About Us
WHO WE ARE
The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was established in 1990 with a mission to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands, and watersheds of the Chautauqua, NY, region.
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​We diligently pursues this mission so that the Chautauqua region will remain an attractive, healthy, and enjoyable place for those who live in, work in, and visit the Chautauqua region now and in the future.
WHAT WE DO
We pursue our mission through land conservation, environmental education, and watershed stewardship.
We conserve lands with high ecological, hydrological, and scenic value on Chautauqua County’s natural lakeshores, along tributaries and within its watersheds and currently own and manage more than 1,100 acres of land and 33 nature preserves, all of which are open to the public for outdoor recreation and refreshment.
We promote proactive best land, wildlife, and water resource management practices and provide educational programs to raise the community’s awareness of the connection between land use and the quality and quantity of our water resources, our quality of life, and the economic prosperity of our region.
We also provide technical assistance to landowners, businesses, and municipalities so that they can better understand and implement the best land, wildlife, and water resource management practices for our region.
GOALS
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To conserve and achieve healthy ecosystems county-wide to support native plant and animal species indigenous to the region
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To conserve and achieve high water quality used for drinking water, food production / preparation, and recreation
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To conserve the scenic beauty of the Chautauqua County region
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To build an awareness and understanding of the inter-connectedness of watershed land use and its impact on waterways and to use this awareness and understanding to promote best land management practices
Staff & Board
STAFF
Whitney Gleason, Executive Director
Tracy Carlson, Outreach Assistant
Jill Eklund, Director of Communications
Caitlin Gustafson, Business Manager
John Jablonski III, Special Projects
Coordinator
Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation
Carol Markham, Conservationist
John ("Johnny Mac") McCarthy,
Preserve Handyman
Bethany O'Hagan, Land Specialist
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rebecca L. Nystrom, Chair
Jeanne E. Wiebenga, Vice Chair
William R. Locke, Treasurer
Cheryl E. Mawhinney, Secretary
Kaitlyn L. Bentley
Janis L. Bowman
Dennis H. Collins
Michael E. Jabot
Deborah E. Moore
Mary Beth Southwick
Robyn R. Steele
Deborah C. Trefts
Ruth T. Wahl
William J. Ward
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EMERITUS DIRECTORS
Michael K. Lyons
Thomas A. Small, in memoriam
Arthur D. Webster
