Busti Town Supervisor Jesse Robbins listens to reports during Monday’s board meeting. The implementation of stormwater swales was discussed in detail after being introduced by Erin Brickley, executive director of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance. P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

BUSTI — Managing the Lakewood watershed and contributing to the spraying costs to clear up Chautauqua Lake have been major priorities for the town of Busti. A related stormwater swales project was presented to the town board Monday as the best bet to reduce phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment build-up in the area.

The five members of the board unanimously approved the project, thereby committing $5,000 to the project once grant monies are awarded by the end of the year.

As described by Erin Brickley, executive director of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance, strategically placed stormwater swales will act as channels that will store and convey runoff while removing local pollutants. They are designed to promote infiltration where allowable by the soil.

Benefits of the swales include reducing rainwater velocity, promoting biodiversity, allowing clean groundwater infiltration and removing pollutants. They also sport low upfront costs and straightforward maintenance.

“I think it’s important that we go forward with this, so I support it,” said Rudy Mueller, town councilman.

A mixture of shallow gradient swales and steep gradient swales are planned to be implemented in Busti. Shallow gradient swales will be located at 2nd Avenue, Lakeview Avenue, East Summit Avenue and Southwestern Avenue. Steep gradient swales will be retrofitted along Fairwood Drive, Southland Avenue and Shadyside Road.

The main difference between the two types of swales lies in their location. Shallow gradient swales will be placed closer to the shore of Chautauqua Lake where water velocity and soil erosion are less severe. Check dams won’t necessarily be required here, and vegetated filter strips will help provide valuable habitats and enhance water treatment.

Steep gradient swales, meanwhile, are to be located higher in the watershed on steeper grounds. The main goals of these swales will be to minimize sedimentation, control stormwater velocities and reduce erosion. Placement of stone check dams will be determined by the roads’ topography.

Overall, with the planned 2,100 linear feet mitigated by steep gradient swales and 2,500 linear feet mitigated by shallow gradient swales, sediment load reductions will be improved at 2.7 tons per year and 3.3 tons per year respectively for each type of swale. The Busti swales will also reduce levels of nutrient pollution. Steep swales are projected to reduce phosphorus by 12 pounds per year and nitrogen by 60.9 pounds per year. Shallow swales are projected to reduced phosphorus by 12.9 pounds per year and nitrogen by 52.3 pounds per year.

“This looks like the best option,” said Jim Andrews, town councilman, who noted that this was the most impactful option that was reached after the recent stormwater management engineering report.

Despite some worry that monies would continue to be spent on water management projects such as the stormwater swales, the resolution was approved unanimously by the five members of the town board.

“It’s all I can hope for is that the $5,000 works,” said Jesse Robbins, town supervisor.

To add to Brickley’s positive projections for the swales, board members brought up two residents’ opinions that their area around Chautauqua Lake has not been as clear as it had been in years, following the spraying of herbicides.

In other meeting news, the board approved the spending of $530 for an insurance payment for the towing of the parks truck. Board members also decided to continue the Hazeltine Library payroll processing as they have been.