The 2013 wind and rainfall totals have been noticeably higher throughout the Chautauqua Lake region compared to other years. Tree branches, limbs and other debris have made their way to the lake as a result which has caused many boaters and lake users concern. The Chautauqua Lake Association has begun clean up of the material but wants to urge lake users to be cautious.
“We have noticed a lot more natural debris on Chautauqua Lake than usual,” said Doug Conroe, President of the CLA. “Once our cleaning season began last week, we immediately started removing branches and other debris from the lake surface.” Boats, jet skis and other watercrafts hitting these materials at high speeds can cause severe damage to property and can put passengers at risk.
The CLA is urging all lake users to remember to abide by speed regulations and pay close attention to the water in front of them. Aside from lake debris, the CLA also clears nuisance aquatic vegetation from the lake regularly in the summer months. Lake users are asked to report any nuisance aquatic vegetation or high concentrations of lake debris to the CLA office for be scheduled for clean up. The CLA has already had to remove four large dump trucks and five small dump trucks full of debris. The combined weight of those loads totaled over 50 tons. County Executive Greg Edwards made a local dump site available to the CLA quickly and it has been much appreciated by the crews and organization as a whole.
For more information about the Chautauqua Lake Association, visit the CLA on the web at www.chautauqualakeassociation.org or call 716-763-8602.
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.
