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CLA Program sees increase in regional lake activity

A Chautauqua Lake Association watercraft steward is pictured in Mayville.

The Chautauqua Lake Association’s Watercraft Steward AIS Spread Prevention Program reports show a significant increase across the board in total surveys, interactions and boats monitored by stewards in 2020.

The full reports are available to the public at ChautauquaLakeAssociation.org

From May through September 2020, stewards were active Friday through Monday at public launches on Chautauqua Lake, Cassadaga Lake and at two Lake Erie harbors.

There were 19,650 boats and 39,528 people seen by stewards in 2020, an increase of 9,753 boats and 19,727 people from 2019. Long Point was the busiest Chautauqua Lake launch in 2020 with 2,822 boats. Bemus and Mayville followed close behind with 2,390 and 2,385 boats respectively.

The report shows that 85% of boaters took prevention measures and 99% of boaters agreed to an inspection of their vessel. Additionally, 81% had previous contact with a steward.

Motorboats (14,165) made up a vast majority of the watercraft recorded on the lake, and there were more than 4,000 kayaks in the water in 2020. Forty-six percent of the watercraft were for recreation purposes, and 52% for fishing.

The boat stewards surveyed lake users from 39 different states. The majority of the boaters were New York residents (10,520). Neighboring states of Pennsylvania (2,650) and Ohio (1,213) also frequented the lake. Visitors also came from West Virginia (171) and 35 other states (325). There were also 4,771 boats recorded that were not registered in 2020.

In the summer of 2020, CLA’s Watercraft Stewards observed the anticipated invasive species eurasian watermilfoil and curly leaf pondweed, in addition to common natives eel grass, elodea, and coontail.

As part of a spread prevention and awareness program funded through a state grant, CLA’s watercraft stewards regularly interacted with boaters at public launches. Inspections are performed, vegetation is removed when detected and survey results are recorded into a state-wide database.

The CLA anticipates to again have 10 to 13 stewards actively working weekends at seven launches on Chautauqua Lake, plus Cassadaga Lake, Barcelona Harbor and Dunkirk Harbor.

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