The Lake & Watershed Management Alliance participated in a clean up of the Chadakoin River near the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities in 2017 to remove trees, bush and debris. Along with the BPU, the Chautauqua Lake Association, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and Maple Springs Tree Service assisted in the project. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Most county residents might not consider Jamestown a part of Chautauqua Lake or its watershed, but the alliance established to manage it does.

On Wednesday, Erin Brickley, Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance executive director, said the group has recently readjusted its boundaries to include the Chautauqua Lake outlet along the Chadakoin River to the Warner Dam in the city. Brickley said this to the city Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission, a volunteer group of private and public members who meet once a month to find ways to improve the community.

Brickley said the alliance evolved from the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission, which was an advisory committee to the Chautauqua County Legislature. She said when it was determined that more than an advisory committee was necessary to deal with lake and watershed issues, the commission ended and the alliance was formed in 2015. The alliance has 31 member organizations, which includes lake-related organizations, area sewer districts, businesses, towns and villages and the county government. She said the alliances’ partnerships with its members are crucial for leveraging state grants for lake and watershed projects.

Some of the successful projects accomplished by the alliance with assistance from its partners include six streambank stabilization projects on Prendergast, Bemus, Ball, Goose, Dutch Hollow and West Dutch Hollow creeks. She said all the projects totaled $1.4 million, with more than $1 million being funded by state grants.

Brickley also discussed the successful local waterfront revitalization program in Celoron at Lucille Ball Memorial Park. She said the vertical break wall was removed, and rock rip rap, timber boardwalk and Americans With Disabilities Act kayak launch was installed.

The $874,000 project was funded by $437,000 in state funding.

In Jamestown, Brickley said a $24,000 Jamestown Board of Public Utilities debris clean up was done in 2017 in the Chautauqua Lake outlet from Jones and Gifford Park to the Warner Dam. The $24,000 project was funded by $100,000 of 2 % county occupancy tax reserve funding that was earmarked for alliance members, which included the BPU. Along with the BPU, the Chautauqua Lake Association, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History and Maple Springs Tree Service assisted in the project to remove trees, brush and debris from the Chadakoin River.

Brickley also discussed future projects that could take place in the city with assistance from the alliance, which includes green infrastructure projects, stormwater study and wetland conservation.

For more information, visit chautauquaalliance.org.