Equipment – Chautauqua Lake Association (CLA)

The Chautauqua Lake Association (CLA) has many tools and machines to care for the lake’s maintenance needs. During the spring and summer seasons, CLA crews use this versatile equipment to keep the lake in good condition for the benefit of all lake users.

In the winter, all equipment is serviced and repaired in-house to minimize delays during the intensive summer season.

In-Lake Equipment

The CLA operates eight aquatic plant harvesters that cut, collect, and transport nuisance vegetation to keep Chautauqua Lake’s surface waters open for recreation. These machines provide an environmentally responsible way to manage excessive plant growth, with some also serving as near-shore skimmers.

Aquatic Plant Harvesters

The replacement cost for the CLA's eight harvesters is estimated to total $1,140,000.

The CLA’s three transport barges boost harvesting efficiency by quickly shuttling vegetation from harvesters to shore—allowing harvesters to keep working without long trips back to unload. These fast, heavy-duty vessels streamline material handling and are key to an effective lake-care operation.

Transport Barges

The replacement cost for the three transport barges is estimated to total $480,000

The CLA’s work barges and skimmers maintain Chautauqua Lake’s 42 miles of shoreline by collecting floating and near-shore vegetation, debris, and storm material. Following harvesters and supporting clean-up efforts, they help reduce regrowth and keep the shoreline looking its best.

Near Shore Work Barges & Skimmers

The replacement cost for the four five work barges is estimated to total $131,250

The CLA’s HydroMate is a versatile, heavy-duty barge equipped with a hydraulic crane for storm cleanup, debris removal, and small dredging projects—making it an essential tool for lake maintenance.

Alpha HydroMate

The replacement cost for the HydroMate Barge is estimated to total $190,000.

Trucks

The CLA owns four large dump trucks which are used on a daily basis to haul the harvested material from the shorelines of Chautauqua Lake to various dump sites. The CLA also owns four smaller dump trucks which are used as part of the Near Shore Crews collecting roadside piles and enhancing the shoreline operation.

The replacement cost of the vehicular fleet is estimated to total $593,700.

Shore Conveyors

The CLA has four shore conveyors. These mobile units are positioned at the various unloading sites along the waters’ edge and allow the harvesters, transports and barges to unload the harvested vegetation and debris. The material is offloaded onto the conveyor which elevates the load up and into a waiting dump truck for disposal.

The replacement cost for the four mobile conveyors is estimated to total $112,000

Yard Trailers

The CLA owns two yard trailers, which are used for the launching and removal of the equipment from the lake.

The replacement cost for the yard trailers is estimated to total $70,000.

Bobcat Loader

Bobcat Loaders are relatively compact and versatile pieces of machinery, used to scoop soil, rubble and other materials. When a loader’s bucket contains material, it can be lifted and deposited into a truck or moved to another location. This piece of equipment is used on heavily infested shorelines to remove excessive amounts of nuisance vegetation.

Estimated replacement cost of the Bobcat loader and trailer: $70,500

Dresser Loader

A loader is a heavy equipment machine that has a front-mounted square wide bucket connected to the end of two booms (arms) to scoop up loose material from the ground. A loader is often used to load material or move a stockpiled material from ground level and deposit it into an awaiting dump truck. The CLA has also uses the loader to launch its fleet of equipment each season, to move equipment around the shop and storage yard for maintenance and to remove equipment from the water each fall.

The replacement cost for the loader is estimated to total $106,000.

Forklift

A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The forklift has become an indispensable piece of equipment in warehousing operations.

The replacement cost for the forklift is estimated to total $83,774.

Gator Utility Vehicle

The John Deere Gator is a small all-terrain utility vehicle with a box bed, similar to a pickup truck. The CLA uses this machine with its shoreline crews to pick up and haul away vegetation piled by area residents.

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