Types of Currents
Currents on Lake Chautauqua are predominantly wind-driven. These currents develop as wind blows across the lake’s surface. The friction between the wind and the lake surface allows energy to be transferred from the wind to the water and causes the water to be pulled along by the wind.
The strength of the wind-driven currents on Chautauqua Lake is usually stronger than outflow velocities resulting in currents that flow in two directions depending on the direction of the prevailing wind direction. That is, lake currents can flow from the South Basin to the North Basin as well as from the North Basin to the South Basin.
The prevailing wind directions vary with month-to-month directions ranging from NNW, ESE, E, and ENE. As expected, wind velocities are highest from late fall to late spring. Monthly wind speed statistics and directions for Bemus Point can be found on the Windfinder website (https://www.windfinder.com/windstatistics/bemus_point_chautauqua_lake).
A paper about the wind-driven currents in Chautauqua Lake was prepared by John Dilley, 2023. Click here for the pdf of this paper.
Lake levels
Throughout the year, water levels in Chautauqua Lake vary and are primarily regulated by the Warner Dam in Jamestown, NY. The dam is located on the Chadakoin River approximately 3.5 miles from the outlet of Chautauqua Lake. The dam is owned by New York State and operated under an agreement with the City of Jamestown, NY and Chautauqua County. The structure is used to maintain lake levels in summer months and has minimal effect on preventing high lake levels during periods of high runoff. The lake’s elevation is ~1308.2 feet above sea level from May to October with lower lake levels in winter to spring.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) monitors lake elevation at Bemus Point. You can easily view graphs of current (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-03013946/#dataTypeId=continuous-62614-0&showMedian=true&showFieldMeasurements=true&startDT=2026-01-01&endDT=2026-04-12) and past lake levels by going to https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=03013946&legacy=1.
To read more, go to the article written by Twan Leenders, Director of Conservation at Everwild Land Trust (formerly Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy) (https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/post/the-shifting-state-of-chautauqua-lake).