Monday, March 03, 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025
As of January 1, 2025 New York State requires all motorized boaters
Make Sure You Inform Your Guests As of January 1, 2025 New York State requires all motorized boaters to carry a Safe Boating Certificate from their home state or New York State while operating a boat. For those who do not already have a Safe Boating Certificate, boaters can earn their certificate by taking a classroom course with certified New York State instructors or through several approved online course options including through their home state. Additionally, certificates issued by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, America's Boating Club, US Powerboating and other NASBLA certified courses are recognized. Persons may rent and operate a boat without obtaining a boating safety certificate. Boat rental livery staff must provide basic instruction and safety information prior to the renters leaving the dock. Visitors and NYS residents who possess a valid state driver's license may rent motorized boats, as well as certain non-motorized boats, at half-day, full-day, or multi-day rates. We urge area businesses to let their customers know about these requirements. The safe boating course certificate requirement has been phased-in over the past few years so many boaters in (and visiting) New York are already familiar with the requirement. However, now that all boat operators (excluding renters) must possess a safe boating course certificate while operating a boat, it will be important for us all to make sure that folks are aware of this in advance of their time on New York waters. A list of online and classroom courses is available through the NYS Parks Boating Education page, which is one of the links available on CCVB’s Tourchautauqua page on Boating (link below). There is also information on boat launches and boat rental liveries. Please consider providing a link to this information to your guests and customers (where applicable). |
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Wednesday, February 05, 2025
Borrello, Molitor Reintroduce Lake Bill to exempt inland lakes from the state’s Freshwater Wetlands Act
Legislation to exempt inland lakes from the state’s Freshwater Wetlands Act has been reintroduced in the state Senate.
“I have re-introduced legislation in the Assembly that will exempt all navigable lakes from the wetland regulatory scheme; I am committed to striking the necessary balance so that wetland regulations do not adversely affect businesses and residents around our inland lakes,” Molitor said.
The bill would exempt inland lakes that are navigable waterways and have an area of 150 acres or more from freshwater wetlands designations. The bill will further exclude the Great Lakes from the definition of “inland lake.”
“This piece of legislation is necessary to balance environmental protection with economic and recreational interest. This approach allows for targeted conservation efforts by focusing on areas where wetland protections are most needed while also accommodating responsible land and water use,” Borrello and Molitor wrote in their legislative justification.
In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law revisions to New York’s Freshwater Wetlands Act. New York’s original Freshwater Wetlands Act was enacted in 1975 to regulate activities near larger wetlands, greater than 12.4 acres, and smaller wetlands considered to be of unusual local importance. The new wetlands law eliminates the use of the old, inaccurate wetland maps and clarifies that all wetland areas greater than 12.4 acres are subject to Article 24 regulations. Freshwater wetlands are lands and submerged lands – commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, bogs, and flats – that support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation.
“In Chautauqua Lake, much of the south basin and other bays and shoals with more than 12.4 contiguous acres of submergent vegetation have been functioning as wetland for many decades,” Mahar wrote in his response to Goodell and Borrello.
Borrello and Goodell called on the proposed regulations to include a sentence saying, “Navigable waters in an inland lake shall not be considered wetlands.” That language was proposed by Molitor in his comments to the DEC. “Navigable lakes, however, would never be commonly called ‘marshes, swamps, sloughs, bogs and flats’ and waters ‘substantially enclosed’ by aquatic plants would not be navigable,” Goodell and Borrello wrote in 2024.
Monday, February 03, 2025
How DEC Will Define Wetlands Discussed
Feb 3, 2025
During an informative meeting hosted by CLPOA Saturday, which was held at the Lawson Center, 73 Lakeside Drive, jurisdictional determination was a subject that seemed to draw particular interest for event goers. Wehrfritz explained that jurisdictional determination is the legal process with how the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation determines if an area meets the regulatory statute as a wetlands.
“Anyone can request a JD on any property, and the DEC will process the request without the owner’s knowledge,” Wehrfitz said.
The following steps regarding the DEC jurisdictional determination process are:
– Jurisdictional Determination is requested by an individual.
– The DEC must respond within 90 days with a 10 day extension granted as needed with positive or negative determination if an area is a wetland – which is valid for five years from issue date. However, only positive determinations can be appealed.
– The DEC must respond to an appeal within 120 days, with a 30 day extension granted as needed. Additionally, all appeals must include a DEC consultation and wetlands delineation by the applicant.
– The DEC acknowledges property value loss may guide owners to seek reassessment.
Additionally, Wehrfritz, briefed the meeting attendees on which activities in a designated wetlands area would now require a permit to conduct.
The following activities will or may require a general permit to do now, he said. Repair, reconstruction, and or replacement of existing functional structures and facilities or septic systems; construction and or modification of (listed) residential, commercial, industrial, or public structures, (utility, sewer, water, and telecommunication lines, hydrants, etc.); construction and/or modification of (listed) residential, commercial, industrial, or public structures (parking, driveways, pools, water wells, fences, renewable energy,); temporary access roads and/or laydown areas; selective cutting, hazardous tree removal, and/or removal of dead ash trees, cutting of trees and other vegetation; drilling test wells; routine beach replenishment – regrading, and or cleaning; removal of debris and existing structures.
LAKE PLAN STALLS
Another point that Wehrfritz discussed at the meeting was the implementation of a study that was conducted by representatives from North Carolina State University (NCSU) entitled Long Term Management Plan for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in Chautauqua Lake.
“The North Carolina State’s Aquatic Management Plan was contracted by the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, with funding appropriated by the Chautauqua Lake Watershed and Management Alliance,” he said. “This was after the CLP officials said discussions with state DEC officials and others showed a need to clarify the goals for herbicide applications in the lake and to articulate a long-range plan to achieve those goals.”
Chautauqua Lake Partnership officials have said in the past that state DEC officials requested the creation of a plan to help address the management of invasive aquatic vegetation in the lake. Mike LaTone, treasurer of the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, told The Post-Journal recently the CLP reached out to the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance to secure funding for an independent, third party, science-based lake management plan.
However, the lack of support for the NCSU plan has Wehfritz shaking his head.
“The county leadership has deferred management of the lake to the nonprofit sector,” he said. “However, the study that they (non-profits) paid for has largely gone to the wayside, and they have all refused to state or declare a position that their organizations will take, or has taken, regarding NCSU recommendations.”
Bemus Point and Ellery are the only town and village governments to show any support for the NC State lake plan, while discussion in December at county legislature meetings showed there are still unanswered questions among county officials and various lake groups.
County Executive PJ Wendel, responding to a request for comment by The Post-Journal, said it’s important to overcome divisions among lake agencies.
Additionally, Wendel said, “Chautauqua Lake is one of our county’s most cherished resources, vital to our environment, economy, and way of life. However, for too long, we’ve seen divisions among stakeholders that only serve to hold us back — like the infamous Hatfields and McCoys. It’s time to put that infighting to rest. By working together with municipal leaders, scientists, and community organizations, we can create lasting solutions that preserve and protect this lake for generations to come. Our shared goal must be to unify. Collaboration, not conflict, will uphold Chautauqua Lake as a legacy we’re proud to pass on to our children and grandchildren.”
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Chautauqua Lake Partnership Issues Clarification Regarding Chautauqua Lake
Previously, LaTone said, the CLP reached out to the alliance to provide funding to secure an independent, third party, science-based lake management plan. The effort to secure the plan was encouraged by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“To this end CLP discussed the possible plan development with Dr. Rob Richardson from North Carolina State University,” LaTone said in an email to The Post-Journal.
LaTone added that the plan currently under consideration was developed entirely and facilitated by the NCSU lake water management department utilizing its experience studying and working on Chautauqua Lake since 2020.
“This plan was funded and supported by the Alliance and CLP. The Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association was not involved in this process as erroneously reported. The CLPOA has, however, endorsed the adoption of the plan by the alliance,” LaTone noted.
NC State’s Aquatic Plant Management Program officials propose a staged plan that deals with the entire lake rather than the 2017 Chautauqua Lake Macrophyte Management Strategy’s approach that divides the lake into subsections based off of shoreline use and the need to balance human interaction with environmental considerations.
University officials said the approach is good for small areas but shifts lake management strategies away from a focus on plant ecology to meet the county’s goals in managing vegetation in the lake.
“Unfortunately, some local representatives of other lake organizations have recently spoken out against the plan and NCSU. Regardless of the outstanding scientific qualifications of NCSU, they have demanded public hearings and review by local lake organizations. Many of these individuals in opposition are ‘self proclaimed’ lake science experts with little or no credentials to support their claims,” LaTone added.
The town of Ellery, the CLP, the CLPOA, and the Village of Bemus Point have adopted NC State’s plan. Other towns and villages as well as Chautauqua County, and The Alliance have not adopted the plan.
Richardson, LaTone said, has developed the plan as a starting point, not a “be all” to managing lake water quality.
Input by anyone truly interested in implementation of a science-based plan to benefit lake water quality would be encouraged and welcomed, LaTone added.
“Modifications and improvements to this plan could be made on an ongoing basis,” LaTone said. “When you employ a nationally recognized University to develop an initial plan that welcomes input, public hearings become redundant and unwarranted.”
One major feature of the plan and a critical factor to move lake water quality forward is the appointment of an independent lake manager, LaTone said.
There is a request for proposal (RFP) from the Alliance for a lake manager.
“We should all support and encourage this appointment,” LaTone said.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Enough is Enough
Are you frustrated by the infighting between lake organizations and wondering why we can't work together? The issue boils down to a small but dedicated group opposing the use of aquatic herbicides for managing established invasive weeds. They claim not to oppose the use of herbicides, but endorse a position statement that supports chemical controls only for new invasives, while protecting species like curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil. Elsewhere, these species are almost universally viewed as harmful to lake ecosystems and recreational activities, and most lakes attempt to actively manage or eradicate them.
Representatives of the CCC, CLA, and CWC have publicly opposed a long-term management plan, specifically one that includes herbicides as a key strategy. Recently, board members from these organizations criticized the NCSU plan in a letter to the New York DEC. While some points may offer constructive feedback, the majority of the letter undermines efforts for collaborative lake management, appearing to lobby for obstacles or delays rather than a genuine scientific review. Further, the spirit of the review was completely inappropriate for what is meant to be a working framework for integrated lake management, and not a submission to a scientific journal.
The CWC and CLA play crucial roles in lake health, and their missions are valuable—except for their divisive anti-herbicide stance. The CLP has repeatedly reached out for cooperation without success. It's time to unite for effective lake management. Please consider contacting these organizations directly to voice your support for collaboration:
CWC: whitney@chautauquawatershed.org
CLA: doug@chautauqualakeassociation.orgNew Boat Storage Facility Approved For Snug Harbor
CHAUTAUQUA – A private marina has received approval to build a new boat storage complex in the town of Chautauqua.
During the recent Chautauqua Town Board meeting, officials approved a special use permit for Snug Harbor to build some boat storage buildings on Route 394, not far from their Marina and Service Center.
Andy Johnson is the engineer hired by Snug Harbor and discussed the project at the town board meeting.
According to Johnson, they plan to construct four buildings of different sizes – 18,000 square feet, 15,000 square feet, 12,000 square feet, and 9,000 square feet. The two larger buildings will either have a firewall or be built further apart.
“There’s a market need for it,” Johnson said. “This is just going to be for Snug Harbor Marina’s boat storage. They don’t have any more space.”
Johnson also said Snug Harbor will be the ones moving the boats from Chautauqua Lake to the storage buildings. “It won’t be people coming and going,” he said.
Johnson said they hope to start construction when the weather permits and have the buildings open by the summer.
Johnson said they do not need to use any wetlands, met the town’s setback requirements, and will have a fire lane as required. They will work with the code office regarding any other regulations.
The special use permit was unanimously approved.
Along with the marina, Snug Harbor also has a showroom in Ashville.
Monday, January 20, 2025
Chautauqua County, New York, has experienced notable trends in both tourism and demographics.
Over the past three years, Chautauqua County, New York, has experienced notable trends in both tourism and demographics.
Tourism Statistics:
2021: Chautauqua County achieved record visitation numbers, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This success was attributed to the county's diverse tourism offerings and outdoor recreational amenities.
2022: Visitor spending in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region increased by 11%, reaching $671 million. Chautauqua County contributed $294 million to this total, representing 44% of the region's tourism sales.
2023: The upward trend continued with a 7% increase in visitor spending in Chautauqua County, totaling $314 million. The region's overall visitor spending reached $713 million, with Chautauqua County maintaining its 44% share.
Demographic Statistics:
Population: Chautauqua County's population has been gradually declining. In 2022, the estimated population was 126,027, decreasing to 124,891 in 2023. The projected population for 2024 is 124,438.
Median Age: As of 2021, the median age in Chautauqua County was 42.8 years.
Racial/Ethnic Composition (2023): The county's population was predominantly White (84.3%), followed by Hispanic (9.3%) and individuals identifying with two or more races (3.2%).
Median Household Income (2023): The median household income was $56,507.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
The Mayville Winter Festival Saved From The Brink
I love Hail Mary’s. How about you?
Now that the festival is up and running again, I’d like to urge everyone to bundle up in their best furry boots and ear muffs and be a part of the fun. It’s up to the community to send the message to organizers that our local events are important to us.
And not to rehash old wounds, but people still hope to see the Bemus Bay Pops return one day. How about a once-a-year bash? An all day summer concert? The exit of the Pops still feels like a blight on our record. It was a weekly program loved by locals and out-of-town visitors alike and it disappeared in what felt like the height of its popularity and appeal. We need to be good stewards of the things that make our region special. And I know how smug that sounds since I’m not an organizer dealing with the finances and all of the other details of big events.
But it’s true, many things that have defined our regions or our nation have fallen by the wayside or out of existence through the years, because things change. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Does that ring any bells?
President-Elect Trump is talking about revising the World’s Fair again, which at one time was an unparalleled event that defined progress and showcased man’s ingenuity. The first electric lights, the first telephones were unveiled at the fair. It was a magical event that highlighted innovation, culture, and global exchange. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the fairs became grand spectacles, with an average of six million attendees.
The World’s Fair never officially ended, but public perception has shifted over time. The fairs, which are now referred to as Expos, continue to be held periodically, though they may not always capture the same level of global attention as they did during their heyday in the 19th and early 20th centuries. What could they showcase today that we can’t see on the internet? Maybe it’s just the act of coming together as a world that is meaningful.
Other things that are missed: the Boston Tea Party reenactment in Boston, Lilith Fair concerts that celebrated women in music, the Buffalo-Courier Express, Marshall Field’s enchanted holiday windows in Chicago (which lost their magic when Macy’s bought the store), and Friendly’s banana splits. Feel free to make your own lists.
Here’s an annual pastime in Chautauqua County you might not know about: horse racing on area lakes was a unique chapter in our history. In the 1890s, there were horse races on the ice on Findley Lake in January and February. According to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, the horses had special calks on their shoes so they wouldn’t slip on the ice.
People skated on the ice on Findley, Cassadaga Lake, Chautauqua, as well as on any small pond that froze. Chautauqua Lake also had ice boats with sails and ice boat races, but sledding seemed to be most popular and something anyone could do. “In the 1930s and ’40s, sledding and tobogganing parties were very popular on the hilly highways such as Stockton, Sprague Hill near Levant, Ravlin Hill near Clymer, Buesink Hill in Mina and others,” the Hall Of Fame website explains. “On a good night, 30 or 40 young people would gather and spend two or three hours speeding down an icy hill and coasting nearly half a mile away, then they’d walk back up the hill hauling their sled or toboggan for another run.” Gosh that sounds like fun.
Ah, there’s things we miss. Thankfully, the winter festival in Mayville won’t be one. Embrace the winter. Those hardy people who lived before us certainly did.