One of the unfortunate aspects of human nature is that in our politics, we have a relatively short attention span. People think that 2-4 years is a long time when it comes to government or public matters. Yet, many issues require a much longer time frame if they are to be addressed.

Thus, it was heartening to observe recently the attention given by the Chautauqua County Legislature in receiving a briefing about the Jefferson Project on Chautauqua Lake. This is an ongoing research project initiated by Chautauqua Institution and the County which will continue over multiple years to glean and analyze data about the lake and its water quality.

The effort has now reached a level of visibility whereby the Governor, in this year’s State of the State Address, committed state resources for the project. That is a big deal and is good news for those of us who live here.

One thing is for certain – state and federal governments are not going to commit money to help the lake unless they have well-researched, scientific data upon which to base it. As an example, it was an environmental study in 2012 by the EPA and DEC finding the lake “impaired” by high levels of phosphorus which led to the subsequent funding for sewers around the lake.

The Jefferson Project 2023 Report given to the County Legislature is 69 pages long and is available on the Chautauqua County Planning Department’s website.

One aspect of the report that I found especially interesting is the technology being used in this project. There are now two state of the art “vertical profilers,” one positioned in the north basin and the other in the south providing continual electronic reporting on conditions in the lake. In addition to that, additional testing is being done by boat and from docks in various locations…and monitoring stations are being installed at some of the streams entering the lake.

The data being gathered includes measurements on thermal currents as well as on phosphorus, nitrogen and other elements related to weed and algae growth. Such measurements taken consistently over several years will help develop a blue print for maintaining a healthy lake long term.

As stated in the report: “The discoveries made through analyses of high frequency sensor data, manually-collected data, remote sensing, and models provide the foundation to begin developing forecasts to predict harmful algae blooms.”

It is not only what is coming in from run-off and streams which affects the lake. “Internal loading [from existing sediments]… “impacts many of the water quality issues of concern for lake residents and stakeholders.”

The report also spends some time in describing the differences between the north and south basins of the lake: “In many ways, Chautauqua Lake behaves like two lakes with quite different attributes.”

This means that solutions dealing with HAB’s (harmful algae blooms) will likely vary depending upon where they are occurring.

Since the scientists from the Jefferson Project are also conducting research on Lake George and Skaneateles Lake, their research here will benefit from work being done there.

As far as I am concerned, all of this is good news. Going forward, our lake will be faced with more challenges, not fewer. We will need support from Albany and Washington. The Jefferson Project will help position us to address the long-term issues that face the lake.

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident and a former member of the New York state Assembly.