Dave McCoy, county watershed coordinator, discusses a grant the county intends to receive to assist in the purchase of equipment for near-shore cleanup on Chautauqua Lake. During Wednesday’s Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting, McCoy told county legislators the state grant will look to help the Chautauqua Lake Association buy new equipment. P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy

MAYVILLE — A study is underway in the Lakewood-Busti area to better address stormwater management around Chautauqua Lake.

Now, a similar endeavor is gaining traction in the Mayville-Chautauqua area with the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance’s assistance.

On Wednesday, county legislators on the Planning and Economic Development Committee agreed to commit $12,650 to apply for a state grant for a Mayville-Chautauqua stormwater management engineering study. The study is expected to cost $135,300. Local officials will apply for a $100,000 grant through the Environmental Facilities Corporation.

The village of Mayville will submit an application to the state while Chautauqua County and the town of Chautauqua will be partnering. Town and village officials have agreed to each put forth $5,000 while the Alliance will contribute around $6,000.

Erin Brickley, executive director for the Alliance, told committee members the project mimics the one they assisted Lakewood and Busti officials with. A total of $100,000 was successfully obtained for that study.

“The study is really important to get vetted projects, which will come from the study, to get money,” she said. “It’s a good partnership project.”

Local officials will look to apply for a grant through the 2017 Consolidated Funding Application process. Funding is included for municipalities to help pay for initial planning for eligible water quality projects.

In other matters, committee members authorized the acceptance of $100,000 from the state for the purchase of equipment to assist with the collection and removal of nearshore floating vegetation. County Department of Planning and Economic Development officials successfully obtained the funds through the State and Municipal Facilities Capital Program. Dave McCoy, county watershed coordinator, said the funds will look to assist the Chautauqua Lake Association to buy new equipment.

A funding request by County Executive Vince Horrigan of $100,000 for the Alliance was tabled by the committee after some members issued concern over the amount and need. Money requested by the county executive from the occupancy tax lakes and waterways reserve fund would help the Alliance implement recommendations from studies like the Macrophyte Management Strategy Plan.

Legislators Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, and Mark Odell, R-Brocton, acknowledged that the request was high considering the reserve contains around $304,000. Odell said he’d be comfortable with a smaller amount while Niebel said the Alliance could come back to the legislature with a request for reimbursement if they need to issue funds.

“I think the county executive is doing a great job, but if we’re spending $100,000, I want to know exactly what it’s being spent for,” Niebel said.

Brickley told legislators funds being proposed would also address short-term funding needs that might come up. Such examples that she outlined included assisting organizations like the CLA if lake maintenance goes beyond what they have budgeted for the year. The money could also be used for educational outreach to residents within proposed sewer expansions around Chautauqua Lake if state funds are gathered to proceed.

“If that comes through, we might need funds,” Brickley said.

Christine Starks, D-Fredonia, said she sees the need for funds due to the abundant weed growth that’s occurring in Chautauqua Lake. But she, too, was concerned about the requested amount.