We are disappointed, actually appalled, that our County Legislature and Executive did not have the courage to represent its constituents against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) ill-conceived and rushed new wetlands regulations. They took no action as those terribly flawed regulations were imposed on all of us.

Fortunately, through no effort of the County, those regulations have now been annulled by a State Supreme Court decision.

It was left to two local non-profits, the Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association (CLPOA) and the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, to do the job for them. Together, an estimated one hundred thousand dollars in local donated funds were required to do the County’s job in successful lawsuits against New York State.

We continue to see a lack of “fight” from the County Legislature Chairman and lakeside Legislators or evidence of the “Strong Leadership” County Executive Wendel claims. They continue to hide behind the thirteen-year ineffective Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Alliance with yet another weak new strategy, to pump out as much positive publicity as the Post-Journal will print, while refusing accountability.

The County resists what Chautauqua Lake needs: a formal lake management organization, the Chautauqua Lake District we have proposed, which adopts, implements, and stewards performance against the June 2024 NCSU Long Term Management Plan for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation at Chautauqua Lake.

The upstart CLPOA, two years old and which the County calls an “advocacy group” in contrast to the “lake maintenance groups” it funds, has, over a very short period of time, engaged the public, gained their moral and financial support, and taken on and won a fight against the State that the County was afraid to take on.

But the fight is not over. NYSDEC may now file an appeal and request a stay to allow enforcement of the regulations during appeal.

Hopefully, as our County Legislature and Executive have watched from the sidelines, they have gained the self-confidence to use their three hundred-million-dollar budget including a thirty-five million dollar “slush fund” and large in-house legal staff, to take on the next wetlands regulation challenge which is sure to come and to take formal responsibility for Lake management with a District and Plan.

What do you say Legislators Chagnon, Penhollow, Gustafson, Vanstrom, and Proctor? What do you say County Executive Wendel?

Can you muster the courage to do what’s necessary, even if challenging, for your constituents?

The Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association’s mission is to support the interests of property and business owners and Lake users on and around Chautauqua Lake.

Jim Wehrfritz is president of the Chautauqua lake Property Owners Association Inc. board. Board members also include Jeff Moore, Vice President; Dan Smith, Secretary/Treasurer; Dave Dudash, Member; Kathy O’Brien, Member; and Tammy Schack, Member.