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Of course, there are far more than two species of tree in Jamestown, but I want to highlight two types of trees: beneficial native ones and invasive Tree-of-Heaven. Specifically, I want to illustrate how these tree types are connected in a somewhat surprising way – and how their fate impacts our lives and those of our kids. When Jamestown’s trees turned green this spring, nearly all of the 3,500+ Tree-of Heaven in the Chadakoin River corridor that were injected with herbicide last fall did not. As of this week, a few young saplings that emerged from seed dropped in years past can be seen in the project area, but across the board, almost all the harmful Tree-of-Heaven along the river is now dead and waiting to be removed. Hopefully this will help delay the arrival of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive agricultural pest that is drawn to these particular trees and whose arrival may have a disastrous impact on our grape industry and agriculture. Once the dead Tree-of-Heaven has been removed, we can start the next phase of restoring the river: re-vegetating its banks with native tree species. It turns out that getting rid of the Tree-of-Heaven is important for a very different – and somewhat surprising – reason. It has to do with beavers! A beaver’s chisel-like front teeth continue growing throughout their life. The wear and tear caused by chewing on wood each day is what keeps them from growing too long and helps them maintain a sharp cutting edge on their chompers. Beaver populations in western NY have skyrocketed in recent years, and several take up residence in the Chadakoin River at any given time. Like most other fast-growing trees, Tree-of-Heaven has very soft wood that does not provide much resistance to a gnawing beaver. These trees are therefore ignored and, instead, the Chadakoin River beavers choose to munch on any of the harder trunks they find along the banks – to eat the tree bark and trim back their ever-growing incisors. Unfortunately, the trees that are impacted most by this are the few remaining desirable, older trees that still persist along the river. If a beaver removes too much bark, it can cause infections and disease, sometimes causing the tree to die. Given that some of these trees are several decades old and enormous, losing even one can have a profound effect on the river and our city. As heat records are shattered all over the world these days, it is not difficult to see how losing large, shade-providing trees will increase the temperature of the river water and of our urban environment. All over the world, heat-traumatized cities are looking to add more trees to the urban landscape to improve living conditions for everyone – including for those who cannot afford air conditioning. Planting new trees is an important next step in improving the environmental resiliency of Jamestown and the Chadakoin River. However, we will not be able to plant 60- or 70-year-old trees. New trees will only be a few years old at best. This means that any tree planted now will take a generation to reach a similar size to those that we are at risk of losing today. This is an excellent example of why we need to step up our environmental restoration efforts worldwide. If we want to leave our kids a livable environment, we need to take bold action now! Fortunately, our next generation is eager to help with this critically important work, and this past week, more than a dozen Jamestown High School students worked with Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy staff to remove hundreds of small Tree-of-Heaven from the banks of the Chadakoin River to prepare the area for new trees. They also helped wrap the bases of large tree trunks with a layer of metal screen to deter eager beavers from damaging them. Finding ways to empower young local people to get involved in these types of projects is an important part of the success of the Chadakoin River restoration project. Stay tuned for future updates on our work, and please consider getting involved. Our next generation will thank you for it! Article and photo by Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation for Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

July is here. In Chautauqua Lake, aquatic plants are growing abundantly, and algae is beginning to bloom. This lake is fed water and soils from a basin made of glacial soils with plenty of phosphorus, a primary nutrient fertilizing plants and algae which make this lake naturally productive with abundant fisheries. Lakes need a moderate number of aquatic plants and algae to support productive fisheries. As lakes age, they fill with sediments and nutrients delivered by tributaries, overland flow, and atmospheric deposition. However, human activity has accelerated this process, with much more phosphorus coming into the lake as part of the load of sediments, fertilizers, and human and animal waste than phosphorus leaving through lake’s outlet. The more that gets deposited, the more that’s available in future summers to feed the lake through “internal loading” from lake sediments. A 2012 report on Chautauqua Lake estimated that 75% of its phosphorus load came from external sources to the northern basin and 45% from external sources in the south basin. Clearing watershed forests, and engaging in farming, transportation, and housing and commercial development fills lakes with excess nutrients and sediments. How much clearing and development can happen in a watershed before the receiving water experiences significant negative water quality and biological impacts? Research indicates that waterways can tolerate the loss of up to 15-30% of their forest cover before measurably declining in quality. That translates to maintaining our contributing watersheds at a minimum of 70-85% forest and wetlands or suffer the consequences of the increased stormwater runoff, erosion, and loading of nutrients and sediments that come with suburbanization of lands. Chautauqua Lake’s watershed has a total forest and wetland cover of approximately 65%, below the optimal range. As more forest cover is lost, increasing amounts of stormwater, nutrients and sediments will impact lake tributaries and contribute to lake sedimentation and high phosphorus levels, promoting even more aquatic plant and algae growth. Why does the conversion of forest to other land cover have such a detrimental impact on our streams and lakes? Forests are complex ecosystems working to capture and assimilate water and nutrients falling from the sky. When rain falls on a forest, the rain’s nutrients are largely absorbed by vegetation. If rain falls on a parking lot or rooftop, it often flows to the nearest ditch or storm drain to be conveyed directly to the lake, carrying its nutrients with it. If you compare a naturally forested lot to an identical residentially developed lot, you’ll find approximately five times the amount of stormwater runoff volume, seven times the phosphorus, and eighteen times the sediment on the developed lot! Every additional forest lot that is cleared in the watershed will incrementally and collectively add to the degradation of the lake. Converting only 5% of forested land to other uses could lead to a 40-50% increase in external phosphorus loading to the lake! To slow the “aging” of our lake as much as possible, our county and its communities should establish a goal of no loss of wetlands and no net loss of forest lands in each lake watershed community to slow the degradation of Chautauqua Lake. This means: 1) permanently conserving as much remaining forests as possible, and 2) for every acre of forest developed, an acre of forest would have to be converted from lawn, commercial grounds, parking lot, or former farm field back to a natural forest environment. Enacting and enforcing stormwater laws must be done in addition to conservation. Such laws need to require that all new development and redevelopment or reconstruction of existing commercial and residential properties and parking lots reduce impervious surfaces and install stormwater capture and treatment systems, such as native landscaping, permeable paving, rain gardens, bioswales, and constructed wetlands, etc. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has prioritized landscapes across the region to target for conservation for water quality and habitat protection, including headwater forests, stream corridors, and wetlands. We’re working to communicate with the owners of the largest of these sites to explore conservation options and are seeking conservation investors and grants to help permanently protect these sites. Contact us at info@chautauquawatershed.org if you’d like to help with these initiatives! Article by John Jablonski III, Special Projects Coordinator Image courtesy Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

Exciting news! Construction for the Grandview Stormwater Management Project is slated to get underway later this summer! This project will transform a vacant parcel of land on Mapleview Avenue in Lakewood into a series of engineered wetland complexes and swales (vegetated ditches) with the main goals of improving water quality in Chautauqua Lake and reducing downstream flooding problems in the Village of Lakewood along Fairmount Avenue near the Save-A-Lot Plaza (as seen in the photo above) with approximately 100,000 cubic feet of stormwater storage. The project will also create new wetland and wildlife habitat and a nature park for Village of Lakewood residents to enjoy. Our Special Projects Coordinator, John Jablonski III, developed the concept for this stormwater capture/pollution control project back in 2019 when he was our executive director. Taylor West – who is currently the project manager for the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (CLWMA) – was working for us at the time and also helped with the plan’s development. With grant funding from the CLWMA, we then hired Andy Johnson of EcoStrategies to complete preliminary engineering drawings for this constructed wetland complex. We are thankful to the Village of Lakewood, Town of Busti and CLWMA for their roles in bringing this project to fruition, including substantial grants writing, real estate transfer work, and project management. Thanks, too, go out to Ron Davidson for his role in making the land available for this project! Our staff and partners will continue to: 1) identify and engage owners of other lake area subdivisions and developments where stormwater capture retrofit projects like this might be implemented to capture stormwater and nutrients fueling excessive algae and aquatic plant growth in our lakes, 2) work to get effective non-structural and structural stormwater treatment infrastructure built into new residential and commercial developments as part of the site plan and subdivision approval processes, and 3) work with homeowners and businesses to retrofit lawns and grounds with similar bioswales and rain gardens to capture and treat stormwater eroding our streams and degrading our lakes. If you’d like to explore working with us to retrofit your yard, business property or neighborhood to reduce pollution harming our lakes, reach out to us at info@chautauquawatershed.org!

Per an insistent recommendation from a wonderful friend, I have finally started reading the book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – a story about indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. Her teachings and writings are powerful and purposeful. I have only read half the book, but the impact on me has already been great. As many of you know, I am the Conservationist at the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and am lucky enough to travel all over Chautauqua County educating people about watershed-friendly landscapes and the benefits and necessity of incorporating native plants into their yards and gardens. I explain to people about native plant roots and water quality and how our local birds, bees, butterflies, and insects need native plants to survive. As I read the book, though, I realize that I have forgotten something…a path, a connection that is so important in how we see our gardens and our time outside experiencing nature. I talk about beauty and space and enjoying our time outside but have forgotten the one aspect of our lives we need the most…and that is gratitude. Gratitude…defined as “focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we so often take for granted.” The joy of experiencing your backyard has a lot to do with appreciating what you have planted. We often neglect our time of reflection and gratitude for what the earth and our gardens have offered us in return. Whether it is a landscape full of blooming beauties and native knockouts or a garden bursting with plump, ripe tomatoes and bright green peppers, we should stop and take a moment to reflect, observe, and thank our gardens for what they have graciously given us. We tend to our gardens…give them fertile soil, cool water, and our precious time. We say we love nature, but do we ever stop and think that maybe nature can actually love us back? If we tend and take care of nature, respect and show gratitude for all that she gives us…not only in our own yards, but in everything we do…she will reward us with all we need to live, and we can continue to enjoy all the bountiful flowers and fruits she so beautifully gives to us! As Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer states, “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” Whether it is dirt under my fingernails, clean water in my glass, a delicious ripe peach, or a paddle in my pond, how I experience nature and my time outside feels different. With gratitude and thankfulness, I enjoy a deeper appreciation of not only the gardens I tend and what they provide for me, but also the beauty and importance of all that surrounds me. Gratitude cultivates a feeling of fullness. It reminds us that we truly have everything we need. Gratitude is a gift that we need to cultivate and grow as dutifully as we grow our own gardens. “The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken. It’s our turn now, long overdue. Let us hold a giveaway for Mother Earth, spread our blankets out for her and pile them high with gifts of our own making. … Gifts of mind, hands, heart, voice, and vision, all offered up on behalf of the earth. Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and to dance for the renewal of the world…In return for the privilege of breath.” So let’s make gratitude a part of our lives and gardens. Love your yard, and it will love you back in the form of flowers and fruits. Let’s be thankful and humble and plant and tend to our beautiful native gardens for our local insects, birds, and wildlife - and also for us and all the wonders, experiences, and life they bring to our lives as well! by Carol Markham, Conservationist for Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (photo of a native plant garden by Carol Markham)

School is almost out, and summer is finally here! We all know how busy summer can get, and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has some awesome events happening that we don’t want you to miss. Before those calendars get all tied up, add these dates and come on out and join us as we get together to learn more about the health and protection of our waterways and get outside to enjoy the warm weather! July 6th – Join us at Westfield Nursery from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm for a native plant event. You can learn more about the many benefits of native plants and even buy some for your own landscape! July 7th – We are doing First FriYay with Southern Tier Distilling Company again this year! Come on down to The Empty Bottle at Southern Tier Distilling anytime from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm to have a drink and enjoy some music all for a good cause! Raise a glass with us in support of our watershed and wildlife and watch yours truly make a fool of herself as a guest bartender. July 8th – Did you miss out on the native plant event on the 6th? Don’t fret, you’ve got another chance to join us on the 8th from 10:00 am to noon at Westfield Nursery. Another great opportunity to learn about the importance of incorporating native plants into all of our landscapes and to take some home to get started. July 15th – Get out on the lake for a day of fun and show your support for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy at our annual Sailing Rallye. Check out the events page on our website to learn more and get registered for this all day event! July 20th – If you know the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, then you know John Jablonski III. Join us on the 20th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for a recognition reception honoring John’s founding of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and his 32 years as our executive director. RSVP’s will be required for this event so please check back on our website for more information, or email Tracy@chautauquawatershed.org if you would like to attend. August 5th – Join our Director of Conservation along with the Western NY Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management from 10 am to noon for a walk and talk event at our Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park. August 13th – This year we will be hosting our annual meeting at the Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center. We have decided to keep this as an open unpaid event this year, so we hope you will come out and learn about what we have been up to and how you can get involved with our organization! August 26th – Meet us at Chautauqua Marina from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for our annual native plant sale! This is always a fun day on the water shopping for some native plants and getting all of your questions answered by our awesome staff and volunteers. With so many wonderful events going on there is sure to be something for everyone, so come on out and join us! For questions or more details on any of these events please visit our Events page or contact us at 716-664-2166 ext. 1002 or info@chautauquawatershed.org. by Whitney Gleason, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Executive Director

As humans, we have created a complex system of needing currency to sustain our very existence. We can’t eat without money, and we can’t live in our homes without it. So, most of us need to have a job in order to gain this thing we call money – it’s just part of our lives. But, when we are not working, we have the option to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our overly connected and excruciatingly busy lives to get out into nature. The data from research on how beneficial getting out into nature is for our mental and physical health, as well as extending the longevity of our lives, is undeniable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and WebMD, being in nature helps lower anxiety, helps you feel better about yourself, and reduces stress, cortisol levels, muscle tension, and heart rate. It also helps you sleep better! “The physiological response to being outside in nature is real, and it's measurable,” says Michelle Kondo, a research social scientist with the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station. “There are many physical and psychological benefits of nature that scientists have observed, which can better help us understand how nature supports wellness in the body, mind and community.” (fs.usda.gov) What is even more amazing than how beneficial being outdoors is for humans is the fact that we live in an area of the vast world that has such beautiful, well protected, and accessible places for us to get out into nature. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has over 30 nature preserves in Chautauqua County with more than nine of those with dedicated trails to traverse you and your loved ones around. And in case you didn’t already know, there is actually a National Trails Day! It’s a day where being outside and hiking on trails is celebrated. What day is this? Well, I’m glad you asked! National Trails Day is the first Saturday in June, making it June 3rd this year. So, grab your binoculars if you like birding, grab your kids and doggies and their leashes (hopefully you’re not leashing your kids), and your reusable water bottles, and get out on those trails! If you are interested in something a little more challenging, Infinity Visual & Performing Arts (a nonprofit in Jamestown, NY) is currently offering an Ultimate Adventure Challenge, which includes visiting numerous local trails around the area, among other sites. You can find all the details at https://infinityperformingarts.org/adventurechallenge. The challenge runs from May 1st until November 16th and has a small fee to participate. Three of our nature preserves are highlighted in the challenge: the Bentley Nature Preserve, the Dobbins Woods Preserve, and the Solomon Family Nature Preserve. Please also check out our website at https://chautauquawatershed.org/preserves, which has great interactive maps, directions, and details about these and other preserves of ours. So what are you waiting for? Put on some sunblock, grab your family and friends, and get on out there! by Bethany O'Hagan, Land Specialist for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy

This summer, we’re once again conducting aquatic invasive species (AIS) citizen science training and on-water early detection surveys and monitoring in and around Chautauqua Lake! Sandra Emke (pictured below) is joining us for the summer as our Seasonal AIS Coordinator and will be leading this year’s efforts to survey and monitor sites where aquatic invasive plant species, particularly water chestnut and starry stonewort, have been previously detected and scope out potential new sites for them as well. Through online and in-person informational training, participants will learn how to differentiate the lake’s beneficial, native aquatic plant species from the invasive, problematic species. They’ll also learn what they can do as individuals and as a community to help prevent the arrival of new invasives and help prevent the spread of those already found here. An online informational session will be held on Wednesday, June 7th from 7-8pm and again on Monday, June 12th from 7-8pm (via Zoom). The Zoom meetings will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel and website later for those unable to attend on these dates. From mid-June through September, several on-water paddles will be offered each month (weather permitting) where participants will survey the local aquatic vegetation to look for and, if needed, report and carefully remove invasive plants. The paddles will take place at various locations in and around Chautauqua Lake to re-survey sites where invasives have previously been detected and scope out potential new sites as well. Participation in these programs is free, but pre-registration is requested for the on-water surveys as attendance is capped at 10 participants per session. RSVPs can be sent to Sandra at ais@chautauquawatershed.org. Anyone joining the on-water surveys will need to bring their own kayak or canoe and personal protective equipment (life jacket). Visit https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/aquatic-invasive for more info, links to the Zoom meetings, and tentative on-water survey dates, locations and launch times. Funding for the program is provided in part by the Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance.

Spring is in full swing, and the last waves of migratory birds are moving in. Several resident bird species are busily building nests, and some have already hatched out their first batch of young. One of the earlier migrants to arrive is the Osprey, and we have reasons to be extra excited about their return to Chautauqua County each spring. Osprey populations were decimated by the effects of DDT and declined by more than 90% between 1950 and 1970. But through a ban on the devastating use of DDT, combined with targeted conservation efforts, our Osprey (as well as Bald Eagles) have shown a steady population increase since. These long-term success stories are heartwarming but don’t take away from the short-term risks that Osprey and other migratory birds face from year to year. Most travel thousands of miles between their summer breeding range and their wintering grounds in Central or South America. Being able to survive such a journey twice a year depends on many factors, ranging from having healthy food on both ends of the journey (e.g. seeds and berries from native plants that are rich in fats and provide much energy – not those found on most invasive plant species because they are rich in sugars and are essentially avian junk food) to having suitable habitat patches along the length of their migratory route to ensure that they can stop, rest, and forage when they need to. They face inclement weather, predators, window strikes, and many other natural and man-made challenges every leg of their journey. It’s a minor miracle that these intrepid travelers complete their journeys as often as they do! Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Loomis Goose Creek Preserve on Rt 394 in North Harmony had an Osprey nesting platform installed for many years before a pair successfully nested and raised a chick in 2021. Each year since, the pair, dubbed Femke and Hauke, returns like clockwork. Hauke, the male, tends to get back during the last week of March and carries out some minor repairs to the nest to ensure that it is in spectacular shape when the female, Femke, returns a week or so later. Even though the pair bonds for life and returns to the same nesting platform each year, they don’t spend their winters together. Male Osprey mostly overwinter on the many islands that dot the Caribbean Sea, while female Osprey head into northern South America instead. For the past three years, we’ve had a motion-activated camera installed over the nest at the Loomis Goose Creek preserve, and we can follow along with the antics of “our” birds. If you drive by the nest right now, you may not see much action because Femke has been sitting on at least one, possibly two, eggs for the past two weeks now. Hauke is out hunting for fish to feed himself and his partner, and otherwise keeping a watchful eye on the nest from a safe distance. Once the egg(s) hatch, there will be much more activity noticeable from the ground as both parents will then be flying in and out to bring food to their young. By the time newly fledged juvenile Osprey leave the nest, they are the same size as their parents, and they too will migrate far away before winter hits. Young Osprey generally wait 2-3 years before returning to the area where they were born, looking for a spot where they themselves can start a new nest and raise chicks. This is why, relatively suddenly, our area seems awash in Osprey. After a long absence, we finally saw some breeding success, and with a few years of lag time, those early chicks are returning. You may have seen new nests starting on cell phone towers, utility poles, and even on the light posts at Russel Dietrich Park in Jamestown. While the latter location would provide killer seats for this season’s Tarp Skunk games, the hot floodlights would not be good for these birds! To help future Osprey generations survive safely and healthily in Chautauqua County, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is working with local partners to install additional nesting platforms in more suitable locations. Three were placed in the city of Jamestown last year (downtown by the Chadakoin River basin, at McCrae Point Park, and at Jones Memorial Park) and are waiting for new occupants. Four more platforms are scheduled to go up this summer in various locations around Chautauqua Lake. If you want to share in the lives of Femke and Hauke and see pictures of their family life, or you want to see when and where new platforms are installed, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. by Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation (photo from our Osprey cam at the Loomis Goose Creek Preserve, April 2023)

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is pleased to announce that it is applying for national accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places forever. Per Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Executive Director Whitney Gleason, “Gaining accreditation affirms to our funders, partners, and the public that we are working to the highest standards and practices in land conservation. It ensures that we have the proper policies and systems in place for acquiring new conservation lands as well as stewarding those already under our care for the benefit of our waterways, wildlife, and community.” The application process includes an extensive review of the practices, policies, and programs of each applicant by the Commission. A public comment period is now open, and the Commission invites public input on the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s pending application through signed, written comments. Comments must relate to how the organization complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices. To submit a comment, or to learn more about the accreditation program, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866. Comments on Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s application will be most useful by Friday, July 21st.

For many reasons, Chautauqua Lake discussions tend to lean towards the green, leafy things that are affecting or can affect it. Whether it be the wonderfully vibrant vegetative buffers that we encourage along its edge, the vast plant beds that cover its shallower areas, or the unfortunate summer neon slime that covers its surface, the importance of plants and the role they play in a lake ecosystem is undeniably a topic that needs to be addressed. But what we tend to forget and not discuss as frequently is…what is going on beneath the surface with the fish and aquatic life that live, reproduce, and survive in this vast abundance of living plants? Being a fish biologist by education, it is hard for me to deny the many colorfully scaled critters that live and breathe under the water. As we swim, boat, kayak, paddle board, jet ski, and party barge our way over Chautauqua Lake’s surface, do we ever stop and think about how our behaviors above and on the surface are affecting the everyday survival of the fish that live below? Chautauqua Lake supports a rather diverse sports fishing industry. It is recognized as a premiere, world-class muskellunge fishery. It ranks among the top largemouth and smallmouth bass lakes in New York State. Walleye are also a highly prized sportfish of Chautauqua Lake, and panfish such as yellow perch, white perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill, crappie, and bullhead provide a wonderful year-round fishing experience. Not to mention the incredible ice fishing opportunities we have here as well. It takes a lot of time, money, and manpower to study a population that you cannot see. NYSDEC Region 9 Fisheries biologists conduct spring musky netting and fall walleye electrofishing surveys annually. Gill net surveys and fall bottom trawling to monitor yellow and white perch populations were historically done bi-annually, and they are currently trying to get back to repeating those on a 2–4-year cycle (as time permits). A spring electrofishing survey to evaluate bass and sunfish populations is typically done every 5 years. (The next one is planned for 2024.) In 2018-19, a summer shore seining survey was conducted to look for YOY musky and document any natural reproduction. Despite all of this work, they don’t have the resources to conduct the intensive research needed to fully understand how all those factors tie together and drive the ecosystem functions in Chautauqua Lake. There are numerous complex factors influencing the lake, most of which vary and change with every coming year. These include harmful algal blooms, herbicide treatment, aquatic plant cutting, invasive species interactions, habitat loss, armored shorelines, and unusual weather events - just to name quite a few. It is difficult and challenging, maybe even impossible, to understand how all of these factors interact and affect the lake’s fish populations. With Chautauqua Lake being one of the largest tourist attractions in Chautauqua County and a primary destination for recreational fisherman from all over the country, why are we not speaking up and speaking out about how our human behaviors above the surface affect the water quality and lake health and how they are affecting one of our most valuable assets below it? It's safe to say that what we do to the green, leafy habitats within the water greatly affects ALL of the aquatic life that lives within it. If we want strong, healthy fish populations below, then we need to be fully aware of our behaviors and actions above. If something seems “fishy” on the surface then there are most likely suspicious, unhealthy things could be happening below the waves as well. As we continue with our many lake discussions, our fish populations and aquatic life need to be included! We all want what is best for our lake, so let’s make sure that we are thinking about not only how WE can benefit, but also how all that lives and breathes below the surface can too! And…that way…we can enjoy these big, beautiful creatures for many years to come! by Carol Markham, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Conservationist (photo of Bill Swanson with a muskie he caught on Chautauqua Lake in November 2022, taken by Vance Kaloz)

For my first Watershed Notes article, I felt inclined to talk about something that I am really passionate about. For those of you who know me – no, it is not about recycling or composting – it is about water conservation! The list of things that I am particularly passionate about is rather long, but conserving water is right at the top! So I wanted to do a quick run-through of some simple things that I do at home and some that I am just starting to do (and some that I don’t do) that help save water! But first, why do we want to save water, you ask? So there is this thing called climate change – maybe you have heard of it. Well, it is drastically affecting our freshwater supplies. Here are some facts and a direct quote for a quick rundown. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, climate change is changing how much water we get by precipitation, consistently reducing snowpack, and also increasing people’s need to use more water with record-setting hot temperatures – which now occur almost every year. “Even without the impacts of climate change, the United States’ water supply has begun to diminish. Much of our water supply comes from groundwater held in underground formations called aquifers. In some parts of the nation, increased demand for water has led to pumping groundwater from aquifers faster than they can be naturally refilled. Persistent droughts in some areas are accelerating this decline.” [www.epa.gov] I could go on and on with quotes and facts, but I think you get the picture. Which brings us to my main passion – how to save water around your home! Disclaimer . . . I am a plant person, so most of these tips are going to involve plants. If you are not a plant person, I suggest looking into greywater usage. Anyway, here we go: When you go to take a shower and the water starts out cold, grab a bucket and collect the water until it’s warm enough for you get in. Then use the collected water for your plants. When you are boiling potatoes, or any other vegetable, save the strained water, let it cool, and use it for your plants. Potatoes have potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, all of which are good for plants. If you are finished with a glass of water and have a little bit left, don’t just dump it in the sink. Instead, dump it into a nearby plant. Here is a thought as well – there is a trash bin for garbage, why can’t there be trash bin for water? Think of a way that works for you to have a container of sorts to dump water into. You’ll be surprised just how much water you can accumulate in just a few short days! Use rain barrels. Disconnect the downspouts on your home, redirect them to a rain barrel, and use that water in the summer to water what you need to. When cooking pasta, save the water and, once it cools, water your plants with it! Plants love the starchy water (but not salty water). Same goes for rinsing fruit to eat or cleaning out pet water bowls. Just dump that water into your water trash bin! When rinsing rice to cook, save that murky white water! It is actually good for your hair! It promotes growth, helps fight dandruff, and can increase your hair volume. There is so much we do on a daily basis that requires a lot of water! It just takes little steps here and there, and just a slight tweaking of your routine, for us to conserve it. It can have a big impact, and you will be surprised at just how much water you can start saving daily. I hope this leaves you with an excited new viewpoint and possibly a fun new challenge for yourself! Thanks for reading. Until next time! by Bethany O'Hagan, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Land Specialist

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” -Margaret Atwood Spring in Western NY can be less than inviting. In months where others see the first blooming flowers and ever warming days, we often have grey skies and can have rain, snow, and temperatures anywhere from 20 to 80 degrees. As a grownup, I look outside on these grey days and think “yuck, I wish it were nice out so I could go for a walk.” The other day something changed this perspective though – my son. It was a typical March day in Chautauqua County: rainy, grey, and cold. We pulled in the garage after school pickup, and as soon as I let my four-year-old son out of the car, he immediately ran out into the rain and started playing in the mud. I am confident that at no point in the two seconds between exiting the car and being in the mud did he stop to think that this is bad weather. Sadly, I don’t think I will ever be able to completely re-train my own brain to do away with the myth of “bad weather,” but after seeing him run into the mud with so much joy and enthusiasm, I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to keep him from forming that notion in the first place. We know from countless studies that going outside is good for us. What we are learning more and more is that it’s especially good and important for our children, and the beauty is that nobody has told them yet that some weather is good and some isn’t. So today I am writing to encourage everyone to throw on whatever gear you’ve got and get outside, rain or shine, especially if you have kids. As Nicolette Sowder says, “encouraging a child to go outside in all weather builds resilience, but more importantly it saves them from spending their life merely tolerating the ‘bad’ days in favour of a handful of ‘good’ ones – a life of endless expectations and conditions where happiness hinges on sunshine.” But why would you take my word for it when there are lots of studies by experts that you could listen to instead? For example, a study completed in 2021 found a strong relationship between exposure to nature and children’s physical and mental health (see citation 1). That same study also found that the closer the outdoor experience was to the child’s home, the stronger the impact was. So you don’t need to go far, you just need to go out! Another study found that contact with nature as a child is a strong predictor of higher openness (creativity and curiosity) and lower neuroticism (anxiety and depression) as an adult (see citation 2). This was particularly true for contact with forest environments, and these scientists believe that spending time outdoors in childhood creates a learned emotional regulation strategy that is then used all the way into and through adulthood. These are just two examples from a large and growing body of research on the importance of letting our children play outside. If you still aren’t convinced, I encourage you to take a look for yourself. There is a wonderful library of these studies that has been put together by the Children & Nature Network. You can check it out at research.childrenandnature.org/research-library. We are so lucky to have wonderful places available in our community that make getting into nature fun, easy, and safe! I wouldn’t be a very good executive director if I didn’t mention the beautiful preserves that the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy holds and protects for the health and well-being of our community. To check out which ones have trails, what you might find, and how to get there, head to our website at chautauquawatershed.org. Beyond our own nature preserves, we are also lucky to have the Audubon Community Nature Center which also has trails and even a nature playground. Plus, for days when the weather is unsafe (lightning, high winds, etc.) and we really can’t get outside, they do an amazing job of bringing the outdoors in with their family-friendly, hands-on exhibits. I sincerely hope that you will check us both out and, in doing so, get yourself and your family outside into nature. In the wise words of Jon Muir, “of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” by Whitney Gleason, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Executive Director Citations 1) Fyfe-Johnson, A. L., Hazlehurst, M. F., Perrins, S. P., Bratman, G. N., Thomas, R., Garrett, K. A., Hafferty, K. R., Cullaz, T. M., Marcuse, E. K., Tandon, P. S., (2021). Nature and children's health: A systematic review. Pediatrics, 148(4) 2) Snell, T. L., Simmonds, J. G., Klein, L. M., (2020). Exploring the impact of contact with nature in childhood on adult personality. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 55, 1-9.

his image shows the recommended allocations of resources for watershed, in-lake and monitoring projects as suggested in the 2018 report “5-Year Implementation Strategy for the Management of Chautauqua Lake and Its Watershed (image credit: EcoLogic / Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance) Much attention has been focused in recent months on finding a reliable, stable source of funding for Chautauqua Lake management and protection programs and deciding which activities should be prioritized for action in the lake and its watershed. It’s a good time to take a look at prior research recommendations. Here’s a fairly recent example: In 2017, as a result of “heightened community concern about the health of the lake and differing views on which expenditures and projects would have the most beneficial impact,” the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance (CLWMA) hired experienced lake and watershed scientific consultants Ecologic, LLC and Anchor QEA, LLC to review previous lake and watershed studies and interview stakeholders as a means of finding an “… objective, transparent approach for prioritizing projects and allocating resources” as part of a 5-Year Implementation Strategy for Chautauqua Lake and Its Watershed. First, this document laid out a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) tool to guide the CLWMA in evaluating, scoring, prioritizing, and funding annual proposed watershed projects to reduce nutrient and sediment loading, in-lake projects to address lake algae and aquatic plant problems, and lake and watershed monitoring projects to “assess progress and the need for additional actions or modifications to ongoing management activities.” Second, the report developed a “5-Year Implementation Strategy,” which was to guide overall funding investment among watershed, in-lake and monitoring projects over the 2018-2022 period. The Strategy called for utilizing 20% of funding resources over this period, starting with 60% of funding going to in-lake projects for “immediate relief” of excessive aquatic plant growth in 2018 and reducing that over the five years to 20% in 2022. At the same time, it recommended investing 30% of funding in watershed projects in 2018 and increasing that to 60% of funding resources in 2022. The report noted that, “ultimately, addressing the sources of impairment (i.e., excess nutrient loading) is the only sustainable approach to protect water quality, habitat, and human uses. Reduction in watershed [nutrient] sources is critically important to ensure the long-term health of the lake, which forms the basis for the increase in watershed resources over time.” The report suggested revisiting this after the New York State harmful algae bloom (HABs) action plan for Chautauqua Lake was released and added that, “reducing the external loading of nutrients… is ultimately the only way to address the cultural (human-induced) eutrophication of the system and to minimize the frequency, magnitude, and duration of HABs.” It went on to note that, “an ongoing commitment to reducing point [from a pipe] and nonpoint [diffused] sources of phosphorus and nitrogen is essential.” The report also noted that 20% of external phosphorus loading had come from wastewater discharges, but those have been largely addressed by recently completed public wastewater plant upgrades. The report then discussed non-point pollution sources and the need for landowner participation in the success of implementing agricultural best management practices. It stated that, “permanent conservation of forested areas and wetlands can help to prevent erosion and nutrient/sediment loading in the watershed and that timber harvesting practices can also contribute pollution.” Moreover, developed areas contribute nutrients and sediments, and municipalities play a critical role in “ensuring that urbanization is carried out in ways that incorporate best land practices and minimize stormwater runoff.” The report concludes the watershed section by stating that “watershed municipalities are strongly encouraged to adopt, modify, and enforce local land use laws to guide actions by developers or private landowners in the watershed, and to adopt municipal best management practices in the areas they manage directly. There is much more useful information on in-lake and watershed management to consider in this report, which may be read in its entirety at: http://www.chautauquaalliance.org/category/projects/5-year-implementation-strategy-mca-tool/. We hope that you will review this and other reports available on the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance’s website at chautauquaalliance.org to learn more about this important lake and watershed. by John Jablonski III, CWC Deputy Director

Many of you might recall what being a “responsible” citizen and community member looked like back in 1953…back when lawns were perfectly mowed, fertilized, and weed-free. History tells us that gardens and landscaping were once limited to those with land, money, and free time. However, times are a changing. A homeowner in 2023 is more likely to shrink their forever green and “perfect” lawn, plant natives, and create a more functional, purposeful landscape. This has become a necessity rather than a choice. A landscape that is sustainable and supports life, sequesters carbon, feeds pollinators, and manages water is one that is responsible and shows your neighbors and friends that you care about the health and well-being of your community. As explained and taught by Doug Tallamy, American entomologist, ecologist, conservationist and professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, there are four functions or goals that every homeowner’s landscape and yard must perform to produce a healthy and viable ecosystem that we all need. They must: 1) Support a diverse community of pollinators throughout the growing season. 2) Support and provide for the local food web. 3) Manage the watershed in which they lie. 4) Capture and remove carbon from the atmosphere where it is wreaking havoc on the Earth’s climate. How well a landscape accomplishes these goals depends on how well we, as backyard stewards, choose and install the plants on our landscapes. Traditional lawns fail at achieving these four goals. If we plant most or all of our property as lawn, none of these goals will be met. Grass is an ecological wasteland. Lawns degrade the local watershed by discouraging infiltration, facilitating stormwater runoff, and adding nitrogen, phosphorous, herbicides, and insecticides to the nearest stream or river. Today’s cultural standard for lawns supports no pollinators and does not nourish the insects that enable birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many mammals to reproduce. And when it comes to carbon capture, turf grass is our worst plant choice. Native plants, however, succeed at achieving these four goals! We can help our yards become healthy, productive, and purposeful by planting the plants that are good at supporting pollinators, good at capturing energy and sharing it with our local wildlife, and good at holding carbon, allowing it to remain in the soil instead of finding its way into the atmosphere. We can also choose plants with large canopies that soften the impact of pounding rain and shade our homes from the sun and heat. Their large root systems encourage rainwater infiltration and thus hold tons of water on site after a storm event. How cool is it to think that we can create and build ecosystems, feed our local pollinators, control runoff and flooding, and capture and remove carbon all in the landscape of our small yard! There are 20 million acres of lawn in the United States. Can you imagine if everyone just took a small part of their lawn and converted it to productive native plants and purposeful space? The path to a sustainable way of life is a must and not a choice any longer. Let’s embrace the changing of guard and welcome in a new, positive, healthy, and responsible landscape into our yards! For more information on less lawn and more natives and on creating a more sustainable landscape, including a free LakeScapes yard consultation, please contact Conservationist Carol Markham at the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy at carol@chautauquawatershed.org or 716-664-2166, ext. 1005. Article and photo by Carol Markham

Yesterday (February 15, 2023) was a historic day for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. After months of planning and preparation, our Co-founder and Executive Director of over 30 years handed me the baton. I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to lead this organization in its next chapter. When I first interned with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy back in 2013, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. Back then I was inspired by the mission and the Executive Director, Mr. John Jablonski III, who simply radiated his excitement and dedication to the work of protecting our County’s waterways and natural places. Fast forward 10 years to today, and I am still inspired by our mission and the dedication of John, our board, and our staff. So much has been accomplished, including the protection of over 1,100 acres of land and establishment of 32 nature preserves, partnership on successful erosion control projects throughout the County, and countless education programs. But there is important work yet to be done. Yesterday was a big day, but 2023 is going to be an even bigger year for our organization. As I move into my new role, I am looking forward to a renewed focus on setting us up for strength, stability, and effectiveness for many years to come. We are currently in the midst of application and review by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in order to become a nationally accredited land trust. Not only does accreditation reaffirm our commitment to the highest standards for land conservation, it also provides access to new funding opportunities and resources. This is especially important as New York State rolls out plans for achieving the 30x30 legislation signed back in December. In addition to accreditation, we are in the process of finalizing our Collaborative Regional Conservation Implementation Strategy (CRCIS) for Chautauqua County. Using high resolution mapping we can better understand and view our County as a whole, pin-pointing the most important areas for conservation while identifying opportunities for low impact development. As more people throughout the Country recognize the beauty and environmental resources of our region, it is going to be vital that we partner strategic growth with strategic conservation. While pursuing these two major initiatives we will also be continuing to work and partner with individuals, businesses, and municipalities throughout our community. This includes our work with homeowners through our LakeScapes program, expanding our waterway restoration projects, and working with partners to control new invasive species before they become established on our lands and in our waters. It’s going to be a busy year, and I couldn’t be more excited to get started. I hope you’ll join me in this next chapter as we continue working toward the mission that captured my attention all those years ago. Sincerely, Whitney

Invasive insects and diseases are a real threat. Chautauqua County and all of western New York have been hit hard with the emerald ash borer devastating our ash trees in recent years. Not to mention our Eastern Hemlock (by the hemlock woolly adelgid beetle) and American Beech (with beech leaf disease). The need to plant and replace these infected trees with healthy, new native ones has never been greater. But many homeowners are left wondering…what should I do with all my dead trees? Your first thought might be to call a tree company, clean up your yard and have these dead, “ugly” trees removed. Dead or alive…tree removal can be extremely costly and has the potential of removing more than just wood. If a dead tree is in danger of falling on your home, nearby structure and/or roadway, removing it is of course the right choice. But what about the trees that are not posing a threat to anything or anyone? Let’s look at a dead tree from a different perspective. What would be the benefit of leaving it stand and not worrying about the way it looks? First, you would keep more money in your pocket, which is always a good thing! But allowing a dead tree to remain standing also provides an incredible habitat for our local birds, insects and wildlife. In fact, some of the most important trees on your property are the ones that are no longer alive. Standing dead or dying trees are called snags. They are an important component of healthy forests, as well as your yard, and can be critical habitat for wildlife. In a sense, snags are very much “alive.” Woodpeckers peck into the soft wood for insects and larvae, creating many excavated cavities. Owls and squirrels nest in these open cavities as do bluebirds, chickadees and nuthatches. Bats roost within crevices and under the flaky loose bark. And countless species rely on their abundant insects, fungi and lichens as a food source. More than 100 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians need snags for nesting, roosting, shelter, denning and feeding, and nearly 45 species alone forage for food in them! So long as they aren’t in a hazardous location such as near a road or building, consider leaving snags. Not only do they provide for our local wildlife, but these vertical dead pillars also create visual interest, store carbon and can actually provide more habitats for wildlife dead than alive. And, as an added bonus, they will continue to enrich your soil for decades to come. So why not save your money and leave that dead tree standing. For more information regarding snags in your yard or on your property, or even creating and/or trimming snags for wildlife, please contact Conservationist Carol Markham at the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy at carol@chautauquawatershed.org or 716-664-2166, ext. 1005. (photo by Carol Markham)

As I’m sure you’ve heard, the Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency (CLPRA) voted against recommending the formation of a lake district for the maintenance and protection of Chautauqua Lake. Unfortunately, a lot of aspects of the proposed lake district made it hard for local landowners to get on board. Residents, including myself, shared concerns of facing a large annual tax coupled with uncertainties as to who would decide where the money went once it was collected. While I’m glad the Agency didn’t make a hasty decision to push forward with the district before working out all the details, it does seem sad that it came down to an “all or nothing” vote after so much time, effort, and money had been expended. Could the vote have been “not yet” or perhaps “not like this?” I believe the idea of a lake district was well intentioned and that sustainable, consistent, and ongoing support for the health of Chautauqua Lake is important. Maybe $10 million was too much for us all to wrap our heads around, but wouldn’t Louise Ortman’s idea of $5 million spread out across Chautauqua County be a big step in the right direction? Even if was required to be shared by all our County’s waterways? If given more time, couldn’t the Agency have worked with the County, local municipalities, and other stakeholders to put together more details on how money would be expended and on what projects? Following the vote, the Agency was terminated, leaving these questions on the table. When asked what’s next for lake protection, CLPRA Chairman Pierre Chagnon said that he didn’t know. Well, I don’t know either, but I do know that a lot of the unanswered questions for the lake district revolved around what the money would be used for and who would decide that. Perhaps then, the time is right for us all to come together to take a deeper look at where work needs to be done to really improve the health and quality of Chautauqua Lake over time. The Environmental Protection Agency promotes what it calls the “watershed approach,” where stakeholders and communities coordinate to “define and address watershed-scale challenges and solutions.” Groups come together and develop a watershed management plan that identifies shared management and improvement goals and agreed upon strategies to achieve them. Back in 2005, the Chautauqua County Legislature saw the pressing need for better information and a plan for in-lake and watershed protection for Chautauqua Lake. They formed the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission (CLMC), which was tasked with the creation of this exact type of watershed management plan for Chautauqua Lake. In 2010, the CLMC produced the Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management plan. What happened to this plan? Are we using it at all to direct our money and efforts? Does it need to be updated? My takeaway from the demise of the proposed lake district is that we need to do our homework first. Let’s dust off the 2010 management plan (which I’m sure also took a lot of time, effort, and money to put together). Let’s all meet at the table to update our priorities and the strategies we want to use to achieve them. Once we have our strategies, we will have a more concrete understanding of what it will cost. Working together to do our homework would give the County the ability to provide landowners with more concrete funding numbers and clear answers for when they’re asked, “where is the money going to go?” I can’t tell you how many times over the past few months that I’ve heard someone say the phrases “putting the cart before the horse” and “proposed lake district” in the same sentence. Now seems like a good time to take the reins on that problematic horse and get him back in front of the cart. by Whitney Gleason, CWC Deputy Executive Director

The Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency will be meeting on Thursday, January 19th from 5:00 to 6:30pm in the Legislative Chambers (on the third floor) of the Gerace Office Building at 3 North Erie Street in Mayville, NY. This meeting will be in person and open to the public and also available to stream on the County’s YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/@ChautauquaCounty/streams. The CLPRA was formed pursuant to Resolution 315-17 of the Chautauqua County Legislature to evaluate lake protection and rehabilitation needs and make recommendations to the County Legislature regarding the creation of Chautauqua Lake protection and rehabilitation taxing district(s) as may be necessary in the best interest of the people of Chautauqua County. The Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency project website can be found at https://bartonloguidice.mysocialpinpoint.com/chautauqua-co-lake-fund. We at CWC believe that: 1) The straight “flat fee” per parcel approach is totally inequitable and not related to a parcel’s impact on lake water quality, plant/algae growth or sedimentation and should be completely rejected; 2) A formula-based approach which is based on the impermeable land cover and poorly permeable land cover area per parcel which incentivizes parcel owners to minimize and remove impervious and poorly permeable land cover would be the preferred approach, with zero fees for lands in agriculture, natural forest, meadow, or wetland cover would be the most beneficial, equitable and effective funding strategy; 3) An “Equivalent Residential Unit” approach might be acceptable if it is based on the functional impermeability of an average residential parcel in the watershed, and applied to all parcels with functional impermeability calculated in comparison to the average residential parcel, with zero fees or zero scoring factor for lands in agriculture, natural forest, meadow, or wetland cover; 4) The proposed district should be watershed-wide as all lands in the watershed either negatively or positively impact the tributaries, groundwater and lake water and conditions, and all landowners should be assessed fees or credits based on the negative or positive impact of their parcels on the health of these waters; 5) Conservation and enhancement actions across the entire watershed should be eligible for support from the proposed district; 6) The district should be established watershed-wide, potentially except for very small land areas in peripheral towns and villages, as all property taxpayers’ tax bills in this region are strongly affected by whether or not lake property values are maintained; 7) A draft program of proposed activities with budget be developed by the CLPRA before addressing funding levels needed and recommending funding options. We believe that a fee structure should engage each landowner to assess their parcel’s contribution to excess stormwater and pollution and take advantage of ways to reduce that resulting in lowering their district fee, which would collectively over time strongly benefit the health of the lake and municipal infrastructure costs across the watershed. For the Freshwater Future’s perspective on this potential district, please go to their Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=freshwater%20future (photo by Barton & Loguidice)

What do we know about the sources of nutrients fueling algae blooms and plant growth in Chautauqua Lake? The deeper glacial till soils of our region contain an abundance of phosphorus, which makes the sediments and waters in our lakes naturally more fertile and able to support more algae and aquatic plant growth. Human activities (especially since European settlers arrived) have cleared forests, conducted intensive animal and crop agriculture, and developed roads, parking lots, buildings, and lawns which have accelerated the deposition of nutrient-laden soils, animal wastes, crop fertilizers, and human sewage into Chautauqua Lake. Nutrients, sediments, metals, synthetic organic chemicals, and other pollutants are also delivered to our watersheds and lakes by wind and precipitation. The shallower southern basin of Chautauqua Lake has an average depth of about 11 feet, while the northern basin has an average depth of about 33 feet. The northern basin has much more water volume than the southern basin. Wind, wave, and boat action easily resuspend sediments, causing turbid conditions much more frequently in the southern basin. It also makes it easier for water to mix and not stratify due to water temperatures in the southern basin. Nutrients in the lake’s water generally become more concentrated in the shallower basin and toward Celoron. More developed suburban and urban land uses in general deliver more pollutants to the lake than the more heavily forested rural areas, and since the lake is quite shallow, lake plant and algae conditions are consistently more problematic in Lakewood east to Celoron. Once the nutrient phosphorus gets in the lake, a significant portion of the annual load reaching the lake stays in the lake. Lake plants and algae containing phosphorus die and decay. Some of that phosphorus is released to the water column, and some accumulates in the sediments. Phosphorus is most often the nutrient element limiting algae and plant growth in Chautauqua Lake, with nitrogen sometimes limiting as well. These nutrients come primarily from runoff from the watershed and secondarily from precipitation and wind deposition of soil and leaf materials. Phosphorus can be in a dissolved form very readily available for absorption and use by algae and plants, in organic form as part of plant and animal materials, or tightly bound to soil particles. The 2012 Total Maximum Daily Load for Phosphorus in Chautauqua Lake report estimated that 25% of the phosphorus load to the northern basin of the lake was from internal loading released from sediments and that 55% of the load to the southern basin was from internal loading. Researchers from the Jefferson Project, SUNY-Fredonia, and Bowling Green State University are using multiple sampling and monitoring approaches over several years with the intent to better understand the watershed nutrient loading and internal nutrient loading to the lake and the lake stratification, weather, and wind conditions as they relate to what triggers problematic harmful algae blooms. The completion of tertiary wastewater treatment plants in Mayville and Chautauqua have substantially reduced human sources of annual phosphorus loading to the entire lake over the last 10 years. Installing public sewers along more of the lake is also reducing human nutrient loading to the lake. Preliminary data indicate that heavy rainfall storm events with heavy phosphorus pulses to the lake, hot and calm weather, and strong summer lake water temperature stratification setting up oxygen-deficient conditions in deep waters promoting the release of phosphorus from sediments followed by strong wind water mixing events, can all be factors in making phosphorus abundant and available for harmful algae blooms. In addition, the deep northern basin may react differently to these factors than the shallow southern basin. Warmer waters from climate change may enhance lake stratification and accelerate the release of phosphorus from sediments. We know that excessive nutrient and sediment loading from poorly managed agricultural practices, wastewater treatment systems, and urban land uses all load the lake with nutrients that fuel plant and algae growth and that phosphorus loading to the lake is cumulative. The more we substantially reduce the amount of nutrients and sediments reaching the lake today, the better the conditions will be in the lake tomorrow! by John Jablonski III, CWC Executive Director

It’s probably no surprise that a land trust’s main objective is to conserve land with the goal of protecting – in perpetuity – water and other important natural resources that exist in such areas. In addition, conservation lands secure the health and homes of animals and plants that inhabit them, help improve the scenic beauty of a landscape, and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation. In these days of significant human impact on the environment, selecting areas in greatest need of protection may also be guided by such variables as carbon sequestration or protecting tree canopies to provide shade and cooling effects on surrounding areas. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is currently spearheading a county-wide assessment to evaluate where the most important conservation areas exist. By combining data sets that factor in steepness of the terrain, vegetation cover, occurrence of known sensitive species or habitats, presence of headwaters and stream corridors, current land use, permeability of the soils, etc., we are compiling maps that indicate which areas have the highest conservation value. Even though this may seem like a mostly academic exercise, in reality, this means that we are objectively identifying the parts of the county where spending scarce conservation dollars will have the biggest impact in terms of best protecting our clean air and water, best reducing runoff that ends up polluting our lakes and waterways, best providing habitat for our most endangered plants and animals, and best ensuring a healthy future for current and new residents of Chautauqua County. A point that is often missed by those who are not in the conservation field is that smart conservation is an essential piece of planning for smart economic growth. Because let’s face it: if we were to jeopardize our quality of life by harming our most precious natural resources, who would want to live or plan a future here? The great news is that, when comparing our county’s environmental health against much of the rest of the country, we are in good shape. We are not routinely threatened by forest fires, hurricanes, droughts, or floods. Our water quality is top grade, and our landscape supports abundant agriculture and lush forests. Pretty great! Now, the smart thing is to not only acknowledge those strengths but to also put in place policies to ensure that we can sustainably maintain our environmental health in this rapidly changing world, while also making improvements where needed. In the simplest terms, maintaining clean air and water can be achieved by keeping about 70% of our landscape in intact forest or wetland. With that amount of cover, these habitats will adequately serve as our landscape’s kidneys and lungs to supply us with clean air and water – quietly, at no financial cost to us and looking good doing all this hard work! Once healthy land cover drops below 70%, impacts on water quality become noticeable, and we will have to engineer solutions to make up for that. Usually, this cannot be done quietly or cheaply, and often such engineered solutions negatively impact the environment in other ways. So, protecting the right land in the right places, where it has the greatest positive impact makes good economic sense! Many parts of Chautauqua County have large forest blocks and are near that desirable 70% mark, unlike more developed, urbanized areas. CWC staff also actively works to restore impacted areas and attempt to connect smaller habitat fragments in more impacted areas to improve their ecological functionality. Areas with higher population density tend to have less room for nature, creating environmental inequities in areas where most people live. This is why, for example, CWC is working with community partners to restore and activate the Chadakoin River as it winds through Jamestown – to improve the benefits it provides to the community and to individuals. After all, every bit of “green” that is restored counts towards that 70% mark. Unfortunately, even protected areas suffer from ongoing outside stressors, such as climate change, diseases, and invasive species. Just like we work with partner organizations to improve the quality of Chautauqua Lake by addressing issues of excess nutrient loading, runoff, and invasive species, we also address similar issues in our preserves. Invasive species are among the greatest threats to the health of our forests, and we work closely with entities such as Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) to mitigate these challenges. Here too, planning and prioritization is key to ensure that time and money is applied where it has the greatest benefit for everyone. At the end of a very busy year, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to all regional partners, supporters, and volunteers who are working with us to make the Chautauqua region healthier, more beautiful, and more resilient! Here’s to a future with more “green” for everyone! (photo by Twan Leenders: Members of WNY PRISM's Crew Assist Program helping to eradicate invasive Japanese Knotweed at CWC's Ball Creek Preserve to help improve the area's environmental health and functionality.)

As we close out one year and look forward with anticipation to a new year, we tally our accomplishments of 2022. CWC’s team of scientists and conservationists carried out an ambitious array of activities to further our mission to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams and watersheds of the Chautauqua region. Our conservation work was implemented from the Lake Erie watershed south to Chautauqua Lake, the Chadakoin River and Conewango Creek, on wild rural sites to industrial city sites. Natural habitats were conserved, and urban residents experienced ecological enhancements to their riverfront neighborhoods. In 2022, we expanded the Salomon Family Preserve by 6.6 acres to permanently add the trail head and meadow areas of this preserve and added a 5.5-acre conservation easement to enlarge the protected area of the Chautauqua Creek Oxbow Preserve in the Chautauqua Gorge. These two conservation donations were the culmination of several years of work with landowners who care deeply about the plants and animals that live on their land. CWC had another successful year of assisting landowners to enhance their yards and grounds for water quality and wildlife habitat. CWC’s conservationist Carol Markham provided LakeScapes technical assistance to 156 landowners on the lakes and in the watersheds feeding our lakes in 2022. This means less pollution going into our lakes and more food and shelter for songbirds, waterfowl, frogs, turtles, snakes, and other wildlife so important to the ecology of the region and to those of us who take great delight in watching this wildlife in our yards and other wild places. CWC’s Director of Conservation Twan Leenders led teams of volunteers to identify and pull invasive European water chestnut in the Chautauqua Lake Outlet. Leenders and volunteers documented the expansion of a newer invasive macro algae, starry stonewort, in Ashville Bay and off Prendergast Point and also led experiments with multiple methods of removing these algae colonies. CWC partnered with the City of Jamestown and Tactical Tree Solutions to address long-neglected sections of the Chadakoin River through industrial and residential eastside Jamestown neighborhoods by removing decades-old accumulations of dead trees and other debris that can lead to flooding and poses a threat to important public infrastructure, the foundations of buildings and walls, and residential properties. Additional work took place on behalf of the Town of Poland to remove dangerous debris dams in Conewango Creek. Our work on the Chadakoin alerted us to major infestations of tree-of-heaven, a land-based invasive plant which is also a preferred host of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect that poses a major threat to grape vineyards and fruit trees should it get a foothold and expand in our region. CWC once again took the lead on behalf of the City of Jamestown to start a multi-year effort to kill and control this infestation along the Chadakoin with the help of Arbor Wild Environmental. In addition to this conservation and enhancement work, CWC staff, crews from the Western New York Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (WNY PRISM), and numerous preserve stewards and other volunteers maintained and monitored 1,061 acres of nature preserves at 32 sites, with eight preserves improved and managed for regular public recreational use. Throughout 2022, CWC staff has been working with GIS specialist Jonathan Townsend, county officials, and other regional stakeholders on an analysis to identify the areas with the highest conservation value our across our county. This large-scale conservation model will identify areas most in need of protection to ensure that our water quality remains high, our natural areas remain healthy, and our region continues to be a sustainable and equitable climate-change “oasis” for generations to come. CWC has had a busy and successful impactful 2022 thanks to the collective support from over 800 families, individuals, businesses and partnerships with area foundations, Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance, City of Jamestown and several towns and villages, private landowners and local service providers. We are very grateful to all our volunteers, contributors, grantors, and partners who make this conservation work possible! For 2023, CWC is working to conserve over 250 acres of forest, meadow, wetlands, and shorelands at seven or more sites across the region, engage landowners to conserve and enhance habitat on their properties, partner with community groups to make our preserves more accessible and enjoyable to those with physical limitations, and planning and implementing several water quality and ecological enhancement projects on public and private lands and creeks with various agency, organizational partners and landowners. (photo of community volunteers helping to plant a rain garden by Carol Markham)

Our wonderful Chautauqua Lake this autumn…her surface, like glass, reflecting the stunningly vibrant and beautiful fall colors. What a spectacular sight! Reds, oranges, yellows, and greens all dancing and shimmering on her surface, swaying and drifting in concert with the waves and wind. As we are mesmerized by her beauty, we are finding ourselves lost looking at her reflection. Looks can be deceiving. Her beautiful outward appearance is masking what is truly happening beneath her surface, and we are desperately trying to find answers to questions about her health and well-being when these answers have been staring back at us all the time…in the form of excessive plant growth and harmful algae blooms. When are we going to realize that we as a community are the reflection of the health of our lake? What we do in our daily lives in our home and around our yards has a profound impact on the quality and integrity of the water that we drink, swim, and fish in. Instead of pointing fingers and adhering band-aids to fix these problems, it is time to take a step back, regroup, and honestly ask ourselves what we can do to improve our lake’s health instead of always shedding that responsibility onto someone or something else. Our Chautauqua Lake mirror is not cruel – she’s only truthful. She is reflecting life and her health exactly how it is. No lens, no filter, just at face value. Her overabundant plant growth and algae are a grim reminder of the truth she is so desperately trying to show us. We cannot continue to ignore her cries for help, and we can’t keep pretending that these temporary band-aids are going to magically fix everything. Our life is a mirror. What you put in is what you get out. And that is exactly what we are doing to our Chautauqua Lake. Excessive fertilizers, pollutants, and sediment are what we are putting in and excessive plants, algae and compromised water quality are what we are getting out. So through her reflection, we can grow and change. We must! We can’t change the past, but we can benefit from learning from it. It isn’t always easy or pretty, and we have to understand and commit for the long-term. So why not choose to add daily changes that will only benefit your quality of life and the quality of our lake? Lead with awareness and empathy and from a place of support, and you'll find it will return in the most important ways! And one of the easiest and most effective ways to start is with your own home and yard. I would love to see our communities come together and work on these issues as a whole instead of finger-pointing, name blaming, and band-aid fixing. It’s time to start, as Michael Jackson so eloquently stated, with “the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could’ve been any clearer. If you want to make the world (including our lakes!) a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.” For more information on how to make these changes and learn more about lake-friendly landscapes and lawncare, contact CWC Conservationist Carol Markham at carol@chautauquawatershed.org or call 716-664-2166 Ext. 2005. Thank you in advance for your willingness and desire to make a change for our Chautauqua Lake! (photo by Sarah Roberts)

A “less is more” approach to fall yard care can help birds thrive in and survive winter! Fall is a season of change and beauty. We gaze upon the vibrant colors of changing fall leaves, drink in the cool, crisp morning air and observe the migration of some of our favorite backyard birds that adorn our yards. As the brilliant reds and golds of leaves dim and plant life fades to grays and browns, many homeowners and gardeners begin an annual fall rite of raking leaves and cleaning out other dried plant matter from their lawns and garden beds. But perhaps it’s time to reconsider this practice. A 2019 Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology study (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back) conducted by an international team of scientists from seven institutions revealed that the North American bird population is down a staggering 2.9 billion in breeding adults since 1970! The so-called common backyard birdfeeder birds represent the greatest losses of birdlife. Ken Rosenburg, a senior scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and lead author of the study, stated that “these bird losses are a strong signal that our human-altered landscapes are losing their ability to support birdlife.” Are there things we as homeowners can do to our landscapes that can help our distressed bird populations? You bet! One of the easiest and simplest ways is to minimize our fall lawn care practices and learn to embrace a “messy” lawn and garden area – in other words, a welcoming fall and winter haven for birds! How? Stack Your Sticks! Limbs, branches and twigs that fall into our yards are perfect for creating a brush pile that will provide shelter for birds from the winter weather and protection from predators. Don’t Deadhead! No, we’re not referencing fans of the Grateful Dead, but we are talking about the benefits of savings seeds. Many of the birds we observe in our yards in the fall and winter not only eat seed from our feeders but also rely on the seeds, nuts and berries that are produced on many of your landscape plants and shrubs. If we weed whack or trim everything down for the winter, we remove valuable sources of calories for birds. For example, goldfinches love to perch and feed on native grasses, black-eyed Susan and purple coneflower seed heads during the winter months as do cardinals on the withered red berries of winterberry holly. Many species of native bees and butterflies also use “messy” garden spaces to overwinter. So wait to snip the stems of those perennials or other dried or dead plants until springtime. Leave The Leaves! Mowing and mulching your leaves right into your lawn naturally enriches the soil and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. In other words, leaves are free lawn food! Leaves that remain in or are raked into gardens and mulched areas not only add winter insulation for plants and bulbs but can also establish cover for birds and create space and habitat for beneficial insects and caterpillars to overwinter. In turn, these bugs provide food for birds during the cold winter months. As a bonus, leaving or mulching your leaves into your yard or garden bed will also help keep them out of storm drains, which in turn helps to keep them out of our streams and lakes where the phosphorus and nitrogen contained within the leaves can act as fertilizer for aquatic plants and algae. Even if the leaves don’t make it into storm drains, leaves left on the curb or swept into streets can block storm drains and cause or exacerbate flooding problems. Need even more reason? You’ll also save yourself time, backaches and blisters by skipping the leaf raking this fall! And, if you are a village or city resident, it can also help keep municipal costs down by reducing the amount of leaves your local public works department needs to haul away. (photo by Stephen Bonk)

As the trees are signaling the end of another growing season in quite a spectacular fashion, it's a good time to reflect on the less obvious end-of-season changes to the submerged aquatic vegetation in Chautauqua Lake. CWC’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Early Detection Network may appear similarly unassuming, yet it plays a critically important role in maintaining the health of the lake. When it comes to new invasive species, early detection and rapid action are the critical next steps in case prevention fails. And our staff, volunteers, and program partners have been very busy this summer keeping potentially harmful new invasives from getting a foothold here. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” very much holds true when it comes to invasive species. To avoid economic or ecological harm, it is always best to prevent them from establishing. During the high-traffic summer season on Chautauqua Lake, boat steward programs are in place at several boat launches to educate boat owners on the importance of cleaning watercraft and equipment so that no vegetation fragments are inadvertently transported in from elsewhere. At least half a dozen new aquatic invasive species are known to occur within an easy drive’s distance from Chautauqua County, and any could hitch a ride here and potentially spell bad news for the lake. Voluntary boat checks are not a perfect defense against new invasives, though, and some will eventually find their way in. This is exactly where the AIS Early Detection Network shines. Through targeted education and outreach efforts, CWC staff trains volunteers in the identification of watchlist nuisance species through in-person and online training sessions. Next, instructors and students take to the water for “online classroom” experiences that are hosted in areas where new invasives have been reported in years past. Such on-water surveys allow volunteers to apply their newfound identification skills while simultaneously re-surveying areas where potentially harmful invasives may persist. If found, such target species are reported through the online reporting portal iMapInvasives (www.imapinvasives.org), and the offending plants are carefully removed. It is in exactly this manner that, under the guidance of CWC staff, lake stewards, volunteers, and community partners, hundreds of invasive water chestnut plants have been removed from the Chautauqua Lake outlet. This high-priority invasive species was detected shortly after it first arrived in the lake some years ago, and it has been effectively managed since. Water chestnut plants reproduce by dropping spiky nutlets by late summer. Every plant can produce 15-20 nutlets, each able to grow 10-15 new plants. Once dropped in the sediment, nutlets remain viable for up to 12 years. Clearly, these plants will spread exponentially if not properly managed, and their timely removal is critical. Even removal of a single water chestnut plant can prevent dozens from appearing the next year. And the longevity of their seeds indicates why annual re-surveys of previously treated areas is necessary. Another example of the effectiveness of this program is the discovery this summer of two “meadows” of the plant-like algae starry stonewort. This invasive has been in Chautauqua Lake in low densities since 2009, but for reasons still unclear, it recently exploded to nuisance levels in these locations and now cover more than 7 acres. Fortunately, rapid re-surveys of other areas where starry stonewort had been found previously did not reveal such growth. The AIS Early Detection Program and its stewards will continue to keep a watchful eye on these areas while we figure out, in collaboration with aquatic invasive species experts and local partners, how to best keep starry stonewort from expanding farther into Chautauqua Lake. While prevention may have failed in both of these cases, early detection and rapid action are stopping these newcomers from becoming a systemic threat to Chautauqua Lake. Please be a vigilant lake user and consider joining our programs next season. With more watchers on the water, you too can help keep Chautauqua Lake healthy!

Fall is one of the best times of year to plant trees. Why should you consider planting trees in your yard or on your business property? Because they provide numerous benefits! First, trees add thousands of dollars to the value of your property. The abundance of mature trees is one of the reasons that the Chautauqua Institution community is so appealing. Mature trees provide shade for your home, business and parking lots, which makes living and working more comfortable. In fact, computer simulations using standard building and tree configurations for cities across the U.S. indicate that shade from a single well-placed, mature tree (about 25-ft crown diameter) reduces annual air conditioning use 2 to 8 percent and peak cooling demand 2 to 10 percent (Simpson and McPherson, 1996). The ambient air temperature difference between an urban heat island and a vegetated area can be as much as ten degrees F. The temperature measured directly above man-made surfaces can be as much as 25 degrees F hotter than the air temperature beneath a forested area (Akbari et. al., 1992; Simpson and McPherson, 1996). Business districts with ample trees are also more attractive to shoppers because they look better, are more pleasing to patrons and are cooler and more comfortable during the summer. Simply put, trees make us feel better. Several studies indicate that viewing a setting abundant with trees can have a calming effect after stressful incidents, and those neighborhoods rich with tree life provide multiple psychological benefits to their residents. Have you heard of “forest bathing?” Entering a forest for relaxation has proven to be good for your health. Trees also provide many pollution and storm water control benefits. Ever notice that you can stand under a tree to stay out of the rain? The leafy canopies of trees trap and absorb rainwater. A study by Xiao et al. found that an 8-year old Cork Oak intercepted 27 percent of gross rainfall and a 9-year old Bradford Pear intercepted 15 percent. The tree canopy of Austin, Texas, which covers about 30% of its community, is estimated to reduce storm water flows by 28%, providing that city with an estimated $122 million in avoided storm water capacity (MacDonald. 1996). Trees and shrubs can also control soil erosion. First, their branches and foliage absorb and deflect the energy of raindrops before they reach the ground. Second, their roots effectively hold the soil in place. It’s also important to leave streamside and lakeshore trees and shrubs in place to avoid soil erosion when developing waterfront lots because the roots are very effective at absorbing nutrients and fertilizers before they reach waterways. Consider returning parts of your yard to forest. Start with conserving your large trees – they are irreplaceable in your lifetime. Have an experienced arborist trim dead branches and branches that are a threat to buildings. You can assist the growth of wild saplings with the purchase and installation of tree tubes to protect them from rabbits, deer and rodents. Visit local nurseries to select appropriate native trees to plant for your soil conditions. Search “Working Trees for Your Community,” and “Working Trees for Water Quality” on the internet for more information. Also visit https://chautauquawatershed.org/native-species/ for a list of trees and other plants native to the Chautauqua region. This fall, please plant or nurture the growth of at least one new tree and e-mail the CWC at info@chautauquawatershed.org to let us know that you did!