CLA Highlights Achievements at 2010 Annual Dinner

June 28, 2010

Accomplishments like the recent dredging and clean-up of Goose Creek were highlighted at the 63rd annual meeting of the Chautauqua Lake Association at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club on Monday, June 28th.

Director Craig Butler opened the meeting with a solemn tribute to Betty Sheldon, a long-time benefactor for the group. He said, “We’re thankful for her long life, her friendship and her guiding light. Her love for Chautauqua Lake lives in each of us.”

Chautauqua Lake Management Commission chairman Lyle Hadju spoke briefly on the newly released 5-year plan for watershed management. “All of us at the CLMC appreciate the leadership CLA President Chris Yates and General Manager Paul Swanson bring to the table. They are a tremendous resource for the objectives we have set for the future of our lake.”

President Chris Yates said even though major funding sources to the CLA have been cut over the past two years, the Association is “continuing our 60-year role of being steward of the lake. Despite reduced funding from local and federal sources we’ve made great improvements to the lake in 2009. We have to recognize the generous support of our membership and private foundations as the mainstay for our existence.” Yates said even with an unstable economy, some membership levels have doubled and tripled. “This signifies the faith and confidence lake residents have in the CLA and we continue to earn their support through their love for Chautauqua Lake.”

He cited the many improvements the CLA has accomplished in the past year, specifically the dredging and clean-up of Goose Creek in Ashville Bay. “This was a tremendous and expensive undertaking for the CLA. But, with the guidance of our manager Paul Swanson, we were able to remove tons of debris and provide a navigation lane going in and out of the creek. An area in the lake was curtained off so loose sediment could not flow elsewhere into the lake."

The need for dredging was identified by the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission. Goose Creek was determined to be the best location point to test tributary sediment build-up dredging on Chautauqua Lake.

Yates said the CLA continues to be innovative when managing their operations. “We have made a number of improvements to increase our visibility in the community,” he said. “With the assistance of NYSERDA and the Chautauqua County Community Foundation, HSBC and the Wilhelm Hoppe Foundation, we were able to install solar panels to increase the energy efficiency of operations at the CLA.” He also cited the scientific approach the CLA maintains in controlling weed growth. “We have a hands-on relationship with Robert Johnson of Cornell University Research Ponds ensuring a scientific approach to any problems that may arise in the lake. The decrease in nuisance vegetation like Eurasian milfoil has become apparent in recent years because of the efforts of Johnson and his team.”

Jamie Vanucchi from the Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture was the keynote speaker for the evening. She is an ecological designer and teacher with expertise in storm water and shoreline management. She spoke on how all those who enjoy the lake need to become involved in the “science of design.”

“Stewardship is extremely important to the restoration of our streams and waterways,” Vanucchi said. “We have to keep people working together to make things happen.” She talked about how the construction of natural remedies such as bio-retentive rain gardens and aquatic buffers are a critical part of watershed management. “These types of preservation projects restore and refresh what people value most about the lake.” She sited cities like Denver, Seattle and Portland as trailblazers in the areas of “harvesting water.” She said the fact that Chautauqua Lake has a tremendous amount of docks will be a challenging aspect to effective landscape design. “We are currently implementing plans at Maple Springs and Light House Point that include planting deep- rooted native plants and grasses along with roadside gardens to improve water quality.”

A question and answer period between CLA board members and the audience followed the formal presentation. Harvester rides were auctioned off along with raffle baskets to raise additional funds for the association. Yates concluded the meeting and said, “The CLA will continue to use good science and good stewardship to encourage their members to be active in preserving their love for our lake.”

The Chautauqua Lake Association is a not-for profit 501c organization with more than 1400 members. The group’s mission is to provide effective and efficient lake maintenance services for the benefit of all Chautauqua Lake users. The CLA is committed to initiating and implementing in-lake management activities to protect and improve the quality of Chautauqua Lake. The CLA’s primary goal is to ensure the natural beauty, safety and utility of the lake as a recreational resource.