Mission: The chautauqua watershed conservancy's mission is to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of the lakes, streams, and watersheds of the chautauqua region.
Programs: Land conservation - during 2016-17, cwc conserved 230 feet of wetland lakeshore on chautauqua lake, 21 acres of forest and wetland tributary to chautauqua lake in the town of chautauqua, and 15 acres of forested hillside and floodplain stream valley in the town of busti. Cwc sold 10. 8 acres of lakeshore habitat to the state of new york for permanent conservation and public recreation use. Cwc developed parking, trails, signage, etc. To enhance its nature preserves for public use and also undertook erosion control and plantings to enhance the hydrology and ecology of its preserves.
public education and technical assistance - during 2016-17, cwc personnel met with 20 landowners to provide landscaping and/or erosion control technical assistance. Cwc held three healthy landscaping-healthy waters education programs for the public, focusing on the causes of harmful algae bolloms (habs) and the potential link to lawn fertilization. Cwc delivered public education for partner agencies on six stream erosion control projects. The conservancy presented the chautauqua lake curriculum program to approximately 235 school children in 1st - 4th grades. In addition, two issues the 'shed sheet newletter were published and distributed to approximately 4,800 families, individuals and businesses in 2017.
municipal technical assistance - cwc directors and staff provided scientific technical assistance for the development and implementation of effective watershed pollution control and lake management programs and guided public investment of chautauqua county waterway enhancement funds, including projects implementing the chautauqua lake watershed management plan and the completion of the chautauqua lake macrophyte (aquatic plant) management strategy, as well as providing technical assistance through the chautauqua county water quality task force.
Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy became an accredited land trust February 2024, a status that can be renewed every five years. Accreditation means Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate the commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. To learn more about land trust accreditation and the current accreditation status of Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, visit http//www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about.
