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  • Loomis Creek Preserve
    Conservation

    All lands are part of a watershed: The water that flows across and through our lands feeds our streams, rivers and lakes. Natural landscapes protect our waters by filtering stormwater and slowing the flow of runoff through our watersheds so it can replenish ground water rather than contributing sediment and pollutants to our lakes and streams. To protect Chautauqua County’s waters, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy conserves lands that are essential to the health of the region’s watersheds and waterways. We currently own and steward 1,000 acres of nature preserves in Chautauqua County on 28 properties, all of which are open to the public for outdoor recreation. In addition to creating public nature preserves, we conserve Chautauqua’s natural landscapes by working with landowners to create conservation easements along sensitive streambanks, wetlands and shorelines.

  • Education

    Everyone within a watershed has an impact on water quality. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy educates Chautauqua County’s property owners, government officials and school children on ways to reduce the flow of nutrients that lead to harmful algae blooms and nuisance plant growth in our lakes. We also share information on rain gardens, buffers, native plantings and other practices that can improve the health of Chautauqua’s watersheds, landscapes and waters. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy provides public education through our award-winning newsletter, The ‘Shed Sheet, through public workshops, lectures and preserve tours, and by distributing literature on watershed stewardship.

  • Randy Allan Hendrickson Preserve
    Action

    The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy actively works to improve the health of our watershed. We work with landowners, local governments and partner organizations to restore failing streambanks to reduce erosion and pollution in our waterways, identify and address sources of pollution, and carry out landscaping and shoreline improvements. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy constantly seeks projects to further our mission of preserving and enhancing the scenic beauty, ecological health and water quality of the Chautauqua region.

Our Latest News

  • CWC marks another successful golf tournament
    06/24/2019

    The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy once again is celebrating a successful golf tournament. The 2019 Score on for the Lake! Pro-Am Golf Tournament, backed by presenting sponsor Snug Harbor Marina, was held at the Chautauqua Golf Club on June 24. More …

  • CWC Volunteers Install Pedestrian Bridge at Bentley Nature Preserve
    06/06/2019

    The Bentley Nature Preserve, off of Route 430 in Ellery, is now more accessible, thanks to a group of Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy volunteers and a grant from Cummins. The group of volunteers worked over several weeks to install a 40-foot …

  • CWC BOD approves the signing of Chautauqua Lake Consensus Strategy
    04/12/2019

    The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Board of Directors unanimously approved the signing of the Chautauqua Lake Consensus Strategy Memorandum of Agreement by board president Linda Barber. In its motion, the CWC board lauded the MOA as way to bring about a …

  • CWC Earns State Grant to Purchase Cassadaga Site
    12/21/2018

    New York State has awarded a Parks Grant in the amount of $90,849 to the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy for the establishment of the 77-acre Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park on Upper Cassadaga Lake in the Town of Pomfret. The site contains …

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Our Preserves

The CWC currently owns and manages 20+ nature preserves with more than 1,000 acres of land thoughout Chautauqua County

Our Preverses

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