We don’t know yet if the resolution passed recently by the Ellery Town Board supporting creation of a centralized lake authority is the first of many dominos to fall or a tree falling in the forest.

Only time will answer that question.

But we find it interesting that Ellery, which has taken the lead on so much regarding Chautauqua Lake, is at least starting the conversation about a new lake authority. It speaks to a desire for action rather than study – something we think many who use Chautauqua Lake recreationally – would agree is needed.

There isn’t a lot of meat on the bones yet of the lake authority proposal, but we have long thought lakeside towns and villages should have a more pronounced role in the lake, and the August Ellery Town Board meeting offers a reason why that should be the case.

A town resident approached the board for help eradicating knotweed – the invasive species that resulted in barge-like floating masses on the lake earlier this year – along a creek in Maple Springs. Maple Springs community members want to pay for the eradication, but asked for the town’s help since part of the land alongside the creek is owned by the town. It was also suggested that the Chautauqua Lake Partnership be involved if the residents need an herbicide permit. Another resident asked the board about clearing a large amount of material at the end of the Bemus Canal. A permit has been received for a project expected to cost between $35,000 and $45,000. Residents are asking the town for help with excavators and trucks. Between 35 and 40 homes are affected by the weeds and algae in the canal.

Discussion of a new lake authority really comes down to two issues: authority to undertake projects quickly and the introduction of yet another voice into discussions of the future of Chautauqua Lake.

Town and village boards are on the front lines with residents who aren’t able to go to closed meetings of the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance. In our view town and village officials need to have a bigger voice – whether that’s through an authority as proposed by the town of Ellery or a greater role in the alliance.

Alliance board members were to discuss during their August meeting restructuring its board to allow for greater representation of lakeside towns and villages. The alliance board would increase to 18 total seats – three county seats, a seat for each town (five) and village (four), and two seats each for the Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Lake Partnership, and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. It’s possible restructuring the alliance board could decrease the need for an outside authority. Lakeside towns and villages, under the plan discussed in August, would have as many votes as the county and lake agencies – meaning a much louder voice for those on the front lines at a table where a lot of money is spent and policy is made.

We think everyone needs more information before a decision is made to add another authority to a Chautauqua Lake decision-making structure that has enough acronyms involved in it to resemble a 1950s phone book. That’s especially true if there is a change to the existing system that can fix some of what we see as the largest issues facing Chautauqua Lake.