We all should be able to acknowledge that Chautauqua Lake needs work if it is to return to the type of hub for summer activities that many south county residents remember.

But it was interesting to read about the opinions of DEC Fisheries officials after a recent presentation to the Chautauqua Lake Watershed and Management Alliance board meeting regarding the lake’s fish populations. We’d have loved to be able to report on the DEC officials’ presentation in person, but alliance meetings have been closed-door affairs for more than a year. But we digress.

Jim Markham and Justin Brewer told alliance board members and staff that Chautauqua Lake remains a strong area to fish. The lake supports around 35 total species of fish, but muskie, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass are what often bring people from other areas to Chautauqua Lake. A 2019 DEC survey showed yellow perch as the most abundant fish in the lake, followed by bluegills/pumpkinseeds. That’s great news for the section of the tourism economy that relies on the quality of fishing on Chautauqua Lake for their livelihoods. Chautauqua Lake Association boat stewards know that 71% of the boats they check before going onto Chautauqua Lake are here for fishing – and if there are no fish we lose 8,875 boating visits to Chautauqua Lake during a summer season. That sort of in-lake catastrophe would be catastrophic for our economy.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway when one considers the entire lake is that we’ve been able to manage the fish population while we figure out how best to deal with invasive weeds in the lake. We’ve begun trying new approaches when it comes to herbicides over the past several years. There have been concerns raised for as long as we can remember that herbicides will harm fish habitats. Those concerns were amplified when the Chautauqua Lake Partnership began using herbicides in earnest back in 2019. The impact on fish populations of removing weeds from the lake will always be a concern, but the report by Markham and Brewer shows the DEC has done well to protect needed habitats when approving herbicide treatment areas.

While we’ve protected fish habitats, one could argue we’ve not done as good a job in areas for boaters who are here for recreation. Those seem to be the biggest complaints – particularly in areas of Ellery and Burtis Bay in Ellicott where weeds have made it difficult for boaters to navigate. The question before us as spring and summer arrive is how best to improve the experience on Chautauqua Lake in the short-term for those who just want to be out on the lake if they aren’t casting a line in the water.

It’s also good to know that for as much doom and gloom as we can hear when it comes to Chautauqua Lake that there is also good news regarding the lake. And when it comes to fishing, it sounds like the water’s just fine.