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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

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Fletcher Family Preserve This property was donated in memory of the Fletcher family, and it is split between two different parcels along Sunset Drive. The property has a small stream passing through, and it features wetlands, as well as upland mature hemlock forests creating a diversity of habitat. Size: 15.2 acres Year Conserved by CWC: 2017 Address: 2010 Sunset Drive, Lakewood, NY Conservation Values: The preserve’s forests allow rainwater to collect and slowly infiltrate, minimizing erosion and sedimentation downstream. Trees protect and stabilize the bank of the small stream passing through the property, which ultimately drains into Chautauqua Lake. Water is filtered through riparian vegetation, improving water quality in the watershed. Recreational Use: There are no formal trails, and parking is limited along Sunset Drive. Bowhunting only is permitted, but no permanent tree stands are allowed. Visitors are asked to avoid entering the property from Southwestern Drive, as that conflicts with the privacy of the adjoining landowners. Location and Parking: The Fletcher Family Preserve is located on Sunset Drive in the Town of Busti. The larger parcel adjoins the Sunset Hill Cemetery, and the smaller parcel is just down the road before Sunset Drive connects to Southwestern Drive. Features of Interest: A small pocket wetland is accessible from the southeastern parcel by hiking through a scenic conifer grove. Once across the stream, this wetland is easily reached. If visiting at the right time of year a large population of wild turtlehead (Chelone glabra) can be seen in bloom. The northern parcel is difficult to traverse in the region of the stream as there is dense brushy and invasive thorny shrubs. It is worth working through this region, as there is a picturesque grove of large black cherry (Prunus serotina) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) just upslope from the stream. SPECIES OF INTEREST: Trees: Eastern hemlock (Tusga canadensis), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), black cherry (Prunus serotina) Shrubs: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) Wildflowers: Canadian lily of the valley (Maianthemum canadense), Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), white baneberry (Actaea pachypoda), white turtlehead (Chelone glabra), yellow mandarin (Prosartes lanuginosa) Birds: Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus), scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Pileated Wood Pecker ( Dryocopus pileatus) adult and two juvenilles in a nesting cavity . By Jan Bowman. A dead tree is often considered a danger of sorts depending on where it stands from a human perspective, but dead trees provide a lot more than just potential nutrients once fallen to the ground. As they stand, they may hold more life than meets the eye. Some animals hollow out dead and dying trees to provide homes for themselves (primary cavity nesters), and many other animals will use these cavities once vacated by the creator as their home (secondary cavity nesters). In Chautauqua County, the primary cavity nesters are woodpeckers. Following the large die-off of Ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle, local woodpecker populations are doing very well. This is particularly true of Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied woodpeckers, as well as Northern flicker and Yellow-bellied sapsucker. Pileated woodpecker numbers have also increased compared to baseline population numbers suggesting they have also benefited from the EAB infestation. Anyone who has watched a pileated woodpecker working on a tree knows they can make progress quickly as they search for food and create a cavity for nesting. This may look very destructive, but the woodpecker would not be feeding on that tree if it didn’t have food (insects) present already working on the decline of that tree.   Once primary cavity nesters have moved on and left an empty “apartment,” secondary cavity nesters move in. Many animals rely on these empty cavities, and when in short supply it can quickly impact a population, as it has with local bluebird populations who were being pushed out of possible nesting sites by invasive birds such as starlings and sparrows. Bluebird boxes, manmade “cavities,” have served as a successful conservation solution to this ecological problem. Local secondary cavity nesters include Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Great-crested Flycatcher, Prothonotary Warbler, Brown Creeper, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, American Kestrel, Eastern Screech Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barred Owl, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, and porcupines. These cavities may even be used by snakes, and on rare occasions tree-roosting bats as well! This is not a complete list of those in nature that may use these cavities, but it certainly illustrates how important it is to leave dead trees standing until nature decides its time to come down.  Of course, if a tree is a danger to life or property, decisions may have to be made to bring a dead tree down. In that case, timing is everything! Let’s keep in mind who may be living in that tree when deciding when and how to remove it. Working with nature is in the best of interest of everyone. Article and photo by Board Chair Jan Bowman

(Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula ) Cities are often noticeably warmer than the countryside that surrounds them. This phenomenon, known as the “urban heat island” (and sometimes called an “urban heat bubble”) can raise temperatures by several degrees compared to nearby rural areas—especially at night. In major metropolitan areas such as New York City or Chicago, the difference is well documented, but the same effect also occurs in much smaller developed areas.   The cause is straightforward. Materials like asphalt, concrete, and metal absorb and store heat during the day, then slowly release it after sunset as air temperatures fall. At the same time, trees, wetlands, and other natural features that normally cool the air through shade and evaporation are often scarce in densely developed landscapes. With less vegetation to moderate temperatures, a dome of retained warmth forms over the built environment. This persistent heat alters how plants and animals live, move, reproduce, and survive.   Urban heat bubbles do not affect all species equally. In many cases, they create conditions that favor invasive species—organisms that spread beyond their native range and cause ecological or economic harm. Invasive species are often highly adaptable. They tend to grow quickly, reproduce rapidly, and tolerate a broad range of environmental conditions. Warmer urban microclimates can allow them to survive winter temperatures that would normally limit their expansion.   A striking example is the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect native to parts of Asia. This species feeds on a wide variety of plants, including grapes, fruit trees, and hardwoods, posing a serious threat to agriculture and forestry. Urban heat islands may help spotted lanternflies survive colder northern winters by reducing the number and severity of freezing days that would otherwise kill their egg masses. Warmer conditions can also accelerate their development, allowing populations to grow more quickly. Cities—rich in ornamental trees and often lacking natural predators—can function as stepping stones, supporting population growth and facilitating further spread into surrounding regions.   Recent research has revealed that the spotted lanternflies now spreading across the United States likely originated from a single accidental introduction around 2014. Scientists believe the insects arrived in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a shipment of stone from South Korea, transported through urban Shanghai, which lies within their native range. Genetic analysis suggests that this founding population was already well adapted to urban environments. In their newly adopted range, they appear to thrive particularly well in cities.   Large populations have been documented in Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland in recent years. Interestingly, they are often less abundant in the rural areas between these cities—even in agricultural and grape-growing regions that could be especially vulnerable. This pattern raises important questions. Could their relatively low genetic diversity, combined with strong adaptation to urban “heat bubbles,” be keeping them concentrated in cities? Scientists do not yet have definitive answers. Ongoing research will determine whether this urban association persists or whether populations will eventually expand more aggressively into rural landscapes.   What is clear, however, is that concentrated development has ecological consequences beyond human comfort. Urban heat islands reshape ecosystems. They influence which species gain a foothold, which decline, and how native and invasive organisms compete. Protecting and expanding urban forests, restoring wetlands, increasing tree canopy cover, and rewilding undeveloped sections of cities and transportation corridors can help moderate temperatures. These actions not only cool our communities in a warming climate, but also reduce the ecological imbalances that heat bubbles can create.   As cities continue to grow and global temperatures rise, understanding—and managing—the ecological effects of urban heat islands will be essential for safeguarding biodiversity. Article and photo by Director of Conservation Twan Leenders

One of the many things Western New York is known for is its cold, often unforgiving winters. While recent years have brought more variability, those cold months continue to play a vital ecological role across our region. Native plants and wildlife are adapted to seasonal rhythms shaped by snow cover, deep frosts, and predictable dormancy. These seasonal cues, known as phenology, refer to the timing of biological events such as bud break, insect development, flowering, and migration. When seasonal timing shifts, ecological relationships can shift with it. Just as importantly, cold winters can help limit certain invasive species that are not well adapted to prolonged freezing conditions.   Two particularly concerning invaders for Western New York are the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and the Spotted Lanternfly.   Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is a small invasive insect native to East Asia that feeds on eastern hemlock trees. Over time, this feeding weakens the tree’s ability to transport and store energy. Infested trees commonly show needle loss, thinning crowns, and reduced growth, and many die within four to ten years, particularly under heavy infestation.   Eastern hemlock is considered a foundation species in northeastern forests. It moderates stream temperatures by shading cold water habitats, stabilizes steep slopes, and creates cool, shaded forest conditions that support specialized plant and wildlife communities. The loss of hemlock could lead to warmer streams, shifts in understory vegetation, and long-term changes in forest structure.   HWA survival is strongly influenced by winter temperatures. Sustained temperatures near negative five degrees Fahrenheit can cause significant mortality in overwintering adelgids, and temperatures approaching negative fifteen to negative twenty degrees Fahrenheit can result in very high mortality rates. Duration matters, as a prolonged cold is generally more impactful than a brief cold snap. HWA evolved in milder climates, and as a result, extreme cold historically limited its northward expansion.   However, that natural check may be weakening. Warmer winter temperatures increase overwinter survival and allow populations to grow more quickly. Shifts in seasonal timing can also influence adelgid development and reproduction. Changes in phenology affect when insects reproduce, how long they remain active, and how successfully they survive winter conditions. Reports of HWA in Western New York have become more frequent in recent years, suggesting continued spread. While chemical treatments and introduced predatory beetles present potential solutions in some areas, these approaches are resource-intensive and typically limited to high-value trees or targeted sites.   The Spotted Lanternfly presents a different but equally serious concern. Native to Asia, this invasive planthopper feeds on more than seventy plant species, including grapevines, hardwood trees, and fruit trees. It is strongly associated with the invasive tree of heaven, but does not depend solely on it. Heavy infestations remove sap and produce honeydew, which promotes sooty mold growth and can reduce photosynthesis. In agricultural areas, especially vineyards, this feeding pressure can lead to significant economic losses.   Adults are susceptible to sustained freezing temperatures and typically die off after hard frosts. Females lay egg masses in the fall on tree bark, outdoor equipment, vehicles, and other surfaces. Eggs are more cold-tolerant than adults, but extended exposure to very low temperatures can reduce survival. If the first hard freeze occurs later in the season, adults may have additional time to lay eggs, potentially increasing population size the following year. Established populations are present in several regions of New York State, and confirmed reports have occurred in parts of the Buffalo area based on iMapInvasives data.   Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy continues to monitor its preserves and surrounding lands for signs of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and other invasive species. Early detection is critical to slowing the spread and protecting high-value habitats. Community members can help by learning to recognize these species and reporting sightings through iMapInvasives. Local awareness and timely reporting improve the ability to respond before infestations become widespread.   Western New York’s winters have long shaped the character of our forests, waterways, and wildlife communities. Periods of sustained cold are more than a seasonal inconvenience. They serve as an ecological filter, helping to keep certain non-native species from gaining a stronger foothold. As seasonal patterns continue to shift, maintaining resilient ecosystems and staying vigilant as a community will be essential to safeguarding the health of our watershed for generations to come. Article and photo by Land Acquisition Coordinator Daniel Conklin