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National Waterkeeper Report Encourages Local Vigilance    

A national study, “Unprecedented Analysis Reveals PFAS Contamination in U.S. Waterways Shows Shocking Levels of Contamination” was released on October 18, 2022, by the Waterkeeper Alliance. They are the largest and fastest-growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water, dedicated to preserving and protecting water via local Waterkeeper groups worldwide. The Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium is the Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate responsible for the …

Same Herbicide Used in Chautauqua Lake Subject to Preliminary Injunction in Lake George

The planned use by the Lake George Park Commission of the chemical herbicide ProcellaCOR EC was shut down with the issuance of a preliminary injunction by New York State Supreme Court Justice Robert J. Muller. The court granted the preliminary injunction because the petitioners demonstrated the likelihood of success on the merits and that there would be irreparable harm if …

Proposed Chautauqua Lake Herbicide on Hold at Lake George

Earlier in May, legal action was filed to have local authorities refrain from the use of the chemical herbicide, ProcellaCOR, in Lake George by the Lake George Association, the Lake George Waterkeeper, the town of Hague and a lakeside resident.  Here is the full press release published by the national Waterkeeper Alliance.  This information is important to us in our Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium region because …

The Clean Water Act Turns 50

Progress has been made but challenges lie ahead Remember the Cuyahoga River fire?  This Cleveland calamity in 1969 suddenly woke up the nation to the realities of industrial pollution.  It was one of the key factors that led to the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972.  So …

What’s Ahead in 2022?

Happy New Year to you from all of us at the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium!  We are eagerly looking forward to making the most of every opportunity 2022 offers us to fulfill our mission to act on, advocate for, and communicate about local water quality issues. Congratulations to our neighboring watershed of French Creek!  Pennsylvania has named French Creek the 2022 River of the Year.   …

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear About Chautauqua Lake

There is a lot of misinformation in circulation concerning how best to maintain Chautauqua Lake. Our advice is to think critically about what you’re hearing and search out the facts from verified sources.  Please note the footnotes that appear at the end of this article which document our sources.  The following four examples illustrate how misinformation is impeding effective management …

Virtual Gala with Dr. Sherri Mason October 12th

Dr. Sherri “Sam” Mason, a renowned researcher in the area of plastic pollution in freshwater systems, will speak at the Annual Gala of the Conewango Creek Watershed Association (CCWA) and the Chautauqua-Conewango Consortium, A Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate, on October 12, 2021.  This Gala will be held via Zoom due to COVID-19.  Please pre-register on the CCWA website at www.conewangocreek.org.  The …