LAKEWOOD — The proposed Chautauqua Lake District met its fate, but County Executive PI Wendell focuses on the science associated with the lake.
During a recent work session, Wendell shared his thoughts with the Lakewood Village board of directors. Had it been approved, the village would have become part of the Lake District.
“So we’re just going to keep going.” Wendell said. “I’m focused on science. We did a lot with the Jefferson Project. We will continue to work with them. Science is what drives the lake.”
Trustee Ellen Barnes said she wanted to have only one study group. Wendel countered that it would be fine for more than one group to do the study, but one problem he had with that scenario was that one group could say its data were better than another group’s. One example is when Group A ignores the data of other groups and labels them pseudoscientific because they do not agree with Group A’s data.
“It’s very challenging to say that their science is pseudoscience because it doesn’t fit your story.” Wendell,” he said.
According to jeffersonproject.rpi.edu, the Lake George Jefferson Project (a groundbreaking collaboration between IBM Research, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Foundation for Lake George) aims to reduce harmful algae blooms and other water quality threats. Expanded statewide leadership roles in research. Most recently, there was his $1 million new research project on Lake Chautauqua, made possible by funding from the Chautauqua Institution and the County Federation. This new study complements the Jefferson Project foundational research program on Lake George in Warren County, now in its eighth year.
Lake Chautauqua and Lake George are among two priority water bodies identified for special conservation efforts by the State of New York as part of the Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB) Initiative, and are at the extreme ends of the HAB spectrum. .
Lake Chautauqua has been severely affected by harmful algal blooms (HAB) for decades, especially in its southern basin, but Lake George is widely recognized. As. One of her clearest clean lakes in the country, this lake experienced her first confirmed HAB. The Lake George HAB was relatively small and short-lived, and samples collected at the time are now the subject of intensive scientific analysis by Jefferson Project researchers to determine its cause.
In the January 15th edition of the Post-Journal, John Jablonski Il, executive director of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, notes that researchers from the Jefferson Project, SUNY-Fredonia, and Bowling Green State University have used multiple sampling and monitoring approaches. Said he’s been using it for years. Gain a better understanding of watershed nutrient loading and internal nutrient loading into lakes, as well as lake stratification, weather and wind conditions, related to what triggers the growth of problematic and noxious algae.
“The amount of technology in that lake right now is insane.” Wendell added.
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