Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance
Minutes of the Board of Directors – Public Meeting
Thursday, September 12, 2024
4:30 p.m. at The Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, Bemus Point, NY 14712 & via Zoom
Directors Present: JoDee Johnson, Janis Bowman, Don Emhardt, Ellen Barnes, Martin Proctor, Paul Wendel Jr., Jim Andrews
Directors Absent: Pierre Chagnon, Mike LaTone
Staff in Attendance: Randall Perry – Alliance Executive Director, Jay Young – Alliance Communications Coordinator
Member Representatives in Attendance: John Ford, Debbie Moore and Doug Conroe– Chautauqua Lake Association; Dave McCoy – County of Chautauqua; Jim Cirbus and Jackie Damore – Chautauqua Lake Partnership; John Shedd and Claire Johnson Baker – Chautauqua Institution; Twan Leenders, Whitney Gleason, Becky Nystrom and John Jablonski–Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy.
Others in Attendance: Craig Butler; Howard Akin
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I. Call to Order
D. Emhardt 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 8/8/2024 Board Work Session Minutes
J. Andrews made a motion to accept the minutes from the 8/8/2024 Work Session Meeting. The motion was seconded by P. Wendel and was approved unanimously.
III. Financial Report
R. Perry indicated that the meeting packet includes an updated financial summary report.
P. Wendel made a motion to accept the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by E. Barnes and was approved unanimously.
IV. Projects Update
R. Perry provided the following Projects Update, which was available as a handout in the meeting packet:
- 2018-2024 Invasive Species Early Detection – Volunteer Task Force
- 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; early detection and management are continuing in 2024.
- Click here for more information: https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/aquatic
- To help report on your own, please sign up for iMapInvasives: www.imapinvasives.org/
- 2021 Village of Lakewood Grandview Stormwater Management Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Majority of construction completed in 2023. Punchlist retirement underway.
- 2021 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Majority of construction completed in 2023. Additional minor work may occur in 2024.
- 2021 Town of Chautauqua Roadside Swales Stabilization Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- Engineering by Barton & Loguidice underway; Design nearing completion; Materials acquisition in progress; Construction scheduled to begin in 2024
- 2022 Town of Chautauqua Stream Culvert Assessments (NYSDEC NPG)
- Engineering work underway by EcoStrategies; Target completion end of 2024
- 2022 Village of Lakewood Commercial Corridor Stormwater Engineering Study – Mall Boulevard (NYSDEC NPG)
- Engineering work underway by EcoStrategies; Target completion end of 2024
- 2022 Town of North Harmony Ball Creek Stabilization Engineering Study Phase I (NYSDEC NPG)
- Engineering work underway by JM Davidson Engineering; Target completion end of 2024
- 2023 Town of Chautauqua Chautauqua Lake Prendergast Point Starry Stonewort Control Project (NYS Invasive Species Grant Program)
- Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) firm, Integrated Lakes Management (ILM), selected by Town; permitting and project team coordination underway
- This grant is part of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program with funding from the State’s Environmental Projection Fund.
- 2023 Town of North Harmony Chautauqua Lake Ashville Bay Starry Stonewort Control Project (NYS Invasive Species Grant Program)
- Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) firm, Integrated Lakes Management (ILM), selected by Town; permitting and project team coordination underway
- This grant is part of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program with funding from the State’s Environmental Projection Fund.
- 2023 Village of Lakewood Fairmount Avenue Constructed Wetland Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- NYS grant contracting underway.
- 2023 Chautauqua County Bemus Creek Stream Sediment and Debris Management Plan (NYSDEC NPG)
- NYS grant contracting underway.
- 2023 Town of North Harmony Carpenter-Pringle Road Stream Culvert Replacement Project (NYSDEC WQIP)
- NYS grant contracting underway.
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/
V. 2024-2025 Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program Update.
R. Perry indicated that applications for the Alliance Consolidated Local Funding Program were due on Thursday, September 5, 2024. R. Perry thanked all those who had applied and considered applying. R. Perry indicated that 16 applications have been received, totaling about $2.2 million in requests for 2025 projects and programs. R. Perry indicated that over the next several months those applications will be reviewed, prioritized, and funding for the program will be sought. R. Perry indicated that there will likely be an update on the funding picture for the coming year early in 2025.
VI. Other
J. Johnson asked if there was an update on when diver assisted suction harvesting of starry stonewort was going to take place.
R. Perry indicated that there is not a firm date currently, and that the project team has been working with DEC staff on permitting. R. Perry indicated that Twan Leenders of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has been tracking growth of the invasive algae at the proposed project sites at Prendergast Point and Ashville Bay. R. Perry indicated that the perimeter sizes of the growth areas have changed since last season and over the course of the summer. R. Perry indicated that the DASH work will be covered under a DEC general permit.
D. Emhardt indicated that in discussions with DEC a protected plant was identified in one of the project areas, which could complicate the removal work.
R. Perry indicated that at both starry stonewort project sites T. Leenders would like to pursue Mobitrac removal of the invasive species, which could help reduce the overall biomass prior to DASH.
H. Akin asked for some details about how starry stonewort interacts with local native species.
D. Emhardt indicated that starry stonewort grows into a large mass of algae that intermixes with other plants. D. Emhardt indicated that one of the plants it is growing alongside of is protected.
D. Emhardt indicated that the DASH crews will be looking closely for the protected weed.
R. Perry indicated that the protected plant species has been detected in the past during the course of the state’s screening for rare and endangered species.
B. Nystrom asked what the species of protected plant was.
R. Perry indicated he believed it was Hills pondweed, and that he could double-check that.
J. Johnson indicated that North Carolina State University recently performed its lakewide plant survey, and that those findings were largely consistent with what T. Leenders was seeing in terms of starry stonewort growth. J. Johnson indicated that T. Leenders was seeing expanded growth of the invasive algae at the Ashville Bay site, south towards Lakewood. J. Johnson indicated that the growth at Prendergast Point was spreading out away from shore towards deeper water. J. Johnson indicated that researchers from NC State also took a closer look at areas of growth near Mayville, and that those data can be shared.
VII. Open Floor
B. Nystrom indicated that the Alliance Board is exploring a request for proposals for a lake manager. B. Nystrom indicated that thus far, there has been no public input regarding the NC State 5-year management plan, and that the plan is slanted in favor of herbicide use. B. Nystrom asked why there has not been public comment or input on that plan.
P. Wendel indicated that the Alliance holds public meetings where comments are welcomed, and that there has never been any attempt to stop feedback related to the 5-year plan.
J. Jablonski indicated that he would like to see a scientific review of the 5-year plan.
J. Johnson indicated that the plan was authored by NC State, and that it is not an herbicide-specific management plan. J. Johnson indicated that it is a lakewide plan that considers different management approaches like harvesting.
J. Jablonski indicated that the plan focuses on the presence or absence of plant species, rather than trends of growth. J. Jablonski indicated that the plan targets areas for intensive management where it appears that Eurasian watermilfoil is declining in growth.
J. Johnson indicated that there has been a decline in milfoil growth where herbicides have treated it, and that there has been an increase in areas where it has been harvested in the northern part of the lake. J. Johnson expressed her support for considering different management techniques as part of the lakewide plan.
J. Jablonski indicated he disagreed with that point about the trend of milfoil growth. J. Jablonski indicated that areas that have not been harvested are declining in milfoil growth also.
B. Nystrom indicated that decrease in growth is likely related to herbivores. B. Nystrom indicated she would like to see more outside input related to the request for proposals and consideration of hiring a lake manager.
D. Conroe indicated that the 5-year plan was drafted by one research group, and has not been formally adopted by the Alliance Board. D. Conroe indicated that CLA may develop its own management plan, or the CWC may develop its own plan. D. Conroe indicated that he does not consider the 5-year plan to be binding, or based on community consensus.
D. Emhardt indicated it is correct that the Alliance Board has not formally adopted the plan.
J. Damore indicated that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership did not write the 5-year plan, and did not give any input. J. Damore indicated that the plan was authored by NC State, an independent research group entity with strong credentials. J. Damore indicated that a lake manager is needed who can make decisions separate from local competing interests. J. Damore indicated that the 5-year plan is written with important constraints in mind, such as fish habitat, and can be adjusted based on new data.
D. Moore indicated that if the 5-year plan is going to be considered a neutral study, then public input should be a part of that process.
P. Wendel indicated that there is not a single management plan that will satisfy all stakeholders. P. Wendel indicated that a collaborative management plan would have to take suggestions and input from several different groups. P. Wendel indicated that bringing different plans together is where a lake manager would come in to play.
H. Akin indicated that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also developing a management plan for the lake.
P. Wendel indicated that the Army Corps plan is very specifically focused on aquatic ecosystem restoration. P. Wendel indicated that a management strategy is somewhat different.
J. Damore asked if there are more details related to the requirements of a lake manager and the Alliance’s request for proposals.
D. Emhardt indicated that a request for proposals has not been finalized, and the Board is just exchanging information and ideas.
J. Damore indicated her support for hiring a lake manager who was not political.
P. Wendel indicated it is important that any prospective lake manager not be political. P. Wendel indicated he has been in dialogue with Rob Richardson of NC State about his involvement, and that an independent contractor like Princeton Hydro is also being considered.
J. Johnson indicated that the 5-year plan is a living document that can be updated with new data.
T. Leenders indicated that he had performed recent surveys of starry stonewort DASH project sites. T. Leenders indicated that earlier in the year there seemed to be a good base of native vegetation at the Ashville Bay site, but that recently that site has been overgrown with starry stonewort. T. Leenders indicated that in 2023 the Mobitrac removal at that site was able to remove a large amount of material before the algae was able to set seed. T. Leenders indicated that during the Mobitrac removal a large buffer of starry stonewort was left as an outer boundary at Ashville Bay. T. Leenders indicated that the pilot removal appears to have been a success, and that he would like to see a combined approach of Mobitracs and DASH this fall. T. Leenders indicated that he has performed surveys in Mayville, and that the invasive algae does not appear to be growing to extreme levels in that area.
D. Conroe indicated that a successful lake management approach involves having everyone at the table. D. Conroe cited John Luensman’s work in developing the local supplemental environmental impact study as an example. D. Conroe expressed his support for having members involved in the Alliance decision making process, as there have been cases in the past where the Board has made decisions without input.
E. Barnes indicated that it appears as though the condition of the lake has not improved over the last several years, despite many efforts. E. Barnes indicated that in light of that, stakeholders need to reassess their approach and make changes.
J. Damore indicated that there has been recent news from Lake George regarding treatment of Eurasian watermilfoil with ProcellaCOR EC. J. Damore indicated that the monitoring of those treatments confirmed their safety and efficacy. J. Damore indicated that despite their difference of opinion, the Lake George Park Commission and the Lake George Association have agreed to collaborate on the monitoring of the treatments. J. Damore indicated she hopes that this collaboration can serve as an example for local stakeholders to follow. J. Damore indicated that relative to some other lakes, Chautauqua has received a low level of herbicide treatment.
VIII. Adjourn
E. Barnes made a motion to adjourn the September 12, 2024 meeting. The motion was seconded by P. Wendel and was passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:04 PM.
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The Alliance Board of Directors passed a motion to approve these 9/12/2024 Meeting Minutes on 10/10/24.