YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS IMPORTANT. Watch this space for information on how you can participate

Public Meetings

• Come learn about the project, 5:30PM on August 7 at Ashville Firehall near Stow Senior Center
• Public Meeting No. 2 on April 18, 2013

Free Resources

• Aquatic Plant Image Library
• Lake Stewardship Blog

Chautauqua Lake is a large, natural lake of 13,422 acres in Chautauqua County set within a 115,346 acre watershed comprising portions of 14 municipalities. The lake contains a number of native and non-native submerged aquatic vegetation species some of which may at times be classified as nuisance aquatic vegetation due to their overgrowth in areas that inhibit lake access and recreation. While aquatic plants are beneficial to the lake’s ecosystem, the predominance of certain species interferes with the use and enjoyment of the lake. Numerous studies have been conducted on the lake over many years.

Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC has been hired to use the information within those studies, together with additional new information, to develop a Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (SAVMP) for Chautauqua Lake. An SAVMP is an important guidance document that identifies zones of lake use and habitat, areas where plant growth are inhibiting the best uses of the lake and/or damaging the lake's aquatic ecosystem. Just as the Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan provided direction in managing lake water quality through the use of directed on-land techniques, the SAVMP creates an implimentation strategy whereby aquatic plant management can be carried out in a targeted, economical and reasonable fashion to meet the goals and objectives established by the SAV Management Plan.

Chautaqua Lake SAVMP Scope of Work (pdf) - a detailed description of the project by task

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - On-Line Surveys

Your participation is very important to us. Please start by filling out these two on-line surveys:

1. SAVMP survey to identify your specific uses around the lake and the impact of aquatic vegetation (Closed)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - Public Meetings

• Public Meeting # 1 (August 7, 5:30PM at Ashville Firehall near Stow Senior Center)
  • Introduction to the project and SAVMP development process
  • Opportunity to interact with key project scientists & partners
  • Presentation of DRAFT Management Goals
  • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)
• Public Meeting # 2 - April 18, 2013
  • Project update
  • Results of field and existing studies research
  • Draft Final Maps for lake use, environmentally sensitive areas, water depth, plant density, lake uses
  • PowerPoint Presentation (PDF)

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) - SEQRA

• Draft Scope for Draft Generic EIS (PDF - 2.8 MB)