As you cross the Chautauqua Lake Bridge these days, you see a lot of open steel with the concrete removed sitting on the southwest side. Yet, concrete removal, in general, seems to have slowed. The focus now seems to be on making repairs below, chipping away bad concrete spots and replacing that with new cement.

The bigger challenge of removing concrete on the arched (or belly) section of the bridge, at least, for now, has not begun. It is now August, so thought must be going into how winter will affect construction and traffic on the bridge. The current open lanes seem to be quite narrow. Will the snow-plow trucks be able to get through? We must assume that the DOT has a winter plan for snow removal in mind.

As to the idea of including a bikeway/walkway as a part of the project, the Village of Bemus Point, supported by other local governments, the County Executive, and several non-profit groups–has submitted a grant application to study this feasibility with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA.) We now must await a decision on that request from Washington.

As to other issues around the lake, kudos to the County Legislature for moving ahead on a feasibility study to complete sewers around the lake. If that can be done, then the whole lake, including Dewittville to just north of the Midway Park area, will have public sewers.

Research on aquatic issues facing the lake continues to advance with more sensing devices being installed to monitor water quality.

Perhaps the biggest announcement in terms of water quality came recently from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In co-operation with Chautauqua County Government, the Army Corps is undertaking a massive study on the impact of harmful algae in the lake, and what might be possible actions to address that problem.

What has engaged lake homeowners the most this summer has been the threat, or purported threat, posed by the New York State DEC in making new wetland maps. Signs have popped up all over saying “Keep the Lake, a Lake!” Politically, that seems to be an easy win. Who, after all, wants to ask the DEC permission to do anything on their property?

It is unclear at this point what actually would change with new DEC wetland mapping. The DEC says “not much,” but, nevertheless, legislation has been introduced in Albany to be sure nothing much does change. It would seem that the DEC has a lot of things it needs to pay attention to other than getting diverted off into some new controversy like expanding its wetland jurisdiction across the state.

In the midst of all of this, summer activity continues in high gear on the lake, and the Season at Chautauqua Institution has been a busy one.

Various fairs, festivals, and community celebrations continue as they always have–and

the fishermen continue to co-exist with the pleasure boat people. It also seems that pontoon boats are becoming, more-and-more, the preferred watercraft on the lake.

We live in a pretty special place here, and there is nothing better than a good summer on Chautauqua Lake!

Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.