Chautauqua County Executive, PJ Wendell, will be hosting a Lake Symposium, Sunday June 2nd, focusing on the health and sustainability of Chautauqua Lake.

The discussion will focus on several issues, including how the local government is combating algae blooms.

These blooms can have a significant impact, affecting water quality and the health of animals and people.

“We really need to look at what are the best practices and get an understanding on what causes these harmful algae blooms," stated Wendell. "We are really engaging and investing in getting as much knowledge as we can for the lake. We have been working closely with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina State University (NC State), SUNY Oneonta, The Jefferson Project, United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to address issues in the lake.”

This joint effort seeks to better understand the health of Chautauqua Lake, aiming to preserve it and enhance sustainability—a move supported by many local business owners.

“I’m glad there is so much work and research being done," stated Mike Kingsley, Owner of Evergreen Outfitters. "It's frustrating sometimes to see some disagreement and what feels like a standstill because of it, but we’d like to see progress happen and to see this problem solved. Businesses like mine depend on the health of the lake.”

In order to bring more attention to this important matter, the County Executive, will host a symposium on Sunday June 2nd at 9:00am, at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celeron, NY.  

For those unable to attend in person, the program will be livestreamed on Chautauqua County's YouTube page.

More information about the Chautauqua Lake Symposium can be found here.