, 2 CLA-operated skimmers, and 1 County-owned conveyor to remove dense starry stonewort from an ~1.5ac area near Ashville Bay Marina in late-September.
- Starry Stonewort Modified Mobitrac Pilot Project in Ashville Bay
- Brittle Naiad: This invasive aquatic plant species was recently found near the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Celoron Marinas, and in the outlet. Status: Needs updated monitoring/management plan
- Contact the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) to get involved
- Click here for more information about this program: https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/aquatic
- To help observe/report on your own, please sign up for iMapInvasives: www.imapinvasives.org/
- Water Chestnut: ~250 plants found/removed in Chautauqua Lake Outlet from June-September 2023. Status: Active monitoring and management in progress based on site specific conditions.
- 2021 Village of Lakewood Grandview Stormwater Management Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Rock of WNY commenced construction in mid-September. Construction still underway.
- Link to Press Release: https://chqgov.com/parks-and-trails/news/stormwater-project-reduce-flooding-lakewood-ny
- 2021 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Legend Excavating LLC commenced construction in mid-September. Construction nearing completion.
- 2021 Town of Chautauqua Roadside Swales Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Engineering by Barton and Loguidice underway. Draft design nearing completion.
- 2022 Town of Chautauqua Stream Culvert Assessments (NYSDEC NPG)
- Contract execution with NYS underway
- 2022 Village of Lakewood Commercial Corridor Stormwater Engineering Study – Mall Boulevard
- Contract execution with NYS underway
- 2022 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Engineering Study Phase II
- Contract execution with NYS underway
- 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:
- Projects Page: http://www.chautauquaalliance.org/projects/
- Annual Reports: http://www.chautauquaalliance.org/annual-reports/
b.) Staff Summary of North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) Erie 2023 conference
J. Young thanked the Board for giving staff the opportunity to attend the NALMS conference in Erie, and indicated that it was a good opportunity to learn more from lake and watershed scientists and engineers. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Igor Mrdjen of BloomOptix, which was focused on the use of digital microscopes and cell phone applications to identify cyanobacteria. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Dr. Fred Lubnow of Princeton Hydro concerning the interaction between algae and sediments. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Andrew Howell of North Carolina State University concerning the use of drones in plant management and monitoring. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Dr. Rob Richardson of North Carolina State University concerning the management of hydrilla with triploid grass carp. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Doug Conroe of the Chautauqua Lake Association concerning the lake’s mechanical plant management program, and related CLA programs. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Sam Beck-Anderson concerning hydrilla management in the Finger Lakes. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Josh Neff of the Finger Lakes Institute concerning management of hydrilla via dredging on Cayuga Lake. J. Young indicated that he attended a presentation by Mark Apfelbacher of the CD3 Corporation concerning waterless decontamination stations and starry stonewort management in Minnesota.
T. West indicated he attended presentations on the following topics: stormwater/wetland pond creation, green infrastructure techniques, nitrogen monitoring, nitrogen removal, remote sensing technology and HABs, lanthanum modified bentonite for lake restoration, phosphorus management, round goby genetics, fish habitat, stream crossing, oxidation and aeration technologies, Presque Isle ecosystem restoration, HABs management via biochar and alum. T. West indicated that emerging technologies that could potentially have an impact on Chautauqua Lake include CD3 waterless decontamination stations, as well as biochar which can be placed in stormwater features to bind Phosphorus. T. West indicated that biochar is relatively affordable, costing around $700 per cubic yard. T. West indicated that a number of new and emerging technologies and strategies are already being used on Chautauqua Lake, which speaks well of stakeholders and the work that they are doing.
D. Conroe indicated that the CLA has been working with Igor Mrdjen and his team to help develop the cyanobacteria identification app. D. Conroe indicated that the makers of the ioLight microscope, which is used with the app, are hoping to make the microscope more available and affordable for schools. D. Conroe indicated that CLA has submitted an application to the New York State Invasive Species Grant Program to obtain a CD3 waterless cleaning station.
P. Wendel asked what the cost of a CD3 system is.
D. Conroe indicated that total project cost would be around $100,000. D. Conroe indicated that CLA’s grant application was for around $80,000 for one unit.
V. 2023-2024 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program Update
R. Perry thanked all those who applied, those who reviewed applications, and the funders who would be considering the consolidated request. R. Perry indicated that six Alliance Committee volunteers participated in the application scoring process, as well as staff. R. Perry thanked the local foundations for the opportunity to submit the consolidated request, which makes much of the work done by Alliance Members possible. R. Perry indicated that 17 applications were submitted by Members totaling ~$3.2 million in funding requests. R. Perry indicated that these applications were for a variety of lake and watershed projects and programs. R. Perry indicated that ~95% of the requests were for lake maintenance programs, ~2% were for in-lake other requests, and ~4% were for watershed projects. R. Perry indicated that the Alliance is in the process of submitting an $800,000 Consolidated Grant Request. R. Perry indicated that the individual Alliance 2024 Member funding awards are expected to be finalized in February.
VI. Other
P. Wendel indicated that a lake symposium is being scheduled for June 1 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, tentatively from around 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. P. Wendel indicated that invitations will be extended to researchers from SUNY Oneonta, which has been working with CLA, North Carolina State University, which has been working with the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, and The Jefferson Project. P. Wendel indicated that if invitations are extended and accepted, the symposium may also include presentations by representatives of the New York State Department of State and Department of Environmental Conservation. P. Wendel indicated that he would like to have a top-level summary of these research efforts with a question and answer period.
VII. Open Floor: Member Representatives and Community Members in Attendance.
J. Jablonski encouraged the Alliance to join the North American Lake Management Society and the New York State Federation of Lake Organizations. J. Jablonski asked that the Alliance Board attend relevant workshops when they are held in New York State.
B. Nystrom asked what the current membership is of the Alliance Committees, and asked what the status of the Watershed Management Committee is.
R. Perry indicated that the most recent Watershed Management Committee meeting was held early in 2023. R. Perry indicated that meeting focused on ongoing watershed projects and potential state grant opportunities. R. Perry indicated that the spring and late fall are often common meeting times for that committee, and that a meeting will likely be scheduled soon.
B. Nystrom asked that a list of Committee memberships and chairs be shared.
R. Perry indicated that the Alliance Annual Report and website has information on Committees and their membership, and that he could also follow up directly.
VIII. Adjourn
D. Emhardt made a motion to adjourn the November 9, 2023 meeting. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM.
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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 11/9/2023 Meeting Minutes on 12/14/23.