CWC's Preserves:

The nature preserves of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy have been established to protect vital habitats for native plants and wildlife and to preserve the ecological functions of our watershed.

The CWC currently owns and manages 13 nature preserves throughout Chautauqua County:

●    Cassadaga Creek Preserve
(151.4 acres located on Bloomer Road in Stockton)

●    Chautauqua Lake Outlet Wetland Greenway Preserve
(81 acres located on Fluvanna Avenue in Jamestown

●    Dobbins Woods Preserve
(100 acres located on Bly Hill Road in Ashville)

●    East Branch Chautauqua Creek Preserve
(21.6 acres located on Sherman-Mayville Road in Chautauqua)

●    Elm Flats Wetland Preserve
(83 acres located on Lawson Road in Chautauqua)

●    Fern Island Wetland Preserve
(12.4 acres located on Dale Drive in Cassadaga)

●    Houston Hollow Preserve in Celoron
(1.3 acres located on Houston Avenue in Celoron)

●    Little-Big Inlet Wetland Preserve
(4.3 acres locates on Sea Lion Drive in Mayville)

●    Loomis Goose Creek Lakeshore Wetland Preserve
(30.8 acres located on route 394 in North Harmony and Busti)

●    Mary Straight Bird Sanctuary
(5.8 acres located on Dale Drive in Cassadaga)

●    Prendergast Creek Wetland Preserve
(6.8 acres located on Snug Harbor Road/Whitney Road in Chautauqua)

●    Randy Allan Hendrickson Watershed Preserve
(15.9 acres located on Fairmount Avenue in West Ellicott)

●    Sunnyside Marsh Preserve
(4.5 acres located on Sunnyside Road in Ellery)


Other Lands:

The CWC also has 5 acres of conserved land North Harmony, 43 acres of conserved land in Portland, 47 acres of conserved land in Westfield, and a conservation easement on 16 acres at the Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center Lakeshore Forest on East Lake Road in Ellery.


The Wells Bay Lakeshore Forest:

As part of the Last Mile Campaign (the CWC’s mission to conserve the last remaining natural shoreline sites on Chautauqua Lake), the CWC is currently pursuing the conservation of the 3.5-acre Wells Bay Lakeshore Forest in North Harmony.  This site, with 210 feet of shoreline, is one of the last remaining public boating and swimming “tie-up” sites on Chautauqua Lake.  It contains rare remnant moist forest and stream and small forested wetlands and is also home to many water-dependent species such as salamanders, frogs, snakes and birds.  More information on the current status of the campaign to conserve this site and how you can help can be found here.