Jefferson Project research on Chautauqua Lake (photo provided by Chautauqua Institution)

Chautauqua Institution is applauding the County Legislature‘s approval of funding for the Jefferson Project.

The approval of $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to continue research in 2020 has received $4 million in funding from Chautauqua Institution.

Institution President Michael Hill said in a statement, “The work of The Jefferson Project is informing mitigation efforts that will eventually save Chautauqua Lake. Chautauqua Lake will not survive unless we make the right decisions now.”

The Jefferson Project is a collaboration between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, IBM Research, and the Lake George Association that exists to collect and process massive amounts of data on freshwater bodies to create a new model for environmental monitoring and prediction.

The group is working on efforts to reverse negative environmental conditions, including Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and invasive weed growth, include watershed conservation, weed harvesting and targeted herbicide applications.

According to a release by the Chautauqua Institution, The Jefferson Project researchers compile data using platform buoys, called vertical profilers, that are situated in selected locations in the lake to take measurements at increments from the surface of the water to the bottom of the lake. The funding from Chautauqua County will enable the expansion of this effort to tributaries that feed the lake. They said the next step is to create a “smart lake” to allow for real-time monitoring and analysis leading to short- and long-term solutions.

Researchers also are using boats to conduct water sampling every two weeks.

Chautauqua Lake was designated as impaired by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the early 2000s because its phosphorus levels were, and continue to be, too high.

Hill said the Institution is still seeking additional financial support for lake work from private and public sources.

Wendel said most would agree that the 2019 M-O-A was a success with a number of initiatives achieved,

“A combined effort to improve near-shore cleanup utilizing Mobitracs, Barges, and Harvesters; an increased ability to move more quickly respond to the stakeholders’ needs; the use of a new herbicide, ProcellaCOR, product to control Eurasian Watermilfoil; the use of satellite-based Geographic Information System technology to track the movement of equipment and the location of herbicide applications on the Lake.”

Wendel said other initiatives reached included more comprehensive weed surveys and increased transparency in sharing of data and operations. He said while the 2019 M-O-A did not fully resolve all stakeholder disagreements regarding funding and lake management activities, stakeholders communicated much better and more often than in the past.

The county retained the services of W-S-P, formerly Ecology & Environment, located in Lancaster, to interview Lake stakeholders regarding a successor agreement. Wendel said the result of those interviews led the county to develop a Memorandum of Understanding as a non-binding agreement with the intent that all participants would work collaboratively and in good faith,

“The 2021 MOU is a Chautauqua County agreement that encompasses the Chautauqua Lake municipalities and its Not-for-Profits. It is known that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, or the DEC, has full and objective regulatory authority over Chautauqua Lake. The issues that the Chautauqua Lake stakeholders and regulators are challenged with are much broader than just weed management.”

Wendel laid out other key elements of the M-O-U including that it’s not a prerequisite or rubric to qualify for local funding and that stakeholders should have the trust to collaborate with others without the threat of litigation.

Wendel said he felt motivated to do this because Chautauqua Lake is an economic engine,

“But, as we’ve heard before, and pardon the pun, our ships must travel in the same direction. We don’t have to agree with everything that everybody does, but we do have to work together. We cannot cross paths, we cannot criticize, we need to work together in a very fundamental way and for the betterment of this Lake.”

The M-O-U will be sent out today to municipalities and organizations to review.

PJ Wendel

Chautauqua County will unveil a new Memorandum of Understanding regarding the future of Chautauqua Lake next Wednesday, May 5th. County Executive PJ Wendel said, while appearing on WRFA’s Community Matters, it’s going to be an organic approach to the lake in the future with looking at long-term solutions,

“Long-term meaning a Lake Management Program, implementing that management program. Looking at a steady funding stream for a Lake Management Program vis-à-vis a lake district should that go into effect. That way we have a steady funding stream. We know where monies are going to come every year.”

Wendel said both the use of herbicides and weed harvesting can be used together effectively and safely,

“We have an herbicide right now that’s known as ProcellaCOR and that has no limits right now to be used near water intakes. Now we’re not using it near water intakes. We’re recognizing and we’re taking a very safe approach and that’s been supported by the DEC and where they’re allowing the use and only the use of that herbicide at certain areas of the Lake north of Long Point.”

Wendel says the Chautauqua Lake Association has done a great job of managing the lake over the last 70 years and it’s time now to pivot to having a Lake Management Program,

“Where we hire a Lake Management company that can come in and look at the data, look at the science that’s happening here in our lake, take all the pieces and listen to what the lake is telling us and then formulate a plan on-going to better enhance the cleanliness of our lake. It’s an economic driver and I’m very committed to making sure we work together on this.”

Wendel says the M-O-U will be an example of the unity needed for this project.

The DEC cited lack of Eurasian milfoil or requested areas being in critical fish habitats for why herbicide use was denied for portions of the permits for Busti, Ellery and Ellicott.

Under the permit guidelines, spraying for curly leaf pond weed is permitted to happen between May 10th and 21st. Eurasian milfoil treatment will be allowed to start June 7th through 18th.

The NYS DEC permit letters to municipalities can be reviewed here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iqewkyJZxpZRA6mYKYtqMATeyL9eR6Iv?usp=sharing

LAKEWOOD – Area of Chautauqua Lake scheduled to be treated with herbicide on Wednesday, June 24 will now have to wait until Monday at the earliest for the treatment.

The Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance announced Wednesday morning that due to weather conditions, the herbicide treatment of  ProcellaCOR EC has been rescheduled with a new anticipated treatment date of Monday June 29, 2020.

Last week it was announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) had issued permits for the treatment of up to approximately 86.4 acres of Chautauqua Lake in the Town of Busti (including the Village of Lakewood) and the Town of Ellery – including the Village of Bemus Point.

Some temporary restrictions are in place for the treatment areas, including no swimming, domestic water use, fishing, irrigation, and livestock watering.

Safety guidelines for residents in the area, along with the general public, are available at the town of Ellery Website.

Eurasian Milfoil (left) and Curly Leaf Pondweed

MAYVILLE – A consulting firm from Lancaster, NY has provided Chautauqua County with a white paper report that focuses on lake weed management and the available herbicides that could be used to help manage aquatic plants and weeds in Chautauqua Lake.

The report from Ecology and Environment, Inc. is entitled, “Summary of Methods for Control of Aquatic Invasive and Nuisance Plants with Special Emphasis on Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curly-leaf Pondweed.” A copy of the full report can be found at the county website.

The firm prepared the white paper through in-depth research and examination of peer-reviewed papers, environmental impact statements, text books, herbicide product labels obtained from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and management guides and guidelines.

The white paper examines various biological, chemical, and physical aquatic plant management techniques to help control the amount of Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pond weed (the two most problematic plant species) found in the Lake. It also identifies the advantages, disadvantages, and environmental impacts associated with each technique from a third party perspective.

To control these aquatic invasive plant species, the report recommends to:

• Regularly monitor plant communities,
• Utilize the most effective combinations of available biological, chemical, and physical management techniques and tools available,
• Rotate herbicides used at a given site in order to prevent herbicide resistance in targeted plants.

“We were pleased to have this independent, third party firm evaluate various approaches to address the weeds in Chautauqua Lake,” said Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development. “It is important that we have an approach to periodically evaluate our decisions and goals for Chautauqua Lake, and E&E’s white paper will help us establish best management practices for our Comprehensive Lake Management Strategy.”

On Wednesday the firm SOLitude Lake Management began treating DEC-designated areas of the lake with the chemicals Aquathol K and Navigate, which are intended to kill lake vegetation.

The firm is hired by Chautauqua Lake Partnership along with the participating municipalities, including the villages of Celoron and Lakewood and the towns of Ellicott, North Harmony and Ellery.

About 400 acres is being treated. The application of the chemicals began Wednesday morning and will continue through the day Friday, weather permitting.

The CLP has said that herbicide treatments are meant as a last resort to manage invasive weed species Eurasian milfoil and curly-leaf pondweed.

Despite concerns from some county residents and other lake groups regarding the negative health and environmental impact the herbicides may have on people, wildlife and the environment, the state DEC moved forward at the start of this month to grant permission for the herbicides to be used.

Residents are advised not to swim during the treatments and 24 hours after they finish. In addition, Lake water should not be used for irrigation until 21 days after treatment is completed.

The herbicides application for designated areas of the lake in the towns of Ellicott, Ellery, North Harmony and villages of Celoron and Lakewood was approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at the start of this month and will begin tomorrow, weather permitting.

The firm that will be monitoring the application to ensure it is only applied in the designated areas and also test the water to ensure proper application is Princeton Hydro, a New Jersey based firm that provides integrated ecological and engineering consulting services.

The company specializes in natural resource management, engineering services, environmental services, and pond and lake management.

According to a media release from Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello’s office:

Princeton Hydro is slated to conduct pre-treatment, during treatment, and post-treatment sampling and observation to objectively and independently evaluate the 2019 herbicide treatment program. Observations are expected to include visual observations and documentation of the condition of the plants using standard protocols, such as plant density, species distribution, and biomass; and water quality indicators such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and clarity.  Sample sites will be located along an estimated 12 transects within four treatment zones, four potential drift zones, and four control zones (those areas not treated and not believed to be susceptible to drift).

“I am delighted the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance is able to already support a key tenet of the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Chautauqua Lake Weed Management Consensus Strategy,” said Pierre Chagnon, Chautauqua County Legislator and Chair of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance. “By developing and contracting for this independent monitoring of the herbicide treatments we will be able to report to the community clearly and concisely on the effectiveness and the effects of the treatments.”

A final report will be given to the Alliance once the process is completed.

A map highlighting the areas of Chautauqua Lake authorized for herbicide treatment beginning May 15, 2019 and continuing until no later than May 22, 2019.

STOW – Nearly 400 acres of Chautauqua Lake will now be treated with herbicide beginning next week.

That was the news delivered yesterday during the annual meeting of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance.
According to the Post-Journal, officials with the Chautauqua Lake Partnership made the announcement after learning that funding would be in place to treat nearly 100 percent of the area that was permitted by the state DEC earlier this month.

Areas that will be treated are off the shores of the villages of Celeron and Lakewood, as well as town of Ellicott, North Harmony and Ellery.
A combination of funding from local tax dollars as well as grants from local foundations is being used to cover the cost of treatment.

Details of the specific treatment area were provided earlier this week and a map and other details can be found at the CLP website, as well as our own website at WRFALP.com.

Herbicide treatment will begin next Wednesday, May 15 and must be completed by no later than May 22.

A map highlighting the areas of Chautauqua Lake authorized for herbicide treatment beginning May 15, 2019 and continuing until no later than May 22, 2019.

LAKEWOOD – The organization involved with overseeing the herbicide applications on Chautauqua Lake has offered more details on when the process will take place and what residents and visitors should know when it comes to safety measures.

The Chautauqua Lake Partnership says that SOLitude Lake Management will begin applying herbicides Aquathol K (endothall) and Navigate (2,4-D) in lake waters starting next Wednesday, May 15 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Applications may take three to six days to complete and must be finished by May 22 according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Areas expected to be treated include those in the Town of Ellicott including the village of Celoron, in the village of Lakewood, the Town of North Harmony, and the Town of Ellery.

The time frames for restrictions on water use start as soon as the treatment has been completed. Information on water use restrictions, including when those restrictions are lifted, will be posted on the website of each Town that undertakes the application of herbicides. In addition, signs will be posted around the Lake and along downstream waters notifying users of the water use restrictions. When the swimming/bathing, irrigation, and potable use water restrictions are lifted, posted signs will be removed. After the treatment is completed, information on the status of the restrictions may be obtained on each applicable Town or Village’s website or by contacting the Town or Village Clerks.

Warning signs containing the following restrictions will be posted around the Lake and at public access points along downstream waters on or before the affected areas on the day(s) of treatment and shall remain posted as long as the restrictions are in place:

• Swimming: During Treatment and 24 hours after
• Irrigation: 21 days or < 100 ppb of 2,4-D
• Domestic Water use: < 50 ppb
• Potable Water Use: < 50 ppb
• Other Use Restrictions: None

The permits and a map of the application sites and affected areas are available at the respective Town and Village Halls and may be viewed during each’s normal business hours. Office staff will assist you in answering your questions regarding the treatments.

For all technical questions regarding the herbicides and treatment plan, please contact Glenn Sullivan, 1-908-310-8775 at SOLitude Lake Management during business hours.

The Herbicide product labels are available at https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/product-labels-new-york-2018

The herbicide treatment comes after the state DEC announced its approval of herbicide use last week.

In a statement, the DEC said it has issued permits to five municipalities authorizing herbicide treatment in 245.3 acres of the lake. There will be no applications north of Long Point, along undeveloped shoreline, or in areas containing critical fish spawning and nursery areas. In addition, areas treated in 2018 will not be treated this year because DEC typically does not authorize herbicide treatment in the same location two years in a row.  DEC issued a letter on May 6, 2019 clarifying several items, including noting that chemical amounts listed in the permit are approximate and explaining that Burtis Bay will be treated in thirds with the first treatment planned for this year. The remaining two thirds will be treated in subsequent years, one third at a time.  Additionally, DEC is in the process of issuing revised permits today which change allowable treatment zones within Lakewood and Ellicott and widens the navigation channel in Ellicott to 60 feet.

The actual amount of lake area that will be treated in the authorized areas will depend on each individual municipality and large based on available funding to cover the cost of treatment.