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Support Us Support Us We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill By choosing to support the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy you are choosing to protect clean healthy waterways, lands for our wildlife, and our way of life! Our conservation work is only possible with the support of donors like you, and any and all donations make a difference! Donate Online Stocks or IRA Distributions Bequests & Other Legacy Gifts Donor Advised Funds Land Conservation Campaigns Cryptocurrency Endowment Fund Lands Stewardship and Defense Funds Making a donation? Don’t forget to check and see if your employer has a matching gift program. At no cost to you, many employers will match some portion of your gift to qualifying non-profits. This is an easy way to make your gift go even further, so check with your human resources or personnel office to find out or click here if you already know they do! Thank You! Together we are protecting key lands throughout our county. Natural areas support local wildlife, provide beauty, and absorb harmful pollutants before they reach our streams, lakes, and wetlands. Thank you for joining us in this mission and for your continued financial support. You make our work possible! We recommend that you consult with your attorney or tax advisor for the various tax benefits and restrictions that may apply to your specific situation. We are always available to you and your advisors to answer questions or help arrange a gift of stock or IRA distribution. Please reach out to our Executive Director Whitney Gleason for any assistance you may need. 716.664.2166 ext. 1006 whitney@chautauquawatershed.org

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua, NY, region. CWC pursues its mission through land conservation, environmental education and watershed stewardship. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Up boxes Explore Our Preserves Discover our 30+ nature preserves and plan your next outdoor adventure! Caring for Your Yard Learn what you can do in your own yard to improve water quality and wildlife habitat! Conserving Your Land Learn how to help conserve natural areas for a healthier Chautauqua region! Upcoming Events See what's on the calendar and join us at our upcoming events! Welcome to the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a nationally accredited 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was established in 1990 to preserve and enhance the quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lands and waters of the Chautauqua (NY) region for our community. Our organization pursues its mission through land conservation and restoration, environmental education, and watershed stewardship. We currently own and manage more than 35 nature preserves, all of which are open to the public for outdoor recreation and refreshment. We 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.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Surveys Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has been conducting yearly Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) surveys on our preserves and other local hemlock stands for over a decade. HWA is a very small insect that feeds on hemlock trees, ultimately killing the infected trees. These invasive adelgids are transferred from tree to tree most often by birds, but other modes of transmission are possible as well. Once the adelgids land on the host tree, they will remain in the same spot for the rest of their lives, continually feeding and developing into adults. Their feeding severely damages the canopy of the host tree by disrupting the flow of nutrients to its twigs and needles, and the infected tree usually dies in four to ten years. Our surveys take place in January through mid-March since HWA is most visible in winter. In the coldest months, the aphids go dormant and form cotton-like protective balls at the bases of hemlock needles, making it easy to observe and diagnose. This dormant period also makes it much less likely for surveyors to accidentally spread HWA from tree to tree by physically touching multiple hemlocks in an area during a survey. HWA is moving into our area very quickly. By surveying local hemlock trees and reporting any HWA we observe on them, we can help with the implementation of targeted treatment plans to manage the infestations and prevent further spread. Read more at https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/post/local-trees-are-calling-for-help

Newgrange The winter solstice is upon us and is happening on December 21st. It’s the moment when the Earth’s tilt makes our hemispheres lean farthest away from the Sun, creating the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. In our Northern Hemisphere, this happens yearly around December 21st or 22nd, while in the Southern Hemisphere it occurs around June 20th or 21st. The solstice has been a vital day of recognition for many early societies that were dependent on agriculture and seasonal cycles. It reassured them that, despite the long night, the sun would return and bring warmth and growth again. Today, with our snowy covered grounds, lake-effect winds, and below freezing temperatures, these traditions continue as reminders of humanity’s deep connection to the rhythms of the amazing Earth we inhabit.   What winter solstice means for our planet Earth is that it is in fact an   astronomical event. It occurs when the Sun’s path in the sky reaches its southernmost point (over the Tropic of Capricorn) making the shortest day and longest night of the entire year. The Sun travels its shortest arc across the sky on the winter solstice, giving minimal daylight on an already cold day. It marks the official start of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. On the solstice, the Earth’s axis is maximally tilted away from the Sun, causing the polar regions to experience extreme effects. Where I am from, up in Alaska, the Arctic has 24 hours of darkness on the solstice, while the Antarctic enjoys 24 hours of daylight. Many traditions see this as a time of rebirth, renewal, and celebration of light returning. Because from this moment on, it is only going to get brighter outside.   Ancient sites like Stonehenge were built to be aligned with and track the solstice, showing just how important these days were to early civilizations. I was even lucky enough to have visited what is thought of as one of the first ever Winter Solstice temples, which is in Ireland. A prehistoric site that was constructed about 5,200 years ago (3,200 B.C) which makes it older than Stonehenge, and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Newgrange, in Boyne Valley, County Meath, Ireland is an ancient temple which is believed to have served not only as a burial site but also as a place of spiritual and astronomical significance. Newgrange was made so that for about 7 minutes on the morning of winter solstice, it illuminates its interior passages by only the winter solstice sun, which sounds like something straight out of an Indian Jones movie. It was so amazing being able to go inside and see the inner chamber which was built to align specifically with the winter solstice sun and thought to mark the beginning of the new year. Newgrange Newgrange isn’t the only ancient solstice monuments either. In Mexico, the Mayans have  Chichen Itza, which I have also had the pleasure of visiting. Egypt has the Karnak Temple, Peru has Machu Occhu, and the U.S., has Hovenweek Castle built by ancestral Puebloans. Winter Solstice has long been celebrated with festivals such as Yule, Dongzhi, and Inti Raymi to celebrate renewal, warmth, and the gradual triumph of light over darkness. In these everchanging and modern times we live in with indoor lighting, heating, AI, and cell phones, it’s often tied to holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, which also emphasize themes of light and hope.   So even though you are most likely feeling this getting dark so early, coldness to your nose, fingers, and toes, and everywhere covered in snow, just remember that after December 21st symbolizes the return of the Sun. So, whip up some wassail, make a wreath, bake a yule log, cozy up next to a fire if you can, and start enjoying the winter solstice for everything that it means and brings for the coming months ahead.   Article and photo by Land Specialist Bethany O'Hagan

Wild turkeys doing what they do best this season: traveling, talking, and gathering together - just like us. Thanksgiving is a day built around family, gratitude, and gathering close - and yes, often around a turkey dinner. But while we’re settling in with our relatives and favorite dishes, our local wild turkeys are out in the woods doing something remarkably similar: spending the season in tight-knit family groups, reconnecting, squabbling, calling to each other, and moving through the forest as one.   Fall is the time when turkeys truly shine. After a summer of raising young and feasting on native grasses, grasshoppers, and even frogs, they begin forming large flocks or family groups that come together much like our own extended families that arrive for the holiday. Hen turkeys stay with their female offspring, and it’s common for several mother–daughter groups to merge. The result? Fifty or more birds traveling, feeding, and roosting together. Picture trying to seat that many relatives at your dining room table!   Male turkeys do something similar but form their own “boys’ club.” Young males or jakes band together in looser, energetic groups, while mature gobblers stick with birds their own age. These brotherhoods roam different corners of the woods than the hens and young birds, and the two sides don’t mingle much in the fall. It’s a bit like the adults chatting in one room while teenagers and cousins get to sit at the “kids” table.   Within each flock, turkeys spend the day calling softly to one another - constant low murmurs that act like a running roll call. Feed a little, call a little, feed a little more. If you’ve ever been on a hike and heard faint yelps or soft whistles drifting through the trees, you might have walked right past a turkey family keeping tabs on its members.   And just like any big family gathering, disagreements happen. Establishing who sits at the top of the pecking order is a serious business, and both male and female turkeys engage in brief squabbles, chest bumps, and dominance displays. Think of it as the turkey version of deciding who carves the turkey or who gets the last roll, except with more feathers involved. These social battles actually matter; they determine breeding rank come spring.   Turkeys are creatures of habit in fall, often traveling the same routes daily as they search for food. Acorns and other nuts are the big draw this time of year, and you can often hear the scratch-scratch-scratch of their feet turning over leaves long before you hear their voices. These scratched-up patches on the forest floor are one of the best clues that a turkey family recently passed through.   At night, turkeys head to large trees to roost, safe from predators and high enough to keep the flock together. Dawn brings its own kind of comedy: a chorus of wingbeats, swoops, and not-always-graceful descents as 10- or 20-pound birds launch themselves into the morning.   If you live near woods with acorns, big trees, or old fields sprinkled with leftover corn, chances are you share your neighborhood with a turkey family or two. Watching them move, nearly silent one moment, then erupting with calls the next, is one of the hidden joys of the season.   So, as you gather at your table this Thanksgiving, surrounded by family, conversation, and the rituals that bind us together, remember that out in the forest, the turkey families are doing much the same. They’re reconnecting, navigating group dynamics, searching for good food, and sticking close to the ones that matter most. Article and photo by CWC Conservationist Carol Markham

Every November 17, outdoor enthusiasts across the country lace up their boots for National Take a Hike Day—a perfect excuse to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with the landscapes that sustain us. It’s a celebration of the outdoors and a reminder of the mental and physical benefits that come from simply walking in nature. Here in Chautauqua County, few organizations embody that spirit better than the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC), whose network of preserves and trails offers year-round opportunities to experience the best of Western New York’s wild beauty.   Since its founding in 1990, CWC has worked tirelessly to protect and restore the lands that safeguard our clean water, wildlife habitat, and community well-being. Today, the Conservancy owns or manages more than 40 nature preserves totaling over 1,300 acres across the county—from tranquil forested hillsides and wildflower meadows to peaceful wetlands and lakefronts. Many of these protected places feature public trails that invite hikers, birdwatchers, hunters, photographers, and quiet nature seekers alike.   Take a stroll through the Bentley Nature Preserve or Naetzker Preserve, where towering trees filter runoff and stabilize hillsides and floodplains. Dobbins Woods Preserve, just outside Lakewood, offers a short but immersive walk through mature hardwood forest—perfect for a lunchtime break or a family outing. For those craving more adventure, Brown’s Creek Preserve and Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park feature trails that wind through rolling terrain, revealing lakes, beaver ponds, stands of evergreens, and in autumn, fiery foliage reflected in still waters.   But hiking is just one of many ways to enjoy CWC’s preserves. It’s also important to remember that National Take a Hike Day coincides with hunting season. Responsible hunting is allowed on many CWC properties, aligning with the Conservancy’s mission to maintain balanced and healthy ecosystems. Hunters who obtain written permission from CWC help manage wildlife populations and support conservation goals while continuing a long-standing outdoor tradition. Anglers will find excellent fishing along creeks and ponds on select properties, while birders and photographers can enjoy spectacular wildlife encounters—especially during spring and fall migrations.   Every season brings its own reason to explore. In spring, ephemeral wildflowers carpet the forest floor. Summer trails offer shady escapes and dragonflies skimming across ponds. In fall, the woods glow with color. And in winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing transform the preserves into peaceful wonderlands. No matter the time of year, a CWC preserve is never far away—and each visit deepens appreciation for the land and water that define our region.   As we celebrate National Take a Hike Day, CWC reminds everyone that enjoying these lands also means helping to protect them. Donations and volunteers helping with trail work and other preserve maintenance ensure that these habitats remain open, healthy, and vibrant for generations to come.   So, on November 17—or any day you need a breath of fresh air—head out to one of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s preserves. Take a hike, watch for wildlife, cast a line, or simply pause to listen to the wind in the trees. These lands are a gift to the community—a living reminder that conservation and recreation truly thrive hand in hand.   Things to remember before you go: Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. Remember: hunting is allowed on many CWC preserves—be visible and wear blaze orange. Keep dogs leashed and make sure your furry friends wear orange too. Bring water, snacks, and good company. Check trail conditions ahead of time and be tick-aware (even when mosquitoes are gone). Learn more about CWC preserves at www.chautauquawatershed.org . For hunting information, contact bethany@chautauquawatershed.org . Article by Director of Conservation Twan Leenders Photo by Senior Executive Coordinator Jill Eklund