Pictured above, panelists of the Western New York Regional Harmful Algal Bloom Summit.

ROCHESTER – Chautauqua Lake was well represented at the Western New York Regional Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Summit in Rochester on March 26.

County Executive George Borrello, County Legislator Pierre Chagnon, Water Resource Specialist Bill Boria, Soil & Water Conservation District Field Manager Dave Spann, and Watershed Coordinator Dave McCoy attended the 12-hour session on behalf of Chautauqua County.

They were joined by other lake organization representatives – including Erin Brickley from the Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance; as well as representatives from Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Audubon Community Nature Center, and Chautauqua Lake Partnership.

The state held the summit as an effort to address the growing problem of algal blooms on New York Waterways.

As part of the state budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo included Chautauqua Lake in his $65 million HABs Initiative as one of twelve priority lakes in New York State.

Officials hope information collected during the summit will help them better address the HAB problem at the local level.

Algae bloom, captured in this aerial photo by John McCredie, may be one of the issues tackled by a panel of local experts during a discussion about Chautauqua Lake at 7 p.m. Monday, April 29, at Prendergast Library.

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library will offer the fifth program in its Critical Discussion Series from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 29, in the Fireplace Room at the library on the topic “Chautauqua Lake Action: Who is Doing What in 2013?

During the final Critical Discussion until fall, John Jablonski III, executive director of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, will address root causes of lake problems, preventive activities, and landowner relationships.

Other panelists include: Doug Conroe, president of the Chautauqua Lake Association; Dave Spann, district field manager of the Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District; Sally Carlson, North Harmony town supervisor and the representative of mayors and supervisors on the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission; and Lyle Hajdu, chairman of the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission.

Panelists will also take questions from the audience. The program is free and open to the public. The library is located at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown. For information, call 484-7135, Ext. 225.