Did you know that there is only about one mile of natural, undeveloped shoreline left around Chautauqua Lake?!  

In their natural state, these undeveloped shoreline sites provide critical watershed functions such as water storage, nutrient and pollutant filtration, erosion control, and wildlife and vegetation habitat.  In other words, conserving these remaining natural shoreline sites is of vital importance to the water quality, ecological health and scenic beauty of the Chautauqua Lake!

The CWC has an extraordinary opportunity to save one such site at the Wells Bay Lakeshore Forest in North Harmony.  It is part of CWC’s Last Mile Campaign and deemed the highest priority site of that campaign.

This site:

• Is 3.5-acres of undeveloped land with 210 feet of lakeshore
• Contains rare, moist forest remnants and forested wetland habitat
• Possesses a network of springs, wetlands and stream channels
• Helps to carry, store and filter the waters draining from uphill properties, thus helping to deliver clean waters to the lake
• Is an excellent habitat for water-dependent species including salamanders, frogs, snakes and a variety of birds including owls and turkeys
• Is home to numerous species of trees including Black Willow, Red Maple and Silver Maple
• Has a shallow water sandy bottom just offshore, making it a popular attraction for boaters and swimmers – in fact, it is one of the few sandy bottom areas remaining on the lake that has not been blocked for public use by docks, buoys or moorings!
• Is located in the Town of North Harmony, just north of Stow, at the west end of Wells Bay Road and sits directly across the lake from Long Point State Park

The CWC currently has a purchase option on this property, but if the CWC is not able to conserve this site, it will be under threat of sale for residential development.  The subsequent excavation and construction would negatively impact the shoreline forest habitat, damage or eliminate wildlife habitats, impede or eliminate the site’s natural water storage and filtration functions, bury the sandy bottom in silt and nuisance aquatic plants, and preclude any future use of the sandy bottom lake surface for recreation.

As of January 2012, the CWC only needs to raise another $10,000 to permanently conserve this site.  If you can help, please click the donate button at the top of the page.  Remember, every donation makes a difference!