Here at Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, we protect the land that protects the water. Even though we are nestled on Chautauqua Lake, as a land trust, the lake is not our number one focus. There are so many ponds, creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes in our county. Not to mention that the Great Lakes hold 21% of the world’s fresh water, and we happen to be right on the border of one of those lakes. But not all people in America are as lucky to be surrounded by such an abundance of water.   Water is a precious resource. Americans use approximately 82 gallons of water at home, and 322 billion gallons of water are used for public consumption every day. Because humans are depleting the underground water supplies, the United Nations predicts a global shortfall of water by 2030. About 30 percent of the planet’s available freshwater are aquifers under each continent, and they are rapidly declining across the globe at accelerating rates. In America, 60 percent of our public water supply comes from surface water, and 40 percent of our public drinking water supply comes from aquifers. A three-year assessment, which is the largest assessment to date, analyzed groundwater levels around the world and found an alarming fact. Spanning nearly 1,700 aquifers, 300 million water level measurements from 1.5 million wells, and data from the past 100 years, researchers from the University of California revealed that groundwater is drastically dropping in 71% of aquifers around the world.   Moreover, our southwestern states are facing a crucial moment – having to re-negotiate their hundred-year plus water agreement. This crisis is unprecedented due to the population growth that has put a perpetual stressor on all the lakes, streams, and rivers that provide Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and all other smaller cities in that region with water. The Southwest's population rose from 13,598,000 in 1958 to 44,102,840 in 2023, for a gain of 30,504,840 people, or a 224.33% growth. There is not even close to enough water to sustain the populations that live there. They are currently in the difficult situation of having to figure out where they are going to provide drinking water for the 44 million people that live there.   There have been some studies that show humans can help turn things around with deliberate, concentrated efforts – such as the U.N. holding its 2023 Water Conference (the first in almost 50 years), where the international community started mapping out a future that works for everyone and that gets them thinking about water as a global common good. We must recognize that all our key environmental challenges are connected to water and link directly to climate change and biodiversity loss. Thinking about water in this way will allow us all to mobilize collective action and design new rules that put equity and justice at the center.   There are many things you can do on the smaller scale as well to help play a significant role in addressing the water crisis. Here are some effective ways you can help: Conserve Water : Simple habits like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, fixing leaks, and using water-efficient appliances can save a lot of water. Rainwater Harvesting : Collecting and storing rainwater for later use can reduce the demand on freshwater sources. Reuse and Recycle Water : Treating and reusing water for watering plants can significantly reduce freshwater consumption. For example, put a bucket in the shower to collect the water that runs down the drain as the water heats up, then use the collected water for your plants. Protect Natural Water Sources : Preserving wetlands, rivers, and lakes helps maintain the natural water cycle and ensures clean water availability. Adopt Climate-Smart Gardening : Techniques like drip irrigation and native plants can help conserve water. Mulch and Mow to 3” and Keep Leaves on Yards : Mulching provides moisture retention. Mowing to no less than 3” means longer roots and a greater ability to withstand drought. Fallen leaves improve the surface water quality in your yard. Every small action counts, and together we can make a significant impact on mitigating the water crisis. Article and photo by Bethany O'Hagan, Land Specialist EDITED 9/26/24 : The original post stated that the headwaters of the Mississippi River were in Chautauqua County. For clarification, the headwaters of the main stem of the Mississippi River begin at Lake Itasca in Minnesota. The waters here are the northeastern-most headwaters of the Mississippi River drainage in the eastern U.S.

As the summer sun wains and the cool, crisp nights of fall encroach, we all start thinking about pumpkins, cider, and beautiful fall foliage. But before you put those shovels and gardening gloves away and fall into pumpkin spice lattes, don’t forget that September is one of the best times of year to work in your yard, spruce up your landscaping for spring, and plant some native plants! And possibly…remove or replace some of your mowed lawn at the same time!   September is a wonderful time to plant because the weather is cool, and roots and soil are better able to retain moisture. The soil in your yard is typically easier to dig in the fall, and as long as your plants are planted correctly and protected properly, they will patiently lie dormant in your yard over winter, waiting to blossom and flourish next spring. Fall and winter care are minimal…lightly water them in the fall so they do not dry out. Let them sit over the winter and possibly cover them with a light layer of mulched leaves to protect them from extreme temperatures and winter winds since snow has been absent these past few years. Let’s hope we at least get some measurable white this winter. Snow, with its plentiful air pockets, traps air that holds heat and produces great insulation…almost like a personal fluffy down jacket! As an added bonus, snow delivers nitrogen. Nitrogen attaches to snowflakes as they fall through the atmosphere. As snow melts, these nutrients are slowly released into the soil. What could be better than nature giving our gardens this free and gentle fertilizer boost to our plants coming into spring!   The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy wants to take advantage of planting at this wonderful time of year too. We have always been an active, local leader in watershed education, and what better way to teach than to lead by example! Prep work has already been completed, and lessons have already been learned this summer as we have been busy replacing part of our traditional lawn at our office in Lakewood with a selection of Chautauqua County native plants. In contrast to a grassy lawn that requires excessive water and harmful chemicals to maintain, this planting will support our local pollinators, thrive with little maintenance after initial establishment, provide visual interest, and demonstrate the possibilities of using native plants in our gardens. All the plants chosen have evolved to thrive in our Chautauqua County soil. They require little if any supplemental watering, no fertilizers or soil amendments, and only an annual cutting of dead flower stalks in early spring.   In creating a watershed friendly front yard, we are hopeful that our actions will speak louder than words and be a wonderful example for homeowners and businesses to emulate. With amazing assistance from our friends at Royal Fern Nursery, this exciting project will be completed and planted this fall. If you have driven by our office this summer, you probably saw our slightly “unkempt” appearance with weeds and grass growing through thick clumps of straw. That would be our new mini-meadow project, and it has not come without some mishaps and lessons learned. We would love to share our newfound knowledge and expertise!   In early October, we are planning to hold an on-site, hands-on, education workshop at our Lakewood office that will demonstrate and explain the “dos and don’ts” of creating a mini-meadow in your own yard. You’ll learn about native plants, our local native plant nursery, and how best to mow less and meadow more! We hope to see you there! Article by Carol Markham, Conservationist Photo by Jill Eklund, Director of Operations

Our Loomis Goose Creek Osprey family has completed its fifth breeding season, and one by one – first Femke (in early August), then Hauke, and eventually the triplets in the order of their hatching 2 to 3 days apart – have left the nest to go south toward their wintering grounds somewhere in the northern half of South America. The youngest one left on September 1st, guided by instinct, the moon and stars, and a magnetic crystal somewhere in its respiratory tract.   The parents, Femke and Hauke, have now raised nine youngsters. Several may have returned to the area and perhaps started their own families in one of the nearby nests.   From the three eggs first seen late April, to the three hatchlings recorded five weeks later in early June, to three fledglings that flew off the nest eight weeks later in late July, to the departure of three fully grown youngsters capable of fishing and taking care of themselves by late August . . . our Loomis Goose Creek Osprey family has been a wonder of nature to watch again this year!   This year’s breeding cycle was completed three weeks earlier than in previous years. We’re not sure if this is of concern, but it is certainly in line with other natural phenomena around us, like the early blooming of several flower species or early departure of birds from our area.   For Femke, Hauke, and the triplets, it’s now all about survival instinct and a long and lonely journey of many thousands of miles flying south. Another magical season has come to an end, and we wish our Osprey family a safe arrival at their destination and hope for their return next spring! Watch videos of activity in the nest during the last few weeks here: https://www.facebook.com/ChautauquaWatershed/posts/pfbid02RxZdD8kcynVrtNvdyYScZpa62Nay8piWDXWmGxSzQ63ZFNzhBiF6piExBZhnHjGrl

Summertime is wonderful in Chautauqua County! Residents and visitors to our area are well aware of the recreational opportunities that our lakes offer. Lake Erie, Chautauqua, Findley, Bear, and the Cassadaga Lakes each receive their share of boaters, fisher(wo)men, swimmers, and paddlers, and all those water bodies are buzzing with activity these days.   However, Chautauqua County has much more to offer when it comes to on-water recreation, and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has been working hard for the past two years to make our county’s major waterways safe and enjoyable for recreational use again – while also working to make these waterways better able to drain snowmelt and stormwater without causing excess erosion. This increased hydrological resilience is important in the face of a changing climate and the increased storm intensity we all have been experiencing lately. And the Conservancy is committed to maintaining our region’s excellent water quality as much as possible.   Clearly these beautiful lakes do not exist in a vacuum in our landscape. Water enters into them through a variety of tributaries that originate in our watersheds, while on the downstream end of each lake there generally is a sizeable outlet to drain them. Not all of our lakes have as spectacular a drainage as Lake Erie does - Niagara Falls is hard to beat in that respect – but they all are all beautiful in their own right and have a lot to offer in terms of recreational opportunities.   Findley Lake feeds French Creek, which is known nationally as a biodiversity hotspot. It’s the most biologically diverse aquatic system in the Northeastern US and contains five times more species than an average New York stream, including rare fish and endangered mussels that are found hardly anywhere else!   Chautauqua Lake becomes a linear waterbody in the city of Jamestown, and we call it the Chadakoin River from that point on. The Chadakoin River joins Cassadaga Creek just north of Falconer and adds Chautauqua Lake’s water to the drainage coming out of both Bear Lake and the Cassadaga Lakes. About 9.5 miles downstream from there, Cassadaga Creek meets Conewango Creek, which enters from Cattaraugus County near the town of Kennedy, and flows south into Pennsylvania near Route 62 to eventually meet the Allegheny River in Warren. In all, the county’s major waterways (Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks) provide over 50 miles of recreational potential. The southern section of the Conewango carries the combined outflow of several lakes and offers bigger water than the narrower sections that are found closer to their respective sources. All provide great opportunities for fishing and nature enjoyment from a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard – even a small (inflatable) boat with an electric trawling motor may work in areas of bigger water – but note that none of the launches support boat trailers.     Chautauqua County’s Marden Cobb Waterway Trail consists of a series of launches and lean-tos that once provided the infrastructure to activate these major waterways, but long-term lack of maintenance and the added challenge of Emerald Ash Borer-caused tree die-offs have created log jams, navigational hazards, and obstructions to healthy flow in our rivers. Since the fall of 2023, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy staff has been working with local experts, including certified arborist Vince Liuzzo and skilled equipment operators, to start making these waterways safe again. Funded through an American Rescue Plan Act allocation from Chautauqua County, we are slowly working our way through the systems, mapping the various challenges, prioritizing log removals that pose imminent hazards to the safety of boaters and those that have the potential to divert the flow of a creek and cause property damage because of flooding or bank erosion. We’re also reimagining an expanded system of launch points to support increased activity on the creeks once they’re made safe again. We are on track to clear about 20 miles of Cassadaga Creek this summer and have already cleared more than 11 miles of the lower Conewango Creek. It is our hope that we can host a public paddle sometime later this summer to celebrate the re-opening of Cassadaga Creek.   For now, if you want to enjoy the beauty of our county waterways, I recommend starting on the Lower Conewango, perhaps putting in at one of the two county launches in Frewsburg and floating down to the county launch near the state line, off Route 62. While you’re enjoying a leisurely paddle, keep an eye out for Bald Eagles, Softshell Turtles, Kingfishers and, if you’re lucky, Sandhill Cranes along the river. I promise that you will forget, at times, that you are still in Chautauqua County when you follow the beauty of our lakes downstream.   Article and photo by Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation

Our Loomis Osprey trio has fledged but is still around and seem to love exploring their surroundings! One day they enjoy being fed by Femke, and the next day they feed themselves!   The first three photos below show a conversation between parents and one of the fledglings: Hauke on a tree branch across the street holding a fish in its talons, chatting with one of the youngsters who is expressing his hunger loudly while Femke is calling them back to home base.   The youngsters have learned to fish by themselves, as one photo of an Osprey in flight shows. They are getting ready for the Long Way South. At this time, both parents are still around.   We can see from the videos transmitted from the nest camera that less and less time in spent on the nest. We expect that Femke will leave in the next week or so, that Hauke will be around till early September, and that our triplets will hang around until later that month.   Many Ospreys can now be seen flying around the lake, from 8-10 new nests. Some may be our Loomis pair's progeny, but we have no way of knowing for sure. The last picture shows a fledgling from a nest that was built on a utility pole by a young Osprey pair discovered at the Chautauqua Golf Course (hole # 6 on the Lake Course) in late March. They produced two chicks - one seen here feasting on its own lake harvest.   We'll keep enjoying our Osprey's presence for another month or so before they leave on that long journey south, but we know that they have found a new home and will return! photos by Jeanne Wiebenga

The New York State 30x30 amendments to the Environmental Conservation Law adopted in 2022 set the goal of conserving 30% of lands and waters across the State by 2030, “to enhance conservation of the state’s unique and globally significant biodiversity and continue efforts to adapt to climate change.” This State initiative is in line with United Nations global biodiversity goals and the U.S. goal to conserve 30% of all lands and waters by 2030 to confront the global mass extinction crisis and costly natural disaster impacts of climate change.     The Chautauqua region has long been a great place to live or visit for outdoors enthusiasts. Its waterways and forests provided abundant fish and wildlife supporting Native American populations for thousands of years before Europeans immigrated to this region and cleared the immense forests of the region for agriculture. Our forests historically supplied timber for a robust furniture industry and continue to provide valuable wood products.  In modern times, our lakes, streams, State Forests, State Parks, nature preserves, and trails provide numerous opportunities for the public to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, birdwatching, paddling, boating, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Privately-owned fields, wetlands, streams, and forests provide many outdoor recreational opportunities for landowners and others with permission to use those lands. Our waters are the treasure of our region and the envy of much of the rest of the world. Multiple trail upgrade projects championed by the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways and its member groups are enhancing and opening mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, and paddling opportunities on trails and waterways across the County. Meanwhile, farming continues to be an important part of our local economy.   The “high level objectives” of the State 30x30 legislation are: “conserving lands prioritized through the NYS Open Space Conservation Plan; providing protections for water resources, sole source aquifers, and watersheds; preserving biodiversity through habitat conservation and restoration and means for wildlife migration, with a focus on threatened and endangered species; expanding public access to nature and the outdoors; including considerations of urban, suburban and rural natural areas, wetlands and forests; protecting food sources through farmland conservation; and increasing  climate resilience, including reducing risk from extreme weather events, cooling urban landscapes to advance the state’s Extreme Heat Action Plan and the prevention of erosion and flooding.“   The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a land trust organization that owns and manages 1,251 acres of land at 35 nature preserves. Through its Collaborative Regional Conservation Implementation Strategy (CRCIS), it has identified sites for conservation across the County that it believes best deliver many of the habitat, climate, and water resources protection objectives of the State 30x30 program. Many of the landscapes the Conservancy has prioritized for conservation are those which provide protection of the streams and wetlands most important to delivering clean waters to our lakes. Keeping as much of each lake tributary watershed in forest and wetland as possible is essential for maintaining water quality, controlling flooding, slowing erosion and sedimentation, maintaining summer lake water levels, and minimizing excessive plant and algae growth in our lakes. Research indicates that maintaining watersheds in at least 75%-85% forest helps minimize degradation of stream and lake conditions.   The Conservancy seeks to work with owners of wetlands, stream corridors, fields, and forests to conserve as many acres as possible of these ecologically and hydrologically valuable sites. The Conservancy, working with willing landowners, governments, and organizational partners will pursue funding through one of the many State programs available to implement State 30x30 goals. These may include the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts Program (which provides matching grants for land trusts to purchase conservation easements on private lands), the Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection Program (which funds governments and land trusts to buy land or easements to protect water quality), and/or Resilient Watersheds Implementation Grants (to prevent flooding during extreme weather events).   The NYSDEC will be accepting written comments by e-mail on the NYS 30x30 Draft Strategies and Methodology at 30x30@dec.ny.gov until August 30th. Learn more at  https://dec.ny.gov/nature/open-space/30x30 .   To learn more about potential options for conserving your land, click here . If you are a landowner with 50 or more acres of forest or wetlands, or have land with significant stream length or creek or lake frontage, and would like to explore options to sell, donate, or conserve your land, email the Conservancy at info@chautauquawatershed.org or call 716-664-2166 x1003. Article by John Jablonski III, Special Projects Coordinator Photo by Becky Nystrom

We recently partnered with the Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County and Roger Tory Peterson Institute for a unique art project that will help restore native wildflowers along the Chadakoin River as part of our River restoration efforts and, at the same time, help explore the role of art and artists in protecting freshwater ecosystems.   In June, the College Community Gardens and MHACC held public workshops where regional artist Sara Baker Michalak showed participants how to make river clay seed balls filled with native wildflower seeds. The seeds were courtesy of Anna Pingitore and our conservationist, Carol Markham. The turtle-shaped seed balls will be used to fill a turtle statue made from vines sustainably harvested from one of our nature preserves, and the statue will then be featured as part of RTPI’s upcoming art exhibit “Art that Matters to the Planet: Clarity.” The exhibit will run from August 2nd to October 27th and explore the role of art and artists in protecting freshwater ecosystems across the country – including lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, and freshwater wetlands – and all the life they support, including fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds and mammals.   Following the run of the exhibit, the clay turtles will be placed along a section of shoreline along the River where they will dissolve and spread native plant seed along the banks. Some of the many varieties of seeds used in the seed balls were common milkweed, butterfly weed, river oats, blue vervain, blue flag iris, purple coneflower and Joe Pye weed. These native wildflowers will then help to provide stability to the bank as well as provide food and shelter for many species of animals who call the River home.   One of those species is the spiny softshell turtle. These turtles are listed in New York State as a species of “special concern” and are one of the few turtle species that can breathe under water. This, however, makes them highly susceptible to water pollution and other human disturbances. By working to restore the water quality and shoreline habitat of the River where they reside, we are also helping to ensure the long-term survival of these amazing animals here in Chautauqua County, one of many wonderful benefits to the project!   For more details about the “Art that Matters” exhibit, visit rtpi.org/exhibitions .   Photos courtesy College Community Gardens and Sara Baker Michalak

Our Loomis Goose Creek Preserve Osprey triplets are now 5 to 6 weeks old and thriving, despite days of extreme heat and heavy downpours. During these severe temps and rains, they often can be seen huddled under (mom) Femke's wings for protection from the elements.The youngest was recognizable for a time by its fluffier gray coat and white back-stripe, but it has now caught up with its older siblings and shows a similar coat of feathers with white tips. They are mostly eating, sleeping, and practicing their wing muscles, and they are still mostly staying close together. In the coming weeks until fledging, expected in early August, it is very likely that we will be able to see them from below the nest, popping their heads up over the edge, curiously looking out at their surroundings, making it a good time to stop over to the preserve for an in person look. (The nest is visible from the parking lot.) The preserve is located at 2484 West Lake Road in Ashville, next to Ashville Bay Marina and very near Fardink Road.   Be sure to bring your binoculars or camera!

Our Loomis Goose Creek Preserve resident Osprey pair, Femke and Hauke, have once again raised a family of three chicks - for the second year in a row! The triplets fledged, one after the other, over the course of this past week. This is at least a week sooner than in the previous four years. The youngsters are nearly fully grown and are recognizable by their orange eyes and white edges along their feather tips.   For now, the babies fly short distances across the street (Route 394) to rest on telephone wires or in a nearby tree before they return to the nest. Although they can feed themselves from a fish delivered to the nest, they are not yet able to independently catch a fish from the lake. This is the task before them for the next month. They will also have to improve their flying skills so they can be prepared for the long-distance flight to South America, which will take place around mid-September.   Femke will probably head south in the next week or two, while Hauke will stay around for another month to teach his youngsters the flying and fishing skills they will need to survive the arduous journey to the Amazon region.   Unbelievably, this was the fifth year since we began observing the pair in 2020 - and the fourth observing by nest camera. Altogether, the couple have produced nine youngsters. Three have most likely returned to the area, and last year's triplets may come home next spring.   We’re looking forward to being able to watch the fledglings for at least another month!

Our Loomis Goose Creek Preserve Osprey triplets are getting close to fledging! While dad Hauke keeps bringing fresh fish to fulfill their insatiable appetites, the trio of youngsters keeps practicing flight techniques so that they can be ready for take-off in another week or two! It will be precisely timed, from the oldest to the youngest, a day or two apart. After taking to the air, they will stay around until mid-September at least, so we can enjoy their company for a while longer!

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy staff gets asked numerous questions about watersheds and water quality. Here are some of our more frequently asked questions – and answers! What is a watershed ? A watershed is an area of land where all surface water and groundwater drain to a common place like a stream, river, wetland, bay, or lake. No matter where you live, you are in a watershed. And what you do in your part of the watershed, from how you care for your yard to how you dispose of waste, affects the waterways into which it drains. Where does lake water come from ? Some of a lake’s water comes from rain and groundwater, but most lake water comes from inflowing streams. If the water in the streams is polluted with chemicals or sediment, those pollutants will eventually end up in the lake. Most of a lake’s problems are actually a result of issues upstream in the watershed. What causes lake algae and weed problems ? Excess nutrients and sediment in the water cause overgrowth of lake plants as well as algae blooms, which use the oxygen in the water that fish and aquatic organisms need to survive. This process is called eutrophication. W hat are “excess nutrients” and how do they get into our lakes ? Aquatic plants and organisms need nutrients to survive, just like those on land do, but when there are too many nutrients in the water, the system and rhythm of the lake gets out of whack. The term “excess nutrients” refers to an unnaturally high amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water – the two main nutrients causing problems in our region’s lakes. They can enter a lake through pollution of streams in the watershed, as well as direct pollution in the lake and on its shores. Rainwater, which already contains nutrients, runs over the ground, picking up chemicals, fertilizers, pet waste, leaves, and other matter along the way and then carries it all to our streams or storm drains, which can empty directly into other area waterways without filtration or treatment. These major sources of excess nutrients disrupt the natural cycles in the lake and cause lake plants and algae to grow much more than they should. Where does the sediment come from ? Sediment comes from erosion. Plants and their root systems help to hold soil in place. When plants are removed from the banks of streams or the shorelines of lakes, there is no longer anything to hold the soil in place. The force of flowing water will begin to wash away the soil, creating eroded banks and shorelines. The eroded soil is then carried through the stream into the lake, where it can cause havoc on the natural underwater processes. I don’t live near or use any of our area’s streams or lakes, so why should I care about them ? The economic health of the Chautauqua County region is very much connected to the ecological health of its streams and lakes. Much of the County’s economy depends on revenue brought in through these waterways by vacationers, fishermen, boaters, and campers who patronize our hotels, restaurants, stores, and other establishments. In fact, many local businesses depend on tourism from the lake to keep them afloat. Whether you live, work, or play in this area, the health of our waterways directly affects you. What does Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy do ? Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a nationally accredited 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of lands and waters of the Chautauqua region for our community. We do so through land conservation, restoration projects, educational programming, and community engagement. We foster and advocate for the care and protection of our natural areas to provide cleaner and healthier waters, safe fish and wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, climate resiliency, and economic prosperity in the Chautauqua region. We also own and manage 35 nature preserves located throughout the County which help to protect a number of diverse ecosystems and provide year-round, nature-based recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, bird and wildlife watching, and nature study and photography. photo taken at our Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park by Jill Eklund, Conservancy Director of Communications

When we think of the color blue, what comes to mind? A cloudless sky? Our wondrous open spaces? Crystal-clear water? The color blue has not been the color we have seen in our lakes in recent years. Excessive algae and plant growth have turned our lakes from blue to green, and dealing with this issue has become a consistent yearly struggle. And what is causing this green water? One of the main issues is excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) flowing from our land and our properties into our waterways and into our lakes. When we hear of ways to control this “green,” it is typically in the form of cutting or spraying, methods that unfortunately are not controlling the causes of the color change. These control methods are only “band-aids” – temporary fixes for something that is broken – so the causes of the excessive algae and green plant growth are not being addressed. Why would we want to continually spend money and time doing something that doesn’t work towards fixing the problem? Let’s put the power in our own hands. We can make a real difference in controlling our water color and the outbreak of harmful algal blooms and excessive plant growth right in our own yards and communities where we live. All of our yards drain and contribute to the health of our watershed – no matter how big they are or where they are located. Here are a few simple ways homeowners can help decrease the amount of nutrients flowing from or through their yards into our lakes and help us keep our blue view: Plant native buffers. Native plants along a lakefront or streamside have strong root systems that not only soak up excess nutrients but also help hold soil in place on the water’s edge to prevent erosion. And if you can take or leave gardening, stop mowing down to the water’s edge and just let nature do her thing. If you don’t live on a waterway, plant natives to better filter and soak up water and extra nutrients that are draining from your property. (They will also help feed our local birds and pollinators!) Scoop the poop. Pet waste contains a host of diseases and/or parasites, as well as being high in nitrogen and phosphorus. By scooping it and disposing of it in the trash, you can prevent diseases and extra nutrients from making their way into your homes and our waters. Fertilize in the fall (if at all). If you choose to fertilize, waiting until the fall to apply it is ideal because it is better for your lawn. Feeding your lawn in the fall with zero percent phosphorus fertilizer promotes strong grass root growth heading into winter, and you are less likely to contribute to lake algae and plant growth with the lower fall temperatures. Maintain your septic system. Septic tanks need to be properly maintained, cleaned, and emptied every 3 to 5 years. If not, our poop is draining straight into our nearby waterways. To better understand our connection to our watershed and how we can help protect our waterways, we have created and are excited to share our new video called “Our Lakeshore Connection.” Watch it on our website here or on our YouTube channel here . We have the knowledge, power, and responsibility to keep our water blue! Let’s work together to throw away the green “band-aids,” make some simple yard changes, and actually make a difference in the health of our lakes and waterways. Article by Conservationist Carol Markham

Growing up in Chautauqua County, I always believed that I would one day leave and relocate to a larger city with more to offer. My hometown of Fredonia, New York, while charming in a small-town way, was never a part of the future I imagined myself to have. However, once I left to pursue my education, I realized that Chautauqua County has more to offer than I ever knew.    After graduating from Fredonia High School, I decided to pursue my bachelor’s degree at the University at Buffalo, majoring in environmental studies. My new life provided me with independence and discovery as I became committed to studying the environment and advocating for conservation. When it was time to apply to graduate programs, I knew that I wanted to further my environmental studies and am extremely fortunate to be attending Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment for my Master of Environmental Management degree. Although moving 10 hours away has been exciting, it has also been frightening. Coming home is a lot more difficult and I find myself missing this area. Something about Chautauqua County makes me want to come home.    A few months ago, my professors brought up the topic of summer internships. Although not a requirement, it is encouraged that students pursue summer internships to gain hands-on experience in the environmental field. At the time, I thought I would apply to various internships across the United States and hopefully obtain one in a larger city for a new adventure. However, when filling out applications, I realized that I did not want to relocate to another city – I wanted to move home and gain hands-on experience in my hometown. In searching for an internship in Chautauqua County, I discovered the Chautauqua Advancement Project, created by Chautauqua Works, to recruit young professionals looking for employment in the Jamestown region. I was fortunate enough to be placed with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, a local nonprofit with the mission to preserve and enhance the Chautauqua region’s lands and waters. Through this internship, I have been involved in a multitude of experiences. From kayaking the Cassadaga Creek and Conewango Creek to identify hazardous areas that are unsafe for water recreation to assisting with aquatic invasive species surveys, I have been able to explore many aspects of the Conservancy’s incredible work.    This internship has not only provided me with invaluable hands-on experience but has also opened my eyes to the amazing things happening in Chautauqua County. I have learned that Chautauqua County is home to the Marden E. Cobb Waterway Trail, two flat-water trails that both span over 25 miles and will provide opportunities for water recreation after the Conservancy has concluded clearing the hazardous sites. I’ve also learned just how prevalent and lucky we are to have freshwater sources throughout the County. From Cassadaga Creek and Conewango Creek to Chautauqua Lake and even Lake Erie, our County is fortunate to have these waterways, and every day we take them for granted. Chautauqua County also contains what I like to call “hidden diversity.” When kayaking the Cassadaga and Conewango Creeks, I was mesmerized by the plant and animal species that were thriving in these waters. From bald eagles to wood turtles to native plants, the biodiversity in this area is incredible and often overlooked.    With my key takeaways in mind, I encourage young professionals in this area to research the companies and organizations and the valuable work they do in this County. I also encourage young professionals to apply to the vast and rewarding internships and jobs in this area before writing the area off as a small town with nothing to offer. Article by Caroline Cameron, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Intern

Our first two aquatic invasive species (AIS) surveys for 2024 are in the books! For our first paddle (launching from McCrea Point Park), our survey crew didn’t find anything but curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil, which was expected as they are everywhere and have been for quite some time. We re-checked the area near the Lawson Boat & Motor marina where one single water chestnut was found last year, and we came out empty-handed! For our second paddle (launching from Celoron Park), we checked a few known areas that last year had thousands of invasive plants and that took three separate trips back to remove. This year, these areas still had some invasives, but we only found and removed about 250 plants. And we were able to get them all in one shot – a sure sign of progress that our hand-pulling removal efforts are working! Get more info here .

One way of categorizing plants is based on their origin: native plants are those that have lived in an area since before humans altered the landscape. Conversely, non-native plant species are those that arrived more recently – often with our help. Well-known plants in the latter group include many agricultural crops, the ornamental plants that we use to decorate our gardens, as well as many European species that have long ago become an integral part of our landscape (think Dandelions). A subset of these newcomers has the potential to spread out of control and cause negative impacts on our environment and/or economy. Usually because they left the predators, grazers, or diseases that provide biological control behind. Such species are generally referred to as harmful invasive species. Common examples in our area include Japanese Knotweed, Eurasian Honeysuckle, or Garlic Mustard – all spread rapidly into roadsides and other disturbed areas and outcompete native plants. Even though the spread of any harmful invasive carries an ecological and financial cost, some can literally change our landscape. One of such species, the “Tree-of-heaven,” is establishing a foothold along the Chadakoin River in Jamestown and needs our immediate attention. Why does one type of plant pose such a great risk to our area? The answer is two-fold: the tree itself is damaging to our environment, but it also attracts a second harmful invasive species: the Spotted Lanternfly. This bug has the potential to deal a devastating blow to our grape, agricultural and forestry industries if it reaches our area. Tree-of-heaven ( Ailanthus altissima ), commonly referred to as “ailanthus,” is a very fast-growing tree native to China. Its common name is likely derived from its speedy growth habit, as it can reach “heaven” quickly. Tree-of-heaven thrives in very poor soils, in exposed locations, and under tough growing conditions, which allowed it to become widespread in many urban areas. It exudes chemicals from its leaves, roots, and bark that limit or prevent the establishment of nearby other plants, so it can maintain its dominance once established. Also, these trees are hard to kill. Cutting one down will cause dozens of sucker sprouts to emerge from the stump and its root system. If done incorrectly, attempts to remove these trees can have the opposite effect! Tree-of-heaven is also the preferred host plant for the Spotted Lanternfly ( Lycorma delicatula ), originally from China and first detected in the US in 2014. This bug is now firmly established in eastern Pennsylvania and spreading. Lanternflies feed on a variety of fruit, ornamental, and woody trees and are particularly fond of grapes and apples. While feeding, they excrete a sugary substance that covers everything beneath them. Park benches, playground equipment, picnic tables, etc. quickly become covered by this sticky honeydew, which then grows black mold. On a larger scale, a 2020 study by economists in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences projects that, if not contained, the economic impact of Spotted Lanternfly infestations on Pennsylvania’s economy could potentially range from $324-554 million annually and lead to the loss of 2,800-5,500 jobs. Imagine what will happen if this bug reaches Chautauqua County! There are several significant stands of Tree-of-heaven growing along the banks of the Chadakoin River. A rigid eradication regime will need to start with targeted chemical treatment of each individual tree and requires ongoing monitoring and retreatment over the next 2-3 years, until all trees and their root systems are dead and can be removed. CWC has taken on a leadership role in restoring and activating the Chadakoin River. The first phase of a multi-year project was recently completed, supported by ARPA funds awarded by Jamestown’s City Council. The next phases focus on invasive species removal, revegetation of riverbanks with native plants, and development of a strategic plan for the river. CWC staff has mapped Tree-of-heaven stands in the project area and developed an invasive species management plan to address the existing threat of Tree-of-heaven and mitigate the potential threat of a Spotted Lanternfly invasion. Pro-actively investing in eradication of these harmful trees may spare us from a potentially devastating environmental and economic disaster down the road. Since Tree-of-heaven is a veritable Spotted Lanternfly magnet, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) started monitoring a stand in 2021 to assess whether the bugs reached Jamestown yet. Trees were injected with a chemical that kills Lanternflies feeding on tree sap and a collecting tray was placed around the trunk. Fortunately, no Spotted Lanternflies have been detected yet, but we have to take action now! To learn more about Tree-of-heaven, visit https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven . Article and photo by Twan Leenders

There’s over 4 million miles of road in the United States. We are tied to our vehicles like they are a part of our family. We even name our vehicles. Roads and vehicles are logistically essential for our technologically advanced fast-paced lives. When I was growing up, getting your license was the epitome of freedom —the “two lanes [that] take us anywhere,” as Bruce Springsteen says. To Americans, roads signify connection, ease, convenience, and escape. To other life-forms, though, they can spell death and division. Roadkill has surpassed hunting as “the leading direct human cause of vertebrate mortality on land.” More birds die on American roads every week than were killed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (which was about 800,000 birds). It has never been more dangerous to set paw, hoof, or scaly belly on a highway. A study in the journal Current Biology concluded that more than one million deer were killed on U.S. roads in 2022. This all has to do with road ecology, which is a field of study that examines the ecological effects of how roads and traffic affect the movement, behavior, and survival of animals and plants, as well as the quality of water, soil, and air. The term was coined by Richard Forman who was standing in his Harvard University office with a few students in 1993, admiring a satellite photograph of a forest. Forman was discussing the forest’s features – where the water flowed, why people had put houses where they had, how the animals moved through it – when he paused. “I noticed the long slice going diagonally across the image,” he says. “It was a two-lane road through the forest. I said, gee, we know a lot about the ecology of everything else in this image, but we don’t know much about the ecology of that.” Inspired by inattention, Forman soon coined the term “road ecology.” (smithsonianmag.com) Roads and highways can have dramatic effects on wildlife movement and landscape connectivity. Some species may have complete aversion to roads, which would limit their movement through landscapes with roads. Other species may try to cross roads even with traffic present resulting in wildlife mortality and risks to drivers. Just last week driving down Jones and Gifford Avenue, my daughter and I saw a duck and about 8 ducklings on the side of the road trying to cross. We stopped to try and help, but the steady flow of traffic ended up making it unsafe for my 4-year-old. Last summer, we helped a softshell turtle cross over I86 – right at Bemus Creek. Growing up in Alaska, my older brother hit a moose in our big ‘74 Chevy pickup and had to go to the hospital due to the moose shattering the windshield, denting in the driver’s side door, smashing the grill, and overall totaling our truck. I bet everyone has a personal story about wildlife that you or someone you know has either hit or just missed hitting. How many dead deer, racoons, opossum, or squirrels have you seen around Chautauqua County roadways? We are making small steps towards progress though. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has partnered with Western New York Land Conservancy (WNYLC) and their Wildlife Occupancy Study for the WNY Wildway. Together, we have installed a wildlife trail camera at one of our nature preserves that borders a highway. WNYLC will retrieve the camera in October to fully assess the wildlife use in and around the highway. “Roads are so ubiquitous on the landscape, they really are everywhere, and they have real impacts on our wildlife, our ecosystems, and ourselves. These are systems and structures that we have built, and as we learn more about the problems they cause, we have an obligation to do what we can to correct the problems we’ve created. We can support our natural systems and keep people and wildlife safe successfully,” said Leslie Bliss-Ketchum the director of Samara Group, who we were luckily enough to have an insightful conversation with. Hopefully, in the future, we can start focusing more on how we can make our heavily loved roads in Chautauqua County less of a killing zone and more of a joint tool that can be used by wildlife and vehicles alike. For more info on the WNY Wildway project, visit: https://www.wnylc.org/wnywildway Article by Bethany O'Hagan, Land Specialist

Look how much our Loomis Goose Creek Osprey triplets have grown just in the last week! They developed from downy chicks to birds that have an almost primordial appearance, with a white stripe across their backs and large eyes and beaks. They are moving around the nest with ease, already practicing their flight muscles. They are incessantly eating, and (dad) Hauke keeps bringing them fresh fish a few times a day. It's been extremely hot for the past few days, and the temperature on the nest can reach > 100 F. Sometimes (mom) Femke spreads her wings a little to provide some shade for her youngsters. One morning, we noticed (on the camera) that they were left alone for a short while, but never for more than a few minutes. They still need a lot of parental protection, not just from the heat but also from predators, although this has not been an issue so far. This year, the camera has stayed in position, giving us an excellent view of the nest. We’ve collected hundreds of wonderful short videos and stills and making choices about which to share/post is difficult. As we’ve mentioned before, the nest is located in a place where there is no access to electricity or Wi-Fi, and streaming video is therefore very difficult and also very expensive. For now, we will continue with the nest camera that is still performing well for us for the fourth year!

The countywide, interactive Chautauqua County Trails & Recreation Map has been released! Find the online version at www.chqtrails.org. Earlier this week, we were thrilled to help unveil the map at the Friends of Chautauqua County Greenways’ June 12th meeting at SUNY Fredonia College Lodge. The map is the culmination of a yearlong process that involved input from all trail user groups in the county – including us! The map lets users find accessible trails in all areas of the county for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, kayaking and rowing, horseback riding, and more! The map is a huge step forward for residents and visitors to learn about trail location, tread surface, parking, trail length, and permitted use. It’s a "one-stop-shop" for all your trail information in the county, and both residents and visitors are assured to get the maximum use out of our county’s amazing outdoor trail network thanks to this project! A mobile app version of the map is also in the works and scheduled for release later this month or early July. Get more info on the project at: https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/trailmapping For more info on the map and trails throughout the county, join the FCCG on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1166550607137711

This summer, we’re once again conducting aquatic invasive species (AIS) surveys and monitoring in and around Chautauqua Lake! We’ll kick things off with the informational presentation “What Are These Weeds? An Introduction to Chautauqua Lake Invasive Species” on Monday, June 17th at 4pm. Attendees will learn what invasive species are, how and why they pose a threat to our local ecosystem and economy, and which invasives have been identified in Chautauqua Lake to date. You’ll also hear about our ongoing efforts within the community to prevent the arrival of new invasive species and manage the ones that are already present. Those interested in the presentation can attend either in person at our office at 71 East Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood or online via Zoom. To attend in person, RSVP to info@chautauquawatershed.org or 716-664-2166. Due to limited seating, in-person attendance is limited to 15 individuals. To attend via Zoom, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81308749122?pwd=v966QPXa6TmfPW1xfjnrRqoaVpoPCb.1 We’ll also be taking to the water several days each month from June to September at various locations around Chautauqua Lake to re-survey areas where aquatic invasives have been previously reported and survey potential new sites for them as well. If any invasives are found, we’ll report them through the online reporting portal iMapInvasives and then carefully remove and dispose of them. We have two on-water surveys scheduled in the month of June: Wednesday, June 19th, 10am – survey of McCrea Point/Celoron – meet at McCrea Point Park kayak launch Monday, June 24th, 2pm – survey of Celoron/ McCrea Point – meet at Celoron Park Other survey dates are listed below. All surveys are weather permitting, so be sure to check our website for current dates and times and for any cancellations. We welcome and appreciate help with these surveys. If you are available to volunteer, please RSVP to ais@chautauquawatershed.org with your name, contact info, and date/s of the survey/s you’d like to participate in. Though participation is free, registration helps us know how many people we can expect to have on hand and better “map out” our surveys. (Please note that participants will need to bring her/her own kayak or canoe and life jacket.) Get more info on our AIS program at https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/aquatic With thanks to the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance for their funding assistance for this year’s AIS program!

Congratulations are in order for Hauke and Femke, our resident Osprey pair at the Loomis Goose Creek Preserve! They are now the proud parents to three chicks! This is the same number of chicks they raised last year. The protective parents will now be busy feeding their ravenously hungry little mouths continuously and stepping around them carefully with their talons, looking to protect them in the deepest spot of their nest. The chicks are still so tiny and fragile, but we know Hauke and Femke will do as great a job raising them as they have their other offspring in the past four years. We look forward to watching them grow over the summer and fledge sometime in early to mid-August! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get updates and see more videos!

(This small remnant wetland pictured above stands between the Wegmans-Target parking lot and Chautauqua Lake, trapping mud, nutrients, and pollution as they run down the hill. Wetlands like this one provide valuable protective barriers that help keep our Lake a lake. Photo courtesy John Jablonski III) We all want to keep Chautauqua Lake a lake! No one wants the area by their dock to fill in and get shallower, whether from dead plant matter blown in by winds or mud carried in from a nearby road ditch. With so much discussion around New York State’s pending wetland regulations, seeing signs pop up with this sentiment, and so much misinformation out there about the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s position on those regulations, we started thinking – what is the best way to keep our Lake a lake? If that’s the goal, which we think we can all agree it is, then somehow attempting to oppose a State-wide regulation meant to strengthen wetland protections doesn’t seem the best fit. Chautauqua Lake formed during the last ice age about 16,000 years ago. Even without human disturbance, lakes age very slowly as they fill with sediments and nutrients from the surrounding watershed, losing their depth over thousands of years, becoming more biologically productive, and eventually turning into wetlands. Lakes fill with sediments most quickly at stream mouths, where coarse sediments form deltas, and in bays that accumulate wind-driven debris. Then when you add in our own activities, this process of aging is greatly accelerated. As culverts and road ditches carry loads of sediment into the lake, soil and plant particles erode downhill from yards and grounds, forests are cleared, roads are constructed, and wetlands are drained and filled, our lake is continually being loaded with excess sediments and nutrients – taking it from deep and infertile to shallow and highly nutrient enriched. Construction sites and cropland without soil conservation best management practices erode quickly during storm events. Phosphorus-rich fine clay and silt particles carried in by water coat the bottom, while sand and gravel form deltas growing ever farther out into the lake. Topsoil eroded in the watershed, once deposited on the lake bottom, provides a fertile rooting bed for aquatic plants. If the lake bottom is shallow enough to receive sunlight and the bottom provides sediment with nutrients and opportunities for anchoring, either plants or algae will grow there. So, if we don’t want our Lake to get shallower and shallower, promoting the growth of submerged, floating, and emergent plant communities that meet the State’s definition of a wetland, what can we do? Rather than attempting to fight a State-wide regulation that we are unlikely to have much of an impact on, while simultaneously having the negative impact of hurting our chances of receiving much needed State funding, we should focus on coming together to do what we can in our own community to keep the Lake a lake. Despite how unpopular regulations are, one path is through citizens and government leaders advocating for and adopting local laws to better protect the Lake and its tributaries from excessive stormwater runoff, flooding, erosion, and nutrient runoff pollution. These include reasonable limits to lot coverage with impervious surfaces and requiring the capture and infiltration of stormwater to reduce stormwater discharges to downstream waters. Laws to protect stream corridors from disturbance, and to protect floodplains and, yes, wetlands that capture, filter, and absorb sediments and pollutants are important if we want to slow the rate of sedimentation and the loss of depth along the shorelines of the Lake. Another important path is for each of us to do our part as good lake and watershed stewards of our properties. We can re-grow buffers of native plants between our lawns and the lake or nearest watercourse. We can choose not to overuse fertilizers and pesticides in our yards, as fertilizer runoff promotes aquatic plant and algae growth, which upon dying contribute to the accumulation of sediment and the loss of lake depth and lake area. We can re-wild parts of our yards with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. We can reduce the size of impervious surfaces in our yards by choosing porous pavements instead of concrete or blacktop, decks over patios, and only paving year-round parking areas. We can install rain gardens to capture stormwater from our rooftops and driveways. Lastly, we can personally invest in and advocate for government and foundation support for strategically conserving and enhancing the most important areas of the Lake’s watershed forests, streams, and wetlands to capture runoff and feed groundwaters to reduce storm-driven soil erosion and fortifying groundwater recharge to feed base flow in tributaries to maintain summer lake water levels. Keeping Chautauqua Lake a lake requires a collective commitment to sustainable practices and informed advocacy. Each of us can contribute by supporting reasonable local laws to prevent stormwater runoff, adopting eco-friendly landscaping practices, and investing in and advocating for the conservation of key watershed areas that will help keep the lake’s depth and ecological balance. Together, through mindful stewardship and community effort, we can ensure that Chautauqua Lake stays a vibrant and healthy body of water for generations to come. Article by Executive Director Whitney Gleason and Special Projects Coordinator John Jablonski III

Our resident Osprey pair at the Loomis Goose Creek Preserve in Ashville has returned! On April 1st, we had our first sighting of Hauke (the male) on the nesting platform, and three days later on April 4th, Femke (the female) arrived home. The pair has been inseparable since reuniting– playing house and barely leaving the nest other than for short periods, happy that their long separation has come to an end! We can expect to see one or more eggs in a couple of weeks. This will be their fifth season on the nest, and each return is just as miraculous as their homecoming in previous springs. It is like clockwork, and always begs the question of why they have chosen the Loomis Creek nest, along a busy road, out of the billion other places that they could have landed in warmer climates with equally good sources of food. And how do they not lose their way on their long, separate journeys from down south and find each other here in Chautauqua County? No doubt they love Chautauqua Lake! If only they knew the joy and sense of wonder their presence brings to us. Thank you, Femke and Hauke! And welcome home! (photos from our Osprey cam - follow our Facebook and Instagram pages to see more photos and videos and follow Hauke and Femke's story for 2024!)

Creating a wildlife habitat garden that attracts birds, butterflies, and other neighborhood wildlife, and also helps water quality, is fun, rewarding, and will have a big impact in your yard, neighborhood, and community! In May 2022, the Conservancy set out to certify Chautauqua County as a Community Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Community certification through NWF is based on a points system, which includes a number of educational and outreach activities provided by the Conservancy and its partners as well as a certain number of individually certified gardens within the community. But we need the community’s help. And it’s easier than you might think! To receive a NWF certification, a single property, yard, or garden needs to provide food, water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise young, as well as be tended to with sustainable landscaping practices. Through participation in the project, residents learn about those sustainable gardening practices and how these habitats promote healthy, purposeful living for all who visit it! We currently need 200 homeowners, businesses, schools, churches, and/or libraries to certify their yards, properties, and/or gardens to make this happen! We know this is an ambitious goal, but most of us have beautiful gardens and landscapes in our yards already. And if you need it, the Conservancy can help you enhance them to be wildlife-friendly with our LakeScapes program. The Conservancy’s LakeScapes program is a one-on-one educational program that provides a FREE personal yard consultation to any homeowner, business owner, organization, school, or municipality within Chautauqua County. Through the program, we give guidance on how to create native habitats that provide food and places for our local bees, birds, and other wildlife to live. Our recommendations not only beautify your yard but also protect water quality and enhance your way of life and the wildlife that live and thrive within it! For more information on certifying your yard with NWF, please visit https://www.nwf.org/certify. For only $20, you can certify your garden and help us reach the goal of certifying Chautauqua County as a Community Wildlife Habitat . . . one yard at a time! To schedule your free LakeScapes yard visit, please call 716-664-2166 ext. 1005 or email info@chautauquawatershed.org. Healthy habitats and healthy communities go hand-in hand. Can we depend on you to become the next Chautauqua County property to help wildlife, water, and our way of life? Certify your yard today! Article and bottom photo by Conservationist Carol Markham Top photo by Executive Director Whitney Gleason

Exciting news! One of the new Osprey nesting platforms that we installed just over a week ago has already been discovered by a young (most likely male) Osprey! We can’t help but wonder if it could be one of the offspring of the Osprey pair from the nest at our Loomis Goose Creek Preserve. Either way, we are thrilled to see this youngster on the platform at the Chautauqua Golf Club and have our fingers crossed that it can find a mate and settle in soon. photos by Jeanne Wiebenga, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Vice Chair

Spring has seriously sprung these days, and the abundance of life around us is absolutely exhilarating. Within a few short weeks, trees leaf out, wildflowers liven up the forest floor, and returning migratory birds adorn the backyard with color and song during the day, while the nights are filled with joyful sound of frog choruses in nearby wetlands. We are fortunate to live in an area that allows us to enjoy these miraculous sights and sounds, and I feel privileged to work for an organization whose mission it is preserve and protect areas with high ecological, hydrological, and scenic value – the same areas that allow for native wildflowers to thrive, birds to nest, and frogs and other sensitive species to thrive. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy strives to identify and protect the most important natural areas in our region, which will help us maintain our region’s amazing biodiversity. However, if we truly want to move the dial on making the region more beautiful, sustainable, and resilient for future generations, we will also need to focus on making some improvements in areas where previous land uses may have compromised the land. My favorite aspect of such restorative work is that it can be done just about anywhere and at any scale, making it possible for most people to lend a hand – or do some of it on their own as well. The basic concept is that we try and encourage native species of plants and animals to return to areas where they have been forced out by incompatible land uses. Little pockets of functional habitat dotted across the landscape make great “stepping stones” to connect existing parks and other natural areas where good habitat still exists. These stepping stones allow for the movement of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife across the landscape, hopscotching from one suitable habitat patch to the next. Restoring native habitats and restoring landscape connectivity are key elements of a successful regional conservation action plan. Those stepping stones can take on all kinds of shapes and sizes - a city park with a native pollinator garden can be a place where butterflies and native bees can feed, reproduce, and spread into the surrounding area; a carefully placed series of artificial nest boxes can help boost bluebird, swallow, or bat populations; and removing invasive plants from a roadside can allow native seeds lying dormant in the soil to germinate and reclaim lost territory. Last week, we were able to do all those things! A dedicated group of volunteers from National Fuel helped install native flowers on the banks of the Chadakoin River, beautifying Jamestown’s Chadakoin RiverWalk while also creating habitat for native pollinators. We also wrapped large bank trees with wire fencing to protect them from damage by the beavers that inhabit the river. These trees provide important shade to the urban environment and our community during hot summer days, and they help keep the water temperature in the river down to benefit fish and other aquatic creatures. We also met with colleagues from the Western New York chapter of PRISM, the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, to start planning a multi-year effort to rid our Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park of a variety of non-native invasive plant species that are negatively impacting the quality of our preserve’s forest habitat. Already one of the most bird-diverse places in the county, this preserve can only get better once we can restore some of its original vegetation and eliminate the non-native vegetation that provides little to no benefits. We ended the week with a collaborative effort to install three new osprey nesting platforms around Chautauqua Lake. Our area’s osprey population is booming, and the lack of suitable nesting locations seems to be a bottleneck. By installing more platforms in the right locations, we hope to help mitigate the “osprey housing crisis” just a little bit. Judging by the success of platforms we previously installed, we’re making a difference for these birds. The osprey pairs that nest on our Ball Creek Preserve and Loomis Goose Creek Preserve have been raising triplets in the last few years – which is not common for these large birds that normally only raise one or two chicks each year. Based on recent images from our osprey camera that is installed at the latter nest, we have three eggs this year again! We’re so grateful that we can contribute just a little bit to the magic of spring and to the long-term environmental health of our beautiful region, and I wanted to thank everyone who made last week’s efforts possible. Article and photo by Director of Conservation Twan Leenders