The Chautauqua Lake Association, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and Jamestown Audubon Society will be hosting an informational seminar on algal blooms and their affect on the health of Chautauqua Lake. The seminar, instructed by Scott Kishbaugh, will shed even more light on a growing concern for Chautauqua Lake as well as share tips on what can be done to improve the overall quality of Chautauqua’s largest body of water.
The seminar is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, in the main lecture hall (Building A) of the Hewes BOCES Center in Ashville. The program begins at 7 pm. There is no admission but donations to the CLA, CWC and JAS are encouraged. This is the third event of the CWC-JAS Healthy Landscaping-Healthy Waters Series.
Scott Kishbaugh is currently the Bureau Chief for the Lakes Monitoring and Assessment Section of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of Water Assessment Management. Topics of discussion at the event will include the condition of the nation’s lakes along with more details about the lakes of New York State in general.
“Algal blooms are becoming a large concern for residents and visitors of Chautauqua County,” said Doug Conroe, president of the CLA. “We’re happy to have Mr. Kishbaugh in Chautauqua to speak on this hot topic and others,” said Conroe. In the last three years, extensive harmful algal bloom data has been collected on Chautauqua Lake.
Attendees to the seminar will gain a good understanding of lake conditions in order to choose appropriate responses for those who live in or near a watershed. His perspective provides emphasis that the small actions of individuals, buffer strip installations, septic tank maintenance, invasive species control and more can promote healthier conditions in the nearby waters. His personal care and concern for every lake in the state, enhance Scott’s professional approach to the challenges of lake management.
Scott Kishbaugh has analyzed lake conditions for most of his career and is the author of the annual Citizens’ Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) annual reports for Findley and Chautauqua Lake. Kishbaugh holds a BS and MS degree in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and is a NYS-licensed professional engineer. He has worked for DEC since 1985 and is the creator of the Citizens’ Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) that has been operational in the state since 1986. Scott is the senior author of Diet for a Small Lake (1990 and 2009 editions).
For more information about the Chautauqua Lake Association, visit the CLA on the web at www.chautauqualakeassociation.org or call 716-763-8602. For more information on CSLAP, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/79219.html.
The CLA’s mission is to provide effective and efficient lake maintenance services for the benefit of all Chautauqua Lake users. As the “Stewards of the Lake,” the CLA serves to promote and facilitate the ongoing scientific monitoring of Chautauqua Lake and its ecosystem.
