The Alliance mission is to facilitate the implementation of the Chautauqua Lake Watershed Management Plan and the Chautauqua Lake Macrophyte Management Strategy by working with its members as it seeks outside funding for projects related to water quality.

The 2015 Regional Economic Development Council awards were announced on Thursday.

The Alliance, working in collaboration with a number of its members including the County, wrote six Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) – Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) grants for over $1.4 million in stream bank stabilization projects. All six applications were funded, leveraging local investment to bring in over $1 million in state dollars to benefit Chautauqua Lake.

The grants cover 75% of each project cost while 25% of project costs needed to be funded locally.

According to Alliance Executive Director Erin Brickley, the stream bank stabilization projects are critical with respect to reducing sediment and excess nutrient loads flowing into the lake. The primary concern in Chautauqua Lake is the impact that excessive weed growth (including invasive species) and algal blooms have on recreational uses and drinking water. Nonpoint source pollution such as excess sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen are the major cause of excess plants and algae. Brickley said Addressing the cause and not just the symptoms is an important management goal in any watershed.