LAKEWOOD – The state Department of Environmental Conservation has approved chemical treatments in designated areas of Chautauqua Lake for this summer.
That’s according to a report in the Jamestown Post-Journal.
The Chautauqua Lake Partnership, with the backing of the towns of Ellery, North Harmony, Busti and Ellicott and village of Celoron, had applied for eight permits to use herbicides on roughly 1,000 acres of Chautauqua Lake. DEC officials issued three permits on May 15 approving herbicide use for 181 acres of the lake.
However, the Lakewood board held a meeting Monday night and expressed concerns of the town of Busti’s intention to spray herbicides on Lakewood’s shoreline without approval from the village first.
The village of Lakewood is located in the Town of Busti, and village officials feel that just because the town signed off on the permit application doesn’t mean the village is also giving approval to the process.
Lakewood mayor Cara Birrittieri said village officials first want to determine how herbicide use will impact the algae problem, and also provide assurance that it won’t be a health problem.
Busti officials approved the resolution to allow the use of herbicides on Monday night and also said they were surprised the village waited until the 11th hour to voice concerns, given that the herbicide question has been well publicized for the past several months.
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