CWC Director of Conservation Twan Leenders is pictured in a kayak in Ashville Bay during the first pilot removal effort of starry stonewort on September 30.

Local Lake and Watershed organizations have teamed up against the invasive species, starry stonewart, in Chautauqua Lake.

Starry stonewort can easily be mistaken for an aquatic plant at first glance. It first made its way to North America in 1974 via the St. Lawrence River. Since then it has spread to lakes across the Northeast.

The algae is identified by its thin grass-like branches, which grow in whorls around a central stem. Starry stonewort can appear green or brown in color, may be crunchy to the touch, and can be mistaken for native lookalikes like muskgrass. It can form dense stands in late-summer and early-fall, and can be difficult to detect before this growing season.

If left unaddressed, this invasive has the potential to spread to new areas of the lake, impede recreation, crowd out native plants and animals, and negatively impact game fish species.

Representatives from the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, the Chautauqua Lake Association, the Alliance, Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium, and Audubon joined volunteers last month to try to remove starry stonewart from Ashville Bay.

The group performed manual removal with a variety of tools including rakes, screens, and baskets. After around four hours of work, the manual removal team had gathered approximately 12 large bags of starry stonewort, or approximately 750 pounds of material to be disposed.

Following the pilot removal, stakeholders are continuing to assess their findings, consult with outside experts, and collaborate to determine the best path forward to manage starry stonewort in the lake.

For more information, contact Twan Leenders at Twan@chautauquawatershed.org.

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke with Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance (The Alliance) Executive Director Randall Perry about the organization’s 2022 coordinated work plan for Chautauqua Lake and its watershed.

Randall Perry

Alliance Executive Director Randall Perry said the Alliance received $695,000 in grants from the Lenna Foundation, the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation toward their fourth annual Consolidated Local Funding Program.

Perry said those funds will be allocated to projects by Alliance members that were reviewed by the Alliance Board of Directors, “There’s macrophyte which are aquatic plants in the lake. There’s management of those plants. There’s shoreline and near shore debris clean up on the lake. There are watershed programs in that coordinated work plan that help to work some of the longer term issues up in the watershed that contribute to lake impairments. There’s invasive species programs.”

The Alliance Members anticipated to lead projects in 2022 are the Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Lake Partnership, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Towns of Busti, Chautauqua, Ellery, and Ellicott, and Villages of Bemus Point, Celoron, and Lakewood.

Hear more about the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance and its work plan at 5pm, March 31 on WRFA’s Community Matters.

Local triathlete Cheryl Burns started the indoor triathlon following the death of her brother, Marty Miller, by suicide. The intent of this event is to get people moving during one of the toughest winter months in Chautauqua County.

Alliance Coordinator Carri Raynor said first timers as well as seasoned athletes are encouraged to take part. There will be three events – swim, bike, and run that only last a total of 45 minutes.

Participants can register to complete the triathlon solo or as a team of three members. The cost is $35 per individual or $75 per team.

All proceeds for the Kick Cabin Fever Indoor Triathlon stay in Chautauqua County for suicide prevention efforts. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/KickCabinFever.