An area of the Chautauqua Lake shoreline is pictured. Photo by Jill Ecklund

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy staff gets asked numerous questions about watersheds and water quality. Here are some of our more frequently asked questions – and answers!

What is a

watershed?

A watershed is an area of land where all surface water and groundwater drain to a common place like a stream, river, wetland, bay, or lake. No matter where you live, you are in a watershed. And what you do in your part of the watershed, from how you care for your yard to how you dispose of waste, affects the waterways into which it drains.

Where does lake water come from?

Some of a lake’s water comes from rain and groundwater, but most lake water comes from inflowing streams. If the water in the streams is polluted with chemicals or sediment, those pollutants will eventually end up in the lake. Most of a lake’s problems are actually a result of issues upstream in the watershed.

What causes lake algae and weed problems?

Excess nutrients and sediment in the water cause overgrowth of lake plants as well as algae blooms, which use the oxygen in the water that fish and aquatic organisms need to survive. This process is called eutrophication.

What are “excess nutrients” and how do they get into our lakes?

Aquatic plants and organisms need nutrients to survive, just like those on land do, but when there are too many nutrients in the water, the system and rhythm of the lake gets out of whack. The term “excess nutrients” refers to an unnaturally high amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water – the two main nutrients causing problems in our region’s lakes. They can enter a lake through pollution of streams in the watershed, as well as direct pollution in the lake and on its shores. Rainwater, which already contains nutrients, runs over the ground, picking up chemicals, fertilizers, pet waste, leaves, and other matter along the way and then carries it all to our streams or storm drains, which can empty directly into other area waterways without filtration or treatment. These major sources of excess nutrients disrupt the natural cycles in the lake and cause lake plants and algae to grow much more than they should.

Where does the sediment come from?

Sediment comes from erosion. Plants and their root systems help to hold soil in place. When plants are removed from the banks of streams or the shorelines of lakes, there is no longer anything to hold the soil in place. The force of flowing water will begin to wash away the soil, creating eroded banks and shorelines. The eroded soil is then carried through the stream into the lake, where it can cause havoc on the natural underwater processes.

I don’t live near or use any of our area’s streams or lakes, so why should I care about them?

The economic health of the Chautauqua County region is very much connected to the ecological health of its streams and lakes. Much of the County’s economy depends on revenue brought in through these waterways by vacationers, fishermen, boaters, and campers who patronize our hotels, restaurants, stores, and other establishments. In fact, many local businesses depend on tourism from the lake to keep them afloat. Whether you live, work, or play in this area, the health of our waterways directly affects you.

What does

Chautauqua Watershed

Conservancy do?

Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a nationally accredited 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality, scenic beauty, and ecological health of lands and waters of the Chautauqua region for our community. We do so through land conservation, restoration projects, educational programming, and community engagement. We foster and advocate for the care and protection of our natural areas to provide cleaner and healthier waters, safe fish and wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, climate resiliency, and economic prosperity in the Chautauqua region. We also own and manage 35 nature preserves located throughout the County which help to protect a number of diverse ecosystems and provide year-round, nature-based recreational activities such as hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, bird and wildlife watching, and nature study and photography.

For more information, visit www.chautauquawatershed.org.