DEWITTVILLE - Much has been accomplished in the last 20 years - and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy isn't nearly done yet.
The Conservancy held its 20th anniversary celebration dinner and annual meeting Saturday at the YMCA's Camp Onyahsa in Dewittville. The event began with a welcoming reception and dinner followed shortly thereafter with more than 90 members and guests attending, according to John Jablonski, conservancy executive director. They mingled together before the start of the ceremony, which began with current board president Michael Lyons addressing the crowd during his opening speech.
"This is a very important time for us," Lyons said.
A prayer was delivered by former president Art Webster, who commended the work that the conservancy has been doing.
"This is a celebration of our 20 years of successful conservation action on Chautauqua Lake and countywide," Jablonski said. "We are celebrating conserving 719 acres across the county and almost two miles of shore line on Chautauqua Lake and its outlet."
Along with dinner, a charity auction was held to raise money for the organization.
"We will be having a fundraising auction as part of this event to help raise money to continue our conservation activities," he said.
The event continues with the annual meeting, which involved a financial report and the board of directors elections.
A program was given by Becky Nystrom called "A Celebration of 20 Years: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going."
"Our organization has been instrumental to protecting the most important natural shoreline habitat left on the lake," Jablonski said.
The event was held at Camp Onyahsa because of its lakeside venue, said Jablonski.
"We wanted to pick a lakefront site for this event," he said. "This camp in particular has a large lakeshore, has some wetland areas, owns part of Dewittville Creek and owns land in the watershed, and the YMCA is an organization that we hope to work closely with as a good steward of Chautauqua Lake and watershed."
The future of the CWC is to remain a staunch supporter of lake conservation, he said.
"We have some big projects coming up in the future," he said.
