The Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance announced it was successful in bringing in more than $1.5 million for the majority of its consolidated funding application submissions for projects concerning the watershed and Chautauqua Lake.

New York State’s Regional Economic Development Councils distributed awards based on four of the alliance’s six member submissions. Erin Brickley, alliance executive director, said these grants have contributed to a total of more than $3.7 million brought in for the health of Chautauqua Lake and its watershed from assisted grant dollars. She added that the alliance has collected more than $5 million from 15 secured state grants since the alliance began operations in 2015.

Projects funded include a capital equipment grant for the purchase of two new in-lake weed skimmers that will be used for clearing floating masses of weeds on the water’s surface to help augment the use of mechanical weed cutters. A total of $375,000 was awarded for this project. Skimmers are projected to reduce the amount of floating vegetation and other debris and potentially reduce the growth of harmful algal blooms.

The other three awards are for the Town of Busti and Village of Lakewood as the municipalities were awarded more than $1 million. A total of $202,478 was awarded for Busti to have swale retrofits constructed with 2,100 feet of steep gradient swales and 2,500 feet of shallow swales, both of which should control stormwater runoff. Enhanced vegetated filter strips are projected to improve drainage and reduce sedimentation and accumulation of phosphorus in the lake.

Lakewood’s stormwater projects include the Chautauqua Avenue green street retrofit project, which was awarded $695,000, and the Lowe Park infrastructure improvements, which were awarded $255,951.

Chautauqua Avenue is projected to be transformed into a “green street” through the installation of porous pavers and stormwater street trees that should help beautify the village center and reduce stormwater runoff. Lowe Park’s projected improvements include rain gardens, interpretive panels, pedestrian bridges, a pavilion and bike shelter. Additional plantings are also projected to reduce stormwater runoff and nutrient inputs to reduce lake vegetation growth. Village officials will decide on acceptance of these funds in January.

Brickley said additional awards will assist the county in completing an engineering report to reduce infiltration and inflow within the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District and stabilizing roadside ditches through the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District.

“This is a great day for Chautauqua County,” Brickley said, “and I give kudos to all involved in this tough work.”