Section II 1
Section II. Inventory and Analysis
A. Regional Setting, History and Community Characteristics
The Villages of Mayville, Bemus Point, Celoron and Lakewood and the Towns of Chautauqua, Ellery,
Ellicott, Busti and North Harmony are situated along the shoreline of Chautauqua Lake, in central
Chautauqua County, at the southwest corner of New York State. These communities share 42 miles of
contiguous waterfront surrounding Chautauqua Lake in its entirety. Chautauqua Lake is comprised of
two distinct basins, north and south, and covers an area of approximately 20 square miles at an
elevation of 1308 feet above mean sea level. The Village of Mayville and Town of Chautauqua
shorelines encompass a large portion of the north basin. The Village of Bemus Point and Towns of Ellery
and North Harmony have waterfront to the north and south of the center of the lake at the “narrows.”
The Villages of Celoron and Lakewood and the Towns of Busti and Ellicott are located at the
southeastern end of Chautauqua Lake in the south basin. Chautauqua Lake’s watershed, part of the
larger Ohio River Basin, covers approximately 180 square miles of area. Water flows from Chautauqua
Lake and its tributaries sequentially into the Chadakoin River, the Conewango Creek, and the Allegeny,
Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers and then into the Gulf of Mexico.
Chautauqua County’s topography varies from flatlands along the Lake Erie shore to the rolling upland
foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, in the southeastern portion of the County. Having only the cities
of Dunkirk and Jamestown within its boundaries, Chautauqua County is decidedly rural. Small Villages
scattered throughout the county provide a backdrop for Chautauqua’s expanding tourist industry. The
county is recognized for the outstanding recreational opportunities that exist within its boundaries, such
as hiking and canoeing on the County’s public land and creek trail system; boating and fishing on Lakes
Erie, Chautauqua, Findley and Cassadaga; skiing, snowmobiling and golf. Regionally, Chautauqua County
is situated approximately 30 miles southwest of Buffalo, New York; 25 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania;
and 150 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Many other major northeast population centers are
located within less than a half-day drive.
The first incursion of white Europeans into Chautauqua County was by the French. In 1615, Samuel de
Champlain had reached as far west on the Great Lakes as Lake Huron. There, he learned of rich lands
southeast of Lake Erie where a tribe (called Eries by their allies in the Seneca nation) of Native
Americans lived. Later that year, Champlain’s interpreter, Etienne Brule, guided by a party of twelve
Hurons, traversed the wilderness of Western New York to visit the Eries. Longstanding political and
territorial hostility between the Eries and the tribes of the Iroquoian League erupted in warfare around
1656 and ended with the decimation of the Eries.
It was not until 1679 that another white European would again set foot in Chautauqua County.
Frenchman René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, landed at Barcelona seeking a navigable route from
the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico through the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. LaSalle and his men
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forged a portage several miles upland over the Chautauqua escarpment and found their way to “a little
lake six or seven miles south of Lake Erie, the mouth of which opens southeastward.”
This was most certainly Chautauqua Lake which native inhabitants, according to folklore, had named
“sack tied in the middle” for its shape where the lake narrows between Stow and Bemus Point. LaSalle
was probably the first white man to see Chautauqua Lake, and the first to discover a navigable route to
the Gulf of Mexico. LaSalle’s discovery served as the basis for Chautauqua Lake’s prominence as an
important link for travel and shipping of goods.
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Captain Bienville de Celoron was dispatched to America in 1749 to claim this region for France. With a
contingent of soldiers, Celoron landed at Barcelona to mark and claim the territory along the navigable
route to the Gulf of Mexico, which was discovered by LaSalle approximately sixty years earlier. Celoron
and his contingent of 214 French and 55 Iroquois followed LaSalle’s maps leaving leadened plates along
the way as he traveled to mark the King’s claim.
Eighteenth century settlement of the Chautauqua region lagged behind the eastern portions of the state
as settlers were dissuaded, in part, by fear toward indigenous peoples of the region. By the 1790’s,
settlers from Connecticut and other New England states were heading for the Western Reserve through
Chautauqua County. In 1796, the Holland Land Company, a conglomerate of six Dutch banking houses,
purchased a large tract of land in Western New York that included the lands of Chautauqua County.
While the intent of the plan was to sell large parcels to wealthy landowners, instead small plots were
sold on liberal terms to farmers of little means. The hardships of settling in this physically daunting area
had prompted wealthier investors to move further west to present-day Ohio, where less labor-intensive
land could be purchased for cash.
During the early 19th century, Chautauqua County was the leading edge of the western frontier and
population growth was slow, in part due to the War of 1812. A scant 300 residents lived in the county at
the outbreak of the War of 1812, but the number swelled to 15,322 by 1820. During the first half of the
19th century, lumber and agriculture were the primary industries of the county and this was exemplified
by the export of 40,000,000 board feet of lumber in one year. The first steamship sailed on Chautauqua
Lake in 1828 carrying goods to Jamestown to be transported down the Allegheny River to Pittsburgh and
beyond. The introduction of steamships to the Lake vastly improved the speed at which goods could be
shipped from Chautauqua County into growing markets.
Chautauqua County’s place in the industrialized economy was assured in 1851 when the New York and
Erie Railroad was completed to Chautauqua County with its terminus at Dunkirk. In 1860, establishment
of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad from Salamanca to the Pennsylvania state line connected the
County’s southern most communities, including some along Chautauqua Lake. The railroads provided
an opportunity for increased shipping of freight and passengers along with opportunities for stimulating
new enterprises. In 1872 Jamestown resident William Broadhead returned from his native England to
develop a large worsted mill operation on the banks of the Chadakoin River in Jamestown. This same
period also saw a tremendous growth in furniture manufacturing. Between 1870 and 1930, the
population of Jamestown grew from 5,000 to 45,000. Much of this growth was spurred by the
emigration of skilled manufacturing laborers from Sweden and Italy.
The County’s current economy is based on agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. As noted in
Chautauqua County 1995: A General Plan (Chautauqua County Planning Department, 1978), Chautauqua
County experienced a steady downward trend in manufacturing employment between 1952 and 1975
when the County lost over 50% of its 25,800 manufacturing jobs. Currently, manufacturing employment
is experiencing a modest upswing. However, the modest growth in the County’s economy in the 1990s
did not follow national trends of record growth. The Chautauqua Lake communities vary in size and
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economic vitality and all have been affected by the shift in the county’s economy. As these communities
enter the new century, many see tourism as the key to growth.
Village of Celoron
The Village of Celoron lies at the end of Chautauqua Lake on the southern shore where the Lake empties
into the Chadakoin River. The Village, with a total area of 476 acres and a waterfront approximately
eight tenths of a mile long, is almost twice the size of Bemus Point, the smallest Village among the
Chautauqua Lake communities. While only 198 acres larger than Bemus Point in geographic area,
Celoron’s population of 1,295 is almost four times greater. The current population, although reflective
of an increase of 5.1 % or 63 people between the 1990 Census and the 2000 Census, is substantially
lower than the 1,555 residents recorded in the 1950 decennial census. The southern boundary of the
Village is just north of NYS Route 394. Celoron is bordered on its northern edge by Boulevard Street
(County Route 67), which parallels the shore of Chautauqua Lake and the Chadakoin River, providing
easy access from Jamestown. School Creek, a small tributary to Chautauqua Lake, runs through
moderately populated residential areas in the southern portion of the Village and empties into the lake
at a point between Melford and Leslie Streets next to Longview Avenue.
The Holiday Harbor Marina and Carlson’s Boat Livery are situated between the shoreline and Boulevard
Street near the Village’s border with the City of Jamestown. The Village of Celoron maintains the Lucille
Ball Memorial Park and a public boat launch. Both are situated along the shoreline adjacent to the
commercial district near the intersection of Dunham and Boulevard Streets. The community consists
primarily of residential units with a limited number of small manufacturers located along the WNY&P
Railroad in the center of the Village. Celoron is also home to the “Summer Wind”, Chautauqua Lake’s
only full service tour boat.
Town of Ellicott
The Town of Ellicott, with a total land area of 18,440 acres, is unique in its divisions created by
Chautauqua Lake and the City of Jamestown’s borders. These borders completely divide the southern
half of the Township. Burtis Bay, one of Ellicott’s three waterfront residential clusters, lies between the
Villages of Celoron and Lakewood along approximately one mile of the southern shoreline. Elmhurst and
Bonita, Ellicott’s other waterfront residential clusters, are located between the borders of the City of
Jamestown and the Town of Ellery along 2.2 miles of the northern shoreline. The Town has a population
of 5,445, which reflects a decrease of 2.2% from the 1990 Census. Ellicott is easily accessible from I-86,
NYS 394, NYS 430 and NYS 60, the major traffic corridors. School Creek, the only identified Chautauqua
Lake tributary in the Town, passes through Ellicott briefly on the western side of Celoron. A tract of
protected wetlands is located along the northern shoreline east of Bonita and serves as habitat for
wildlife. The Town of Ellicott maintains a lakefront park on the east end of Burtis Bay with waterfront
access, a pavilion, picnic tables, and parking.
Chautauqua County’s Jamestown Airport is located north of the City of Jamestown in the Town of
Ellicott and provides general aviation services and commuter flights connecting with major airports. The
Airport Hill and Joseph Mason Industrial Parks are accessible from Route 60 and the Allen Street
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Extension, respectively. The parks have prime industrial land available for new businesses and have
recently completed infrastructure improvements. The area in West Ellicott along Fairmont Avenue
(Route 394) has developed into a significant regional retail destination featuring local retailers along
with national and regional chains, such as Sam’s Club, Home Depot, Super K-Mart, and Wegman’s.
Village of Lakewood
The Village of Lakewood is situated just west of Burtis Bay along the southern shore of the southeastern
portion of Chautauqua Lake within the Town of Busti. The Village, with approximately three miles of
waterfront and a total acreage of 1,259 acres is comparable to Mayville in size geographically.
Lakewood’s population of 3,258 is the largest population of any of the Villages within the lake
communities. Its population, however, reflects a decrease of 8.6% (306 people) from the 1990 Census.
The number of homes converted from year-round residences to seasonal and commercial units may
explain, in part, the decline in population. The 1980 Census recorded 12 homes as seasonal or 0.7% of
the community’s housing stock while the 2000 Census recorded 114 homes as seasonal with 6.6% of the
community’s housing stock. The Village is dissected by NYS Route 394 and Summit Avenue (County
Route 110), which parallel each other. Both routes travel in an east/west direction and provide easy
access to all parts of the community. There are several small tributary streams that flow into the lake
within the Village of Lakewood. The primary stream within the Village is Crescent Creek. Another
tributary is the Brook Street Brook and a third is the canal on the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club property.
Lakewood is primarily a bedroom residential community. The Village has recently revitalized the
downtown central business district along Chautauqua Avenue with upgraded roads, sidewalks, park
areas and a clock tower. The central business district is directly tied to the lakefront by pedestrian and
vehicular access along Chautauqua Avenue, which has small businesses that serve the residents and
tourists. Hartley Park; a public park with a swimming beach, bathhouse, tennis courts and a playground,
is situated at the foot of Chautauqua Avenue and provides an open space connection to the lake for
residents and tourists alike. Fairmount Avenue (NYS Route 394), within the Village of Lakewood, has
developed into the primary commercial area of southern Chautauqua County with local and national
retailers and restaurants established along the retail strip. Lakewood is the home to the Chautauqua
Lake Yacht Club, the only sailing club with its own formal facility on Chautauqua Lake.
Town of Busti
The Town of Busti is located along the southern edge of Chautauqua Lake between the Towns of North
Harmony and Ellicott and encompasses the Village of Lakewood. With a population of approximately
4,500 and acreage of 29,339, it is comparable in both population and size to the Town of Ellery. The
Township’s waterfront, which is one of the smallest of the Lake communities at approximately one-mile
of shoreline, is easily accessible from NYS Routes 394 and 474. The remainder of the Town relies on a
series of County highways serving as the primary transportation routes for access. Goose Creek
meanders along the border between Busti and North Harmony and flows under NYS Route 394 before
emptying into Chautauqua Lake just east of Ashville Bay.
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The Town of Busti, with assistance from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, has
recently upgraded the General George Stoneman Business Park to provide ample acreage and
infrastructure for new industrial development.
The Vukote Canal, a residential lakeside development, is located at the western edge of the Town’s
waterfront. Smith Boys Marina and a small commercial strip of retail shops are located on NYS Route
394 adjacent to the Vukote area. Busti’s Community Park at Vukote Canal and the Busti Wetland
Preserve along NYS Route 474 are both open space opportunities for residents. Busti, although,
primarily rural residential, does have a modest amount of industry. Most notably, Busti is home to the
Cummins Engine Company, an international producer of diesel engines and one of the region’s largest
manufacturing employers.
Town of North Harmony
The Town of North Harmony is situated between the Town of Chautauqua’s border at Magnolia Road
and the Town of Busti along the western shore of Chautauqua Lake. North Harmony, with a population
of 2,521 (an increase of 9.6% from the 1990 Census), and an area of 27,016 acres, is slightly smaller
geographically than the Town of Ellery. North Harmony is one of only two lakeside communities that
have had consistent growth in its population recorded in every census since 1950. NYS Route 394
provides north/south access near the lakeshore and I-86 provides east/west access through the Town.
Ball Creek, a feeder creek to Chautauqua Lake, winds through upland farms and timber before crossing
under I-86 and NYS Route 394 to empty into Chautauqua Lake near Stow. Goose Creek passes through
Ashville, going under NYS Route 474 and meanders along the North Harmony and Busti border before
flowing under NYS Route 394 into Chautauqua Lake east of Ashville Bay in North Harmony. Tom’s Point,
a State-designated wetland preserve, is also located adjacent to Stow.
North Harmony is primarily rural residential with several clusters of lakeside residential along its
shoreline. Ashville Bay Marina and a limited cluster of commercial businesses located in Stow are the
primary lake related businesses within the Town. Ashville, located near North Harmony’s southeastern
edge, serves as a small center for outfitters who utilize Goose Creek as a staging area for excursions.
Stow is located at the “narrows” between the north and south basins of the Lake. Stow is a terminus for
the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, which has, until recently, operated as a tourist attraction during the
summer season between Stow and Bemus Point.
Town of Chautauqua
The Town of Chautauqua surrounds the northwestern end of Chautauqua Lake with approximately six
and one-half miles of shoreline along the southwestern shore and four miles along the northeastern
shore. Chautauqua, excluding the Village of Mayville, covers roughly 41,855 acres. Geographically it is
the largest of the Chautauqua Lake communities. Although Chautauqua is the largest of the Towns
surrounding Chautauqua Lake, Chautauqua’s population of 2,910 is smaller than the Town’s of Ellicott,
Ellery or Busti. The Town’s primary access roads, NYS Routes 394 and 430, run parallel to the lakeshore
as well as running north and south through the Town. These primary routes provide easy accessibility to
the Lake and are a link to nearby I-90 and I¬86. Several primary feeder creeks and small tributaries to
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Chautauqua Lake flow through the Town. Big Inlet Creek, one of the largest feeders, flows through the
Hartfield area and into the lake at its most northern point. Big Inlet originates in a significant wetland
above Elm Flat Road near the Chautauqua escarpment south of Lake Erie. Prendergast Creek, the second
largest feeder creek, parallels the Town’s southern border and enters the southwest side of the lake
next to the New York State Fish Hatchery. Prendergast Creek, as it winds through forests and along
agricultural fields, is utilized as a local trout creek by anglers. Dewittville Creek, the remaining feeder
creek within the Township, originates in the Town of Stockton and flows south through Dewittville
entering the lake at the northeastern shoreline near Chautauqua’s border with Ellery. Another notable
small tributary within Chautauqua is Clear Creek at Lighthouse Point.
The Town is primarily rural with a large portion of the land area consisting of vacant or active
agricultural lands. The largest population densities in the Town occur near the lakeshore in the
residential areas of Hartfield, Point Chautauqua, Prendergast Point, Lighthouse Point, Dewittville and
Chautauqua Institution. Snug Harbor Marina, located south of Prendergast Point on the western
shoreline, is the only commercial marina outside the Village of Mayville still within the Town. The
Town’s commercial concentration, which is tourism oriented, consists of restaurants, a grocery store,
plant nurseries, roadside stands, and art galleries, located along NYS Route 394 between Snug Harbor
Marina and the southwestern border of Mayville. The remainder of the Town’s shore area is lined with
lakeside residential clusters, cottages, camps, golf courses and condominium complexes.
Chautauqua Institution, a world-renowned education and cultural community, is a major part of
Chautauqua’s tourism trade. Chautauqua Institution includes many second homes and serves as the
primary draw to many tourists visiting the Town. The Institution began in 1874 as an open-air summer
school for Sunday-school teachers and offers a range of cultural, religious and recreational programs to
both residents and visitors. These programs are offered in the setting of a lakeside community
reflecting many forms of traditional and modified architecture, now designated as a National Historic
District and a National Historic Landmark.
The Institution’s properties occupy an area of about 800 acres, which includes the lakeside community,
an adjacent golf course, and other nearby lands. The peak activity occurs during the nine week summer
season. As many as 10,000 residents and visitors may occupy the Institution grounds on a given summer
day. The Institution, since its origin, has developed into a year-round conference and retreat center. It
is estimated that the Institution attracts 180,000 visitors annually and is the primary or secondary
determinant of approximately $55 million in direct annual spending in Chautauqua County (Nichols,
1991).
Village of Mayville
The Village of Mayville is located at the head of Chautauqua Lake. With a total area of 1,242 acres and a
waterfront approximately two miles long, geographically it is comparable in size to Lakewood. Mayville’s
population of 1,756 reflects an increase of 7.3% since the 1990 Census. Mayville is one of only two
lakeside communities that have had consistent growth in population recorded in every census since
1950. Mayville is dissected by NYS Routes 394 and 430, which provide ease of access from both sides of
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the lake and from I-90 in nearby Westfield. Mayville has two feeder creeks, Mud Creek and Little Inlet
Creek. They enter Chautauqua Lake at opposite ends of the Village. Mud Creek, which originates near
Beaujean Road in Chautauqua, winds along the Village’s western boundary until heading east after
passing under the abandoned rail bed. Mud Creek then travels in an easterly direction, passing under
NYS Route 394, and enters Chautauqua Lake next to the Chautauqua Marina south of Mayville Park.
Little Inlet Creek enters Mayville near its northeastern border parallel to Honeysette Road, and then
travels under NYS Route 430 and Sea Lion Drive before flowing into Chautauqua Lake west of Creative
Marina.
Mayville consists primarily of single-family residential units located in the southern portion of the
Village. The principal commercial district that serves the residents is located in the center of the Village
along South Erie Street (NYS Route 394). The shoreline segment of South Erie Street (NYS Route 394)
contains a second commercial area, which is primarily tourism oriented, including restaurants, lodging
facilities, recreational vehicle sales, the Chautauqua Marina and the base for the steamship the
“Chautauqua Belle.”
The Village of Mayville maintains the Mayville Village Park, which offers a public boat launch, tennis
courts, bathhouse, and bathing beach. The Village park and the adjacent Village shoreline is the largest
public area along Chautauqua Lake owned by a local municipality. Mayville is the county seat of
Chautauqua County and home of the County Jail and Office Complex.
Town of Ellery
The Town of Ellery is located along the northeastern edge of Chautauqua Lake between the Towns of
Chautauqua and Ellicott and encompasses the Village of Bemus Point. With a population of 4,236 and
acreage of 30,211 acres, it is comparable in population and size to the Town of Busti. Ellery has
approximately eight and one-half miles of waterfront, which is the second largest waterfront area of any
of the lake communities. The Town is easily accessible with NYS Route 430 traveling north and south
along the lake and I-86 providing east/west access.
Ellery contains several feeder creeks and tributaries, all originating within the Town in the uplands
above Chautauqua Lake. Maple Springs, Bemus, Belleview and Dutch Hollow Creeks are the most
notable of these. Maple Springs Creek passes under NYS Route 430 south of Midway Park and travels
through the residential segment of Maple Springs before entering Chautauqua Lake at Lakeside
Promenade. Bemus Creek, which is joined by Brown Creek northeast of Bemus Point, travels under I-86
passing for a short distance through the southern tip of the Village of Bemus Point and under NYS Route
430 before flowing into Chautauqua Lake south of the I-86 Bridge near Shore Acres. Dutch Hollow Creek
parallels the eastern border of Ellery flowing under I-86 and NYS Route 430 just west of Dutch Hollow
Road before emptying into Chautauqua Lake at Greenhurst.
The Town of Ellery is has a rural residential character with lakeside residential clusters. The most
significant of these are Maple Springs, Sunset Bay, Oriental Park, Shore Acres and Greenhurst. Ellery’s
uplands consist of agricultural or vacant agricultural lands. The Town’s economy is based on tourism.
Maple Springs, one of two commercial areas in the Town, is home to Midway Amusement Park, a
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convenience store, a tavern, a bed-and-breakfast, a tourist residence, and some restaurants located
along NYS Route 430. Shore Acres Marina, the only marina solely within Ellery’s borders is located along
NYS Route 430 just east of Bemus Point. The Town’s other commercial area is located near the newly
built Town Park in Greenhurst and consists of a restaurant, laundromat, and tavern. The Town of Ellery
is best known for its recreational opportunities and views from its steep shoreline.
Village of Bemus Point
The Village of Bemus Point is the smallest of the Lake communities, with 278 acres and approximately
340 year-round residents. Located along the eastern shoreline with a mile and a half of shoreline at the
“narrows” in the center of the Lake and just southeast of Long Point State Park, the Village offers
outstanding recreational opportunities. Bemus Point is easily accessible from the north or south by NYS
Route 430, which runs through Bemus Point, and from an east/west direction from the I-86 interchanges
at Bemus Point.
Bemus Point is predominately a residential community with a well-established commercial district. The
Village’s tourist oriented commercial district primarily lies along NYS Route 430. The district consists of
the L&S Marine, a Village park, a Village beach, gift shops, the “Casino” an amusement arcade, a DEC
boat launch and picnic area, several restaurants, two churches and a golf course. Included in the
commercial district also are a bed-and-breakfast residence and the “Hotel Lenhart”, one of two surviving
grand hotels on Chautauqua Lake.
Bemus Point has gained the reputation as “the place to be” by locals and visitors alike. The community,
although small, has an established nightlife, Sunday concerts, planned events such as the “Bemus Pops”
and Fireman’s 10K race, and a public section of shoreline that is famous locally for its vistas at sunset.
Bemus Point is also home to the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry, which until recently, was one of the oldest
operating ferries in the United States.
B. History of Chautauqua Lake
Chautauqua Lake lies in the geographic center of Chautauqua County in southwestern New York State
and is oriented in a northwest- southeast direction. The lake is approximately 17 miles in length with a
maximum width of just over 2 miles. The lake is divided into two distinct basins separated by the
Narrows between the Village of Bemus Point and Stow.
The Lake lies in the north portion of the Allegheny Plateau, south of, and elevated above the Lake Erie
plain. While precipitation into the Chautauqua Lake watershed drains to the Gulf of Mexico,
precipitation immediately north of the watershed drains to the North Atlantic via the Great Lakes – St.
Lawrence system.
The Lake formed when the edge of the last Ice Age glacier retreated northward from the New York –
Pennsylvania border region. As the glacier edge melted northward the edge paused at what is now
Jamestown, depositing vast amounts of soil. The resulting soil mound and the solid rock underneath
formed a natural dam at the south end of the lake.
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The outlet stream of the lake, the Chadakoin River, eventually breached the natural dam created by the
glacier. The streambed of the Chadakoin River, composed of natural solid rock, keeps the outlet
shallow. The inability of the river to cut through this rock prevents the draining of Chautauqua Lake and
severely limits the ability to control water levels in the lake. Warner Dam is a man-made dam located in
the City of Jamestown. It lies downstream from the natural rock barrier in the bed of the Chadakoin
River and acts as a partial water level control while the river rock acts as the primary control. Lake
flood-problems were noted as early as 1811; lake level control was first discussed in 1823. Lakeshore
flood insurance programs were begun in 1969 and the modern use of Warner Dam in Jamestown to
partially control lake levels began in 1976. Warner Dam was originally built in 1919 and was wholly
rebuilt in 1979.
As the glacier melted and its edge retreated farther northward, it paused again and deposited another
mound of soil in the Bemus Point – Stow region that created the north basin. Peripheral streams that
drained the glacier in the north basin removed much of the sedimentation that might have been
deposited on the southern edge of the glacier retreat. This drainage, which did not occur in the south
basin, accounts for the difference in water depth and quality between the north and south basins. This
glacial debris partly separates the basins.
The glacial edge paused once again just north of Mayville depositing several layers of glacial soil. This
glacial debris, which prevents the Lake from draining northward into Lake Erie, forces it to drain
southward into the Allegheny – Ohio – Mississippi River system and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico.
The two basins are approximately 10 square miles each with a combined watershed covering an area of
approximately 180 square miles. The south basin averages a depth of only 11 feet and is considered
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eutrophic (An eutrophic lake is one that typically has a phosphorus content of above 0.026 mg/L and a
water transparency less than 6 feet, factors that relate to high organic productivity).
The north basin averages 26 feet in depth and is considered mesotrophic. (Mesotrophic lakes usually
have phosphorus contents ranging between 0.010 and 0.026 mg/L and transparencies between 6 to 15
feet). Phosphorus content is emphasized in discussions of lakes because it has often been the critical
nutrient that controls growth of algae and other functional aspects of lakes.
Mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes tend to be very productive lakes, supporting large quantities of organic
life, both plant and animal. Chautauqua Lake is the ninth most productive warm-water fishery in New
York State. Chautauqua Lake has high concentrations of aquatic vegetation, sometimes at nuisance
levels.
Considering the aboriginal settlement patterns of North America, the Chautauqua Lake region was most
likely inhabited by ancient cultures between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. There is no evidence that
pre-Columbian cultures had any significant enduring impact on Chautauqua Lake.
Perhaps the first appreciable impacts on the lake occurred long after early European explorers had
considered the lake a link in the trading route connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River
drainages. These first ecological impacts were deforestation of the watershed feeding the lake and
over-fishing. It is likely that the watershed was almost completely deforested as early as 1840 from
timber harvesting. Agricultural acreage within the lake watershed was greatest from about 1880 to
1920. Net fishing ended in the 1840s; ice fishing was limited beginning in 1852. Accessibility to the Lake
was influenced greatly by the arrival of railroads. Rail transportation had reached Brocton in the 1850s
and Jamestown by 1860. The rail lines brought seasonal tourists looking for water recreation. Steam
boating, prominent on the Lake from 1860 – 1930, reached peak popularity between 1880 and 1905
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when twenty-one commercial steamers sailed the Lake waters. Then, rail transport became available
along the eastern shore in 1888 leading to an eventual decline in steamer ridership. Ice harvesting to
provide household and commercial refrigeration in Buffalo was an important winter industry until 1895.
Thus, the latter half of the 1800s spanned an era of access and development of the Lake and lakeshore.
During this period, several grand hotels were built around the Lake, two of which still stand today, The
Athenaeum at Chautauqua Institution, and The Lenhart at Bemus Point.
From the earliest days, sewage was routinely discharged directly into the lake. In 1965 Town control of
waste disposal moved to county jurisdiction. In the mid 1970s, two-thirds of the holdings on the
periphery of the Lake had septic systems that were replaced by sewage treatment plant connections.
This led to intensive development of the limited shoreline remaining. Today, only 11.6% of the lake’s
remaining shoreline is in a natural undeveloped state. Private residences, cottages, and condominium
communities occupy the majority of the shoreline.
The 2000 Census counted 139,750 full-time residents in Chautauqua County. In the spring, summer and
fall months, a number of seasonal residents, primarily from Ohio and Pennsylvania, converge on the
County. It would be safe to assume that the population probably increased by 8,000 to 10,000 during
this period, there is no valid means of determining the actual numbers.
C. Existing Land Use and Water Uses
The existing land use within the Waterfront Revitalization Area (WRA) is presented by community.
Primary attention is given to uses within the WRA. Land uses that may have significant impacts on the
WRA, but are outside the defined WRA, are described. Each of the communities exhibits unique land
use patterns, presenting various opportunities and constraints. A preliminary analysis of these
opportunities and constraints are identified for each community. Additional information regarding land
and water use, and proposed projects can be found in Section IV.
Village of Celoron
The main business district in the Village of Celoron is located along Boulevard Street and consists of
typical commercial businesses as well as Lake-related businesses. From the Jamestown City line
traveling west into the Village to Venice Street, all the properties located between Boulevard and the
Chadakoin River (the Chautauqua Lake outlet) are shoreline commercial properties. This area contains
Holiday Harbor Marina, Carlson Boat Livery, and a number of other commercial properties. The
commercial area on the south side of Boulevard Street begins at Waverly Avenue and continues west to
Dunham then south on Dunham to Duquesne Street. This area is considered the Village’s central
business district with the Celoron Village Offices, the post office, a restaurant, a gift shop, the local
Moose Club and an antique shop.
There are three areas in the Village that are primarily industrial, all of which are located adjacent to
portions of the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNY&P), which divides the Village. The rail
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 13
line had been dormant since the early 1990s. However, the WNY&P, a short line operator in Jamestown,
reactivated the railroad line in 2001.
The most significant industrial area is located on the north and south sides of Livingston Avenue, south
of the WNY&P tracks starting at the Jamestown City Line then continuing west to the WNY&P track
crossing at Livingston Avenue on the north side to the Allen H. Miller property. This area contains the
former V&N Construction building, the former Penn-Empire Transport terminal, Signature Seal Coating,
Brigotta Farms Greenhouse, Superior Paving, an auto body repair shop, and a bus company garage. A
significant portion of this area is unusable due to adverse topography. The Chautauqua Lake South and
Center Wastewater Treatment Plant are located adjacent to Boulevard Street at the Jamestown City
line.
The largest concentration of single and multi-family residential properties is located south of the
Boulevard Street commercial zones and north of the WNY&P rail line east of the Jackson Avenue,
continuing eastward to the Jamestown City Line. The majority of this area consists of single-family
structures. Along the south side of Livingston Avenue, east of Metcalf Avenue and at the foot of Jackson
Avenue, there is a significant amount of undeveloped property. Of this undeveloped property, the
majority is zoned multi-family, and could be developed. On the north side of Boulevard Street, where it
meets Dunham Ave., Celoron maintains the Lucille Ball Memorial Park. The park serves as the central
recreation area for the community and includes a boat launch, a baseball field, a pavilion, fishing access,
and a community center. The community has recently constructed a lighthouse adjacent to the park,
which now acts as a focal point for the area. The “Summer Wind” cruise and dinner ship, a private
enterprise, is also moored adjacent to the park.
At the point where Dunham Avenue going north extends to the lake, on the west side of Dunham Ave.,
there is large vacant parcel (7.7A) owned by Northwest Mutual Savings. This parcel, along with the
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
MarineParkApartmentsparcel,wasoncethesiteoftheCeloronAmusementParkandballroompriorto
theearly1950’s.
Thesitewasanimportantrecreationdestinationforthetristatearea,andiscurrentlyzonedfor
multipleresidencesbutcouldbedevelopedforrecreationalpurposes.Theparcelcontainsabreakwall
alongthewholeLakeedgeandoffersoneofthemostextensiveviewsofChautauquaLake.See,Village
ofCeloronandTownofElli
cottExistingLandUseMa
p.
Opportunities
x Createdowntownrevitalizationplantodevelopcommercialareaintoadestinationfortourist
andcountyresidents.
x Improve“LucilleBallMemorialPark.”Enhanceparkamenitiesandrestorehistoriccharacter.
x Developvacant“CeloronAmusementPark”parcelthroughprivatemeansorpublicprivate
partnership.DevelopmentcouldcomplementthehistoriccharacterofCeloron,thec
ommunity’s
commercialarea,andopenspace.
x CreateagatewayforthecommunityandwaterfrontalongDunhamAvenue.
Constraints
x “CeloronAmusementPark”siteisprivatelyownedandcontrolled.Currently,itiszonedmulti
familyresidential.
x Thedowntownareaneedsstreetscapeimprovementstoimproveaestheticappeal.
x Parkingindowntownmaybelimited.
x Developmentplanneedstoaddresspotentialconflictsbetweenvaryingusergroups(i.e.Park
users,boatersandtouris
t).
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
x Zoningboundariesof“commercialdistrict”andusesneedtobeevaluated.Districtmayneedto
beexpandedtoprovideadequatespacefordevelopmentandparking.
TownofEllicott
TheTownofEllicottsurroundstheCityofJamestownandencompassestheVillagesofFalconerand
Celoron.TheTownishometotheMasonIndustrialPark,theChautauquaCountyAirportanda
prominentcommercialareainWestEllicott.Ellicotthasshorelineonboththenorthandsouthsidesof
ChautauquaLake(se
emap).Onthesouthsideofthelake,withintheWR
A,startingattheCeloron
VillagelinegoingwestareresidentialhomesalongBurtisBay.OntheeasternsideofBurtisBaythe
TownmaintainsBurtisBayPark,whichcontainsabaseballfield,openspace,andshoreaccesstothe
lake.
TheunincorporatedareaknownasFluvannastartingatTownlineRoadisboundedonthenorthsideof
thelakebyNYSRoute430easttotheI86InterchangeatStrunkRoad.Itencompassestheareasouth
ofNYSRoute430tothenorthshorelineoftheLake.FluvannaincludesthecommunitiesofElmhurstand
Bonita.Bothareamixofsingleandmultifamilyhousingunitsusedbothseasonallyandyearround.This
residentialareaalsocontainsalimitedcommercialmixwiththeAppleInnandGaylene’sjewelryrepair
andtheBridalShoppe.
TheFluvannacommercialdistrictisdefinedbyali
netravelingeastfromtheSt
runkRoadI86
InterchangealongNYSRoute430toapointcreatedbyanimaginaryperpendicularlineextendingacross
theChadakoinRivertocoincidewithCeloron’seasternboundaryandencompassestheareassouthof
NYSRoute430andnorthoftheChadakoinRiver.Thisareacontai
nstheFountainBowlBowlingAlley,a
truckingterminal,aselfstoragefacility,andatireshop/garage.Largewetlandtractsseparatethese
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
commercialareasalongRoute430fromtheChadakoinRiver.TheChautauquaWatershedConservancy
owns23acresofthesewetlands.SeeVillageofCeloronandTownofEllicottExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x DevelopabandonedraillineeastofBonitaintoanaturepreservearea.Therailroadbedcrosses
wetlandtractsandconnectstoCityofJamestown.
x LinktheCityofJamestown“RiverWalk”withwetlandareas.
x DevelopBurtisBayPark.Completecomponentsofmasterplan.
x Encouragedevelopmentofwinteractivitiesrelate
dtotheLake.
Constraints
x Ownershipofwetlandtracts.
x CompletionofJamestown’s“RiverWalk”project.
x BurtisBay’snaturalcollectiontendenciesatshoreline.
VillageofLakewood
TheVillageofLakewoodisprimarilysinglefamilyresidentialincharacterwithbothyearroundand
seasonalhomes.Asmallportionofthecommunityismultifamilyandcontainsunitssuchastheold
PackardEstate,whichhasbeenturnedintocondominiums.
Lakewoodishometotwocommercialdistricts.TheLakewood“RetailBusiness”districtrunsfrom
TerraceStreetsouthtotherailroadtrackalongChautauquaAvenueonbotheastandwestsidesandis
thecommunity’scentralbusinessdistrict.Theareaisprimarilyretailandincludesgiftshops,bedand
breakfasts,touristresidences,icecreamandluncheonshops,andavarietyofser
vicebusinessessuchas
abarbershopandabank.Themaincommercialdistrictrunsalongthenorthernandsouthernedgeof
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 17
NYS Route 394. This district is comprised of the Chautauqua Mall, banks, grocery stores, and multiple
service and retail outlets. This area, which runs the full length of the community, is southern
Chautauqua County’s commercial shopping area.
There are two industrial areas in the Village. They are both near the railroad tracks just to the north of
Fairmount Avenue, on Chautauqua Avenue and Winchester Road, respectively. These industrial districts
are home to Matco Tools on Chautauqua Avenue and Lexington Die Casting on Winchester Road.
Lakewood contains many public and quasi-public recreational facilities, most of which are within the
WRA. The Village of Lakewood owns and maintains three recreational areas. The most notable of these
areas is the Richard Hartley Park at the foot of Chautauqua Avenue. The park serves as a major draw to
the community’s downtown area offering a beach with a lifeguard, tennis and basketball courts, a
gazebo, picnic areas, bathhouse and a playground. Lakewood has plans to further upgrade the park by
extending the beach area and creating a handicapped accessible overlook. Lakeside Community Park,
located along Terrace Street near the Town of Ellicott border, and Lowe Park, located near the Village’s
western edge along Summit Avenue, are the other recreational areas; Lakeside Community Park has a
boat launch, a picnic pavilion, and boat-trailer parking.
Quasi-public facilities in Lakewood are owned by numerous organizations and are open to their
members and guests. The following is a list of those facilities and their location: 1) the Lakewood Rod &
Gun Club has its own lakefront, clubhouse and picnic pavilion. On the pavilion parcel is one of several
streams entering Chautauqua Lake along Lakewood’s shoreline, called the Canal; 2) the veterans
maintain a small Veterans Park on the lakeside with picnic facilities at the point where Terrace Street
meets Summit Avenue; 3) the YWCA owns the YA WA CA Lodge, located on Terrace Avenue (lakeside),
and operates the facility as a day camp and banquet hall; 4) further east on Summit Avenue the
Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department maintains the Lakewood Fire Volunteers Training and Recreation
Grounds; 5) the Michael LaGrega Memorial Park located on Summit Avenue provides a baseball field
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
andtwotenniscourts;and6)theChautauquaLakeYachtClubmaintainsasailingclubonthelakefront.
SeeVillageofLakewoodExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x CompleteChautauquaAvenuearearevitalizationefforts.Improvesignageandstreetscape
amenities–inwhich$1.8millionhasbeeninvestedtodate.
x CreatepublicdockingtoallowvisitorstoaccessdowntownandtheHartleyParkareafromthe
Lake.
x Createaparkinthecenterofthedowntownareaasopenspacetoenhan
cestreetscapeand
providepedestrianamenities.
x Enlargethebeachareaforadditionalswimmingcapacity
x CreateCrescentOverlookinHartleyParktoimproveutilization.
x UpgradeCommunityParktoallowforusesthatcomplementHartleyPark
x Implementwalkingtourprogramtoencouragetourism.
Constraints
x Funding
TownofBusti
TheTownofBustiisprimarilyruralresidentialincharacterandhasthesmallestshorelineofthenine
communities.Bustihastwoindustrialdevelopmentareas.Oneareaisanindustrialdistrictlocated
betweenHuntRoadandBakerStreetandtheotheralightmanufacturingandresearchdistrictbetween
BigTreeRoad,Gleaso
nStreet,andHunt
Road.
TheindustrialdistrictishometotheStonemanIndustrialParkandtheCumminsEnginemanufacturing
facility.ThelightmanufacturingandresearchareaishometoARROTool&Die,UlrichPlanfiling
EquipmentCorp.,MasterCarvers,ECKOTool&Die,JamestownSoapandSolvent,SouthernTier
BreweryandDiversifiedComponents.ThedistrictsarebothsouthoftheWRAareaandadjacenttothe
BustiWetlandsPreserve.
TheareawestoftheVillageofLakewoodalongNYSRoute394totheTownofNorthHarmonyboundary
isprimarilycommercial.Thesecommercialdistrictsincludeasmallautoresalefacility,aconv
enience
store,apetsupplystore,agreenhouse,aseasonaltraveltrailerpark,SmithBoysMarina,andseveral
smallboutiquetypebusinesses.
OnthewesternsideoftheTownofBustifromLakesideAvenuecontinuingnorthwesterlyalongNYS
Route394totheNorthHarmonylineisresidential.Vukote,acanalfrontdevelo
pmentwiths
easonal
residences,islocatedwithinthisarea.Theotherlakesideresidentialareaislocatedonthenorthsideof
NYSRoute394beginningatLakewoodandextendingwesttoapointeastofNYSRoute474.
BustiTownParkislocatedwithintheVukoteareaandprovidestheresidentswithbasketball,soccer
fields,aplaygroundandpicnickingandwalkingfacilities.BustiWetlandPreserveisa44.5acrepark
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
locatedalongNYSRoute474.Theparkistheonlymunicipallyownedparcelonthelakededicatedto
conservingwetlandsandprovidingwetlandaccess.See,TownofBustiandSoutheasternPortionof
NorthHarmonyExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x EstablishtrailslinkingVukotePark,theWetlandPreserve,GooseCreekLanding(Loomis
property),andtheStonemanIndustrialParktoenhanceoverallparkssystem.
x Createsystemofnaturetrails/boardwalkswithmarkersintheWetlandPreserve.
x CreateacanoeandkayaklandingforGooseCreekonLoomisproperty.
x PurchaselandontheVukotecanalorthelakeshoretoprovidela
keaccessfor
Townresidents.
x CompleteVukoteParkMasterPlan.
x AddpublicamenitiessuchasparkingatWetlandPreserve.
Constraints
x SignageandparkingfortheWetlandPreserveareinadequate.
x TheWetlandPreserveandnaturalhabitatitcreatesneedstobeprotected.
x PropertyAcquisitionorEasements
x Funding
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
TownofNorthHarmony
Themajorityofthepropertyonthenorth/northwestsideofNYSRoute394intheTownofNorth
Harmonyissinglefamilyresidentialincharacterwithamixofseasonalandyearroundhomes.Thisarea
hasseveralresidentiallakesideclustersatlocationssuchasStow,HadleyBay,Victoria,NeitsCrest,
QuigleyPark,LoomisBayandLongvi
ew.TheWRAalsoincludesanareaofresidentialhomesinAshville
(alongNYSRoute474).
AnactivecommercialdistrictexistsneartheI86StowInterchangenortheastofNYSRoute394.Thereis
zoninginplacethatallowscommercialpropertiesinanticipationoffuturedevelopment.The
commercialareacurrentlyincludes:theHadleyBayRestaurant(formerGoodMorningFarm
Restaurant),Hogan’sHutGeneralStore,theformerTrailsEndGallery,andaNiagaraMohawkService
Center.Alsosituatedinthisareaareaveterinarian’soffice,theStowPostOffice,andtheNorth
HarmonyTownhall.Ashville(thein
tersectionof474andCountyRd83)isincludedintheWRAandhas
severalcommercialbusinesses.TheAshvilleareahasasnackbar/generalstore,agasstation,a
recreationaloutfitter,severalartisan/crafterstudios,andtheAshvillePostOffice.
TheTownofNorthHarmonyhaslimitedrecreationalfacilitieslocatedwithintheTownship.Camp
Chautauqua(aprivatecampground)andAshvilleBayMarinaarebusinessesthroughwhichlakeaccessis
possible.Theshortageofpublicrecreationalfacilities,especiallyalongthelakeshore,limitsaccessto
thelakewithintheTownship.
Tom’sPoint,aNewYorkSt
ateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(DEC)wetlandsareaatStow
isasignificantnaturalfeaturewithintheTownship.GooseCreekflowsintothelakeatLoomisBayand
contributestoanothersignificantsouthwardextendingareaofwetlandbetweenFardinkRoadand
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
Route394.TheStowfarmonRoute394(lakeside)nowbelongstotheDEC.TheStowfarmwithits
shorelineofover1,100feetisoneofthemostimportantfishandwildlifehabitatsonChautauquaLake.
See:TownofBustiandSoutheasternPortionofNorthHarmonyExistingLandUseMap,CenterofTown
ofNorthHarmonyExistingLandUseMap,andNorthwesternNorthHarmonyandSouthwestern
ChautauquaExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x
Create“FishingPark”attheBallCreekoutletundertheI86Bridge.
x DeveloptheStowProperty.
x BuildapublicdockattheFerryareatoencouragebetterutilizationoftheStowareabyboaters
x AcquireTom’sPointoraportionthereof.
x ImproveStowcommercialareawithfaçadeprogramandstreetscapeimprovements.
x EnhanceAshvillecommercialarea–GooseCreekconnection,businessclusters.
x ProximitytoDobbinsWoodsPreserve
Constraints
x
Tom’sPointisownedbyDECandcontainsalargewetlandarea.
x AdevelopmentplanfortheStowareaisneeded.
x NeedEasementfromNewYorkStateDepartmentofTransportationtoaccessshorelinefrom
BallCreekparcel.
x NorthHarmonyandBustineedtopartneronGooseCreekefforts.
x AccesstoGooseCreeknecessaryforstreambankrestorationandpotentialsedimentcontrol.
Easementstobeobtained.
x CurrentlackofpublicutilitiesatStowAreaforlargedevelopment.
TownofChautauqua
TheTownofChautauquaisprimarilyaruralresidentialcommunitywiththeuplandscomprisedof
vacantfarmlandandforestholdings.TheTownofChautauquaWRAconsistsprincipallyoflands
betweentheprimaryroads(NYSRoutes394and430)andtheshorelineofChautauquaLake.The
VillageofMayvilledividestheChautauquaWRAintoawesternandeasternsection.Thewesternsection
exte
ndsnorthwesterlyfromtheMagnolia–ShermanRoadtotheMayvilleVillageline.Thewestern
segmentalongtheshoreofChautauquaLakeisadensemixofsinglefamilyresidences,cottages,Town
houses,andseasonalresidentialrentalpropertieswithlakesidere
sidentialclusterslocatedat
PrendergastPoint,ChautauquaInstitution,andLighthousePoint.
ChautauquaInstitution,approximatelyhalfwaybetweenMagnoliaandMayville,isagatedcommunity
thatoperatesaninternationallyknownsummerculturaleducationalprogramfromtheendofJune
throughtheendofAugust.Thecommunityhasapproximately400yearroundresidentsbutmayswell
to10,000asseasonalresidentsan
dvisitorstakeadvantageofthesummerprogramming.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
TheeasternsectionoftheChautauquaWRAbeginsatthenortheastMayvilleVillageboundaryand
containsthesamedenseresidentialmixalongtheeasternshorelinetotheTownborderwithElleryat
ThumbRoad.ThissectioncontainstheresidentialclustersofHartfield,DewittvilleandPoint
Chautauqua,anoldresidentialcommunitydesignedbyFr
ederickLawOlmstead.Theeasternshoreline
oftheWRAalsoishometoChautauquaLakeEstates,thefirstcondominiumprojectonChautauqua
Lake.
“Industry”intheTownofChautauquaconsistsofbusinessesthatcatertothetouristsandvisitorsthat
ChautauquaLakedrawstoChautauquaCounty.AlongthesouthwestsideofCh
autauquaLakeamongst
theresidentialmixareareasofcommercialproperty.TheSnugHarborarea,nearthesouthwesternend
oftheTownship,ishometotheSnugHarborMarina,oneoftwocommercialmarinaswithinthe
Townshipitself.
TheareafurthertothenorthalongtheeasternshorelineandclosertoChautauquaInstitutioncontains
bed&breakfasts,touristresidences,rentalcottages,giftshops,amotelandavarietyofrestaurants.
WithintheInstitutiongatesarehotels,boardinghouses,boutiques,adrugstore,abookstore,openair
andindoorconcertandlec
turehalls,andavarietyofrestaurantsfromsnackbarstofullservice
restaurants.Theseallservethevisitingpublicandresidentswhotakeadvantageoftheprogramsand
activitiestheLakeareahastooffer.
TheCreativeMarinemarinaislocatedalongSeaLionDriveandisthesmallerofthetwomari
naslocated
withintheTownship.Dewittville,onthenortheastsideofChautauquaLake,hasasmallclusterof
commercialentitiesandincludestheDewittvillePostOffice,arestaurant,acheeseshop,agardenshop
andseveralserviceorientedbusinesses.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
ThereareseveralcampsandpublicareassituatedalongthelakeintheTownofChautauqua.TheTown
containsthreeprivatelyheldpublicgolfcourses:WillowCreek,locatedsouthofSnugHarbor,isa9hole
golfcourse;theChautauquaGolfCourse,locatedacrossfromthemainChautauquaInstitutioncomplex,
isa36holecourse;andth
ePointChautauquagolfcourse,locatedontheeasternshoreofthelake
abovethePointChautauquacommunity,isa9holegolfcourse.AtPrendergastPoint,onNYSRoute
394nearSnugHarbor,isaDECFishHatcheryandaDECboatlaunchforpublicuse.Theboatlaunchis
heavilyusedandisoneofthreeDECboatlaunchesaroundthelake.SeeNorthwesternNorthHarmony
andSouthwesternChautauquaExistingLandUseMap,TownofChautauquaChautauquaInstitution
andLighthousePointExistingLandUseMap,NortheastTownofChautauquaExistingLandUseMap,an
d
SoutheastChautauquaandNorthwestElleryExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x
EncouragetheDECtoprovidepublicdockageandpicnictablestoallowboaterstobetterutilize
PendergastPointboatlaunch.Dredgeareainfrontoflaunch.
x PromoteChautauquaInstitutiontourism
x Seawallreplacementproject
x Lightingplanandimplementation
Constraints
x
Lackofpublicaccesstolakeshore
VillageofMayville
Nearly71%oftheVillagelandmassisusedforresidentialpurposes,bothyearroundandseasonal.
ResidentialpropertiesareinallareasoftheVillageexceptforthosenotedbelow.TheVillageisalsothe
countyseat.ThecountycampusislocatedatErieandChautauquaStreetsandincludesthecounty
legislativechambers,courts,jailandadministrativeoffices.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
IndustryintheVillageofMayvilleissituatedintwolocations.Thewest/northwestportionoftheVillage
onEastChautauquaStreetincludesChautauquaCustomCabinetry.Thesoutheasternsideofthe
MayvillealongWaterStreet(Rte394)ishometoBelknapBusinessForms.
MostofthecommercialbusinessesintheVillageofM
ayvillearelocatedalongNYSRoute394,Erie
Street,WaterStreetandWestLakeRoadbetweenChautauquaStreetandthesoutheasternVillageline.
ThelargestconcentrationofthesebusinessesisonErieStreetbetweenChautauquaStreetandEvans
Street,wherefewresidentialhomesarelocated.ThisareacanbeconsideredtheVillage'scentral
businessdistr
ictwiththetypicaldining,banking,grocery,andretailtypeoperations.Asecondareaof
commercialbusinesses,includingseveralrestaurants,aquickstop,gasstations,amotel,andthe
ChautauquaMarina,islocatedonNYSRoute394,WaterStreet,andWestLakeRoadalongthe
lakefront.
Mayvilleownsandmaintainstworecreationalparks.ThemostnotableisLakesideParklocatedon
ChautauquaLakeonWestLakeRoad(Rte394).LakesideParkisa14.3acreparkthatincludesa
swimmingbeach,aboatlaunch,tenniscourts,basketballcourts,atrack,andyouthrecreationfieldsfor
soccerandbaseball.Theparkisth
ecenterforpubliccelebrationssuchasFourthofJulyfireworksand
thewinterIceCastlefestival.Severalyearsago,theVillageofMayvilleboughtastripofabandoned
railroadrightofway(1.1Acres)alongtheshoreofChautauquaLakethatextendsnorthfromLakeside
Parktoth
eVillageline.IthasbecomepartoftheVillageparksystemandisusedasawalkingtrail.The
Villagealsohasaparkarea(13.4Acres)usedforbaseballandsocceratMarvinandValleyStreets.
ChautauquaCountyownsasmallparkattheintersectionofNYSRoutes394and430withintheVillage.
Althoughownedbythecounty,itisconsideredthe“Villagegreen”andmanytouristrelatedactivities
arecarriedonthereduringtheyear.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
TheVillageofMayvillehasazoninglawinplaceandiscurrentlyworkingonamajorrevisionofthatlaw.
AlthoughtheVillagehasneveradoptedaformalcomprehensiveplan,thezoninglawisformattedto
includemanyaspectsofacomprehensiveplan.SeeVillageofMayvilleExistingLandUseMap.
Opportunities
x
DeveloptrailstolinktheLakesideParkareatotheRailstoTrailssystem.
x ImplementtheRecreationalWaterfrontPlan.
x CompleteDowntownMasterPlanandlinktoLake’suses.
x Establishperformingartscenter/retailcentertocomplementChautauquaInstitutioneffortsas
indicatedinRecreationalWaterfrontPlan.
x WorkwithprivatedevelopertoencouragedevelopmentinLakesideParkarea.
Constraints
x
Funding
x Tenniscourts,bathhouse,andotheramenitiesareinneedofrenovationsandupdating.
x Needtocompleterevisionsofzoninglaw
TownofEllery
TheTownofElleryisprimarilyaruralresidentialTownshipwiththemajorityofitsdevelopment
occurringalongthelakeshorearea.TheareabetweenEllery’snorthwesternborderandtheBemus
PointVillageline,betweenNYSRoute430andthelakeshoreisamixofresidentialpropertiesand
camps.Theresidentialpropertiesconsistofcon
dominiums,Townhouses,singleresidences,cottage
properties,andlakesideresidentialclustersatMapleSpringsandSunsetBay.OrientalPark,a
residentialareaadjacenttoBemusPoint’ssouthernboundary,isoftenthoughtofbyvisitorsasan
extensionoftheVillage,butinfactissolelywithintheTownlimits.Ma
nyofthepropertiesinthearea
betweentheI86exitandtheBelleviewarea,mostofwhichareresidential,encompasssteepslope
developmentonthelakesideandcommandstrikingviewsofthelakeonthenorthsideofNYSRoute
430.
TourismistheprimaryindustryintheTown
.ThecommercialareaintheTownship,outsideofthe
VillageofBemusPoint,iscenteredintheMapleSpringsareaalongthemainhighway.Thisarea
containsseveralsmallrestaurant/taverntypeestablishments,aconveniencestoreandarealestate
office.MapleSprings,althoughprimarilyaresidentialcommunity,containstwobedandbreakfasts,
touristreside
nces,andishometooneofthecountry’soldestamusementparks,MidwayPark.Midway
Parkissituatedonthelakeandisoneof12remaining“trolley”parksinthenation.MidwayParkwas
developedasadestinationattractiontoencourageincreasedridershiponthelakesteamersandlater
therailroad.Theareasso
utheastofBemusPoint,suchasShoreAcresandGreenhurst,alongNYSRoute
430havecommercialpropertiesmixedintotheresidentialareas.Thesearesmallorlowimpact
businesses,suchasaconveniencestore,gasstation,alaundromat,anursinghome,andamarina.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
TheTownofElleryhasasmallnumberofpubliclyownedrecreationalopportunitieswithinits
boundaries.LongPointStateParkisthelargestpublicaccesspointonChautauquaLake,withthelargest
ofthethreeStateboatlaunchesandamarina.Theparkconsistsof360acresandislocatednearthe
centeroftheTown’sshoreline.
Theparkhasthreeplaygrounds,andswimmingandpicnicfacilities,andincludesover200acresofpark
upland,aswellasthelakefront.Thepropertywasonceaprivateresidenceandthe“pointarea”
maintainssomeofthosecharacteristics.AlongHeinemannRoad,closetotheEllicottTownlineisthe
newTownofElleryPark,stillinthecons
tructionstage.Oncecompleted,thiswillactasarecreation
facilityforthecommunity,butitwillnotprovideadditionallakeaccess.TheCheneyproperty,which
wasrecentlypurchasedbyNewYorkState,willprovideanadditionalpublicopportunity,when
completed,forlakeaccessandsometyp
esofrecreation.VisitorstoEllerymaytakeadvantageofthe
lakethroughoneofthesemiprivatelakesidecampsandclubs,whichincludetheCovenantChurch
camp,“MissionMeadows”,theLutheranCampandRetreatCenter,J.I.M.Club,andtheVikings’Lakeside
Lodge.
Ellerycontainssomeofthefewareasbe
tweentheprimaryhighwayandthelakethatarestillusedfor
agriculture.NearBelleviewCreekisaworkingagriculturalareathatisusedtoraiserowcropsandhay.
TheCheneyfarm,partofwhichwillbeusedforarestareaandlakeoverlookonI86fortravelers,has
recentlybecomeidle.NewYorkStatehaspurchasedaportionofthisalongthelakeshorefor
preservation.SeeSoutheastChautauquaandNorthwestElleryExistingLandUseMap,CentralEllery
ExistingLandUseMap,andSoutheastElleryExistingLandUseMap.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
Opportunities
x
WorkwithNewYorkStateDECtoprovideinputonCheneyFarmpropertydevelopment.
Projectsmayincludehikingtrails,farmingmuseum,accesstolakeforpublicandacquisitionof
additionallands.
x DevelopabikepathtoconnectLongPointStateParktoBemusPoint.
x MaintainthescenicvistaontheCheneyFarm.
Constraints
x
Funding.
x Theimpactofabikepathonprimeresidentialdevelopmentareaneedstobeevaluatedand
mitigatedduringbikepathdesign.
x SteepslopesatCheneyFarmandlimitedvehicularaccess.
VillageofBemusPoint
TheVillageofBemusPointislocatedinthenorthcentralportionofChautauquaLakewherethelakeis
thenarrowest.Bemusisahubofsummeractivityonthelakeanditsdowntownareareflectsthat.The
residentialpropertieswithinthecommunityonthelakefrontincludeseasonalhomes,butmostofth
e
Villageconsistsofyearroundresidences.
TherearenosignificantindustrialpropertieslocatedintheVillage,andamajorityofthecommercial
propertiesarelocatedneartheintersectionofLibertyStreetandLakesideDrivegoingsouthandending
atthelakewheretheBemusPointStowFerrydocksandgoin
geastfromLakesideDrivealongMain
StreettoLincolnRoad.Restaurants,hotels,rentalcottages,giftshops,andothercommercialproperties
orientedtowardsummerentertainmentareprevalent.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
BemusPoint,althoughlimitedingeographicarea,hasavarietyofrecreationalopportunities.Bemus
PointmaintainsaVillageparkatLakesideDriveandLakesideAvenuethatprovidesopenspace,views
andaplayground.OnthelakesideofLakesideAvenueadjacenttotheVillageisaVillageproperty
knownasthe“Casino'.The“Casino'isle
asedtoaprivateentitythatrunsitasarestaurant,banquet
hall,andamusementarcade.TheBemusPointterminusoftheBemusPointStowFerryislocatedatthe
easternendofthe“Casino'.
TheVillageofBemusPointmaintainsapublicbeachacrossfromthevillageparkalongLakesideDrive.
TheDE
CmaintainsaboatrampandparkingareaoneblockeastoftheVillageParkforfishingaccess.
TheBemusPointGolfCourse,a9holeprivatelyheldpublicgolfcourseof65+acres,islocatedalongthe
MainStreet(NYSRoute430)southofthemainbusin
essdistrict.
SeeVillageofBemusPointExisting
LandUseMap.
Opportunities
x
Createdowntownrevitalizationplantoaddressaestheticenhancements,streetscapes,and
signage.
x EncourageNewYorkStateDECtoupgradeboatlaunchareaandparkingwithbetterlandscaping
andmaintenance.
x UpgradeBemusPoint–StowFerrylandingareabreakwallsandpedestrianaccess.
Constraints
x
Limitedparking
x Funding
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 29
D. Land Ownership
This section identifies by community ownership of key parcels along the Chautauqua Lake shoreline.
The vast majority of land bordering the shoreline is privately held.
Village of Celoron
There are several key parcels located along Celoron’s shoreline. Included among them are two marinas
in the eastern portion of the Village. These marinas service the majority of watercraft operating out of
the south basin of the lake. Another key parcel is Lucille Ball Park, which offers public access to the lake.
Along with being a mooring location for an excursion boat, the park offers a free boat-launching site,
baseball field, playground, and picnic areas. At the western end of Celoron’s shoreline, it is an
undeveloped property currently owned by a commercial bank. This site offers a unique view of the
entire South basin of the lake. This was the site of the old Celoron Amusement Park, dating back to the
late 19th Century.
Town of Ellicott
Burtis Bay Park is located in West Ellicott and was opened as a bathing beach in the late 1950’s as a
Jaycee project to provide lake access for the residents of Ellicott and Jamestown. The beach was shut
down shortly after because of high bacteria counts in the water due to discharges in the vicinity. The
existence of these discharges has been eliminated since the creation of the Chautauqua Lake South and
Center Sewer District. The park currently provides shoreline access, open space, a baseball diamond,
and picnic areas. Along Ellicott’s northern shoreline, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has
purchased 50-acres in the Bonita Wetlands that includes 2880 feet of undeveloped shoreline. This
parcel may be developed as a nature preserve by the conservancy organization.
Village of Lakewood
The Village maintains Lakeside Community Park at the eastern end of the Village. This park is one of
three parks owned by the Village and has a free boat launch as well as limited docking, picnic grounds
and a trailer parking area. Hartley Park, located at the end of Chautauqua Avenue, is the Village’s
largest park. The park provides bathing facilities, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic
facilities and a beach area. Lowe Park is located along Terrace Street and provides 50 feet of public
access to the lake. In addition, Lakewood contains several quasi-public organizations with key parcels on
the waterfront. The Lakewood Rod and Gun Club recently built a new clubhouse facility on East Terrace
Avenue. The membership of this club is significant and it provides boat slips for a limited number of its
members. The Chautauqua Lake Association (CLA) maintains a lakefront presence with its office,
docking and storage area. The CLA is a not-for-profit organization that maintains a fleet of weed
harvesters and barges that cuts weeds and clean up the shoreline in trouble spots up and down the lake
throughout the summer season. The YWCA is located west of the CLA facility and provides tennis
facilities and lake access to its members. The Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club facilities are located east of
Hartley Park.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 30
Town of Busti
The Town of Busti has the smallest amount of lakeshore of the nine lake communities. Vukote Park and
the Busti Wetland Preserve are both owned and maintained by the Town. Vukote Park provides
recreational fields, a playground and picnic space for the residents. Busti Wetland Preserve is
approximately 44-acres of wetlands that serves as a nature preserve and has not been developed by the
Town. Smith Boys’ Marina, a private marina, is the only other key property in the WRA.
Town of North Harmony
Just south of Stow is a 6-acre parcel along Ball Creek that has been purchased by the Watershed
Conservancy. The Conservancy plans on limited development of the parcel. Likewise, just north of Stow
is an area known as “Tom’s Point”, which is owned by the NYS DEC. Tom’s Point is wholly undeveloped
and offers rough shoreline access. The DEC considers the shoreline of Tom’s Point a prime muskellunge
nursery area. Chautauqua County deeded an approximately 3/4- acre parcel at the ferry landing to the
Town to be developed as a park. In addition, Cheney’s Point has a small parcel owned by the Town with
lake access. The Stow farm, and its waterfront, has recently been acquired by the DEC. It is not
extensively developed but does offer road access to the waterfront.
Town of Chautauqua
At Prendergast Point, the DEC operates an active muskellunge hatchery. The DEC maintains a boat ramp
and trailer parking lot for public use at the site. Chautauqua Institution provides a unique lakeside
experience with a 19th century Victorian atmosphere. The Allegheny Highlands Council of the Boy
Scouts of America operates Camp Merz in the Town.
Village of Mayville
Lakeside Park is a large municipal park with picnic areas, baseball and soccer fields, a beach area,
bathhouse, tennis, basketball, track and boat launch facilities. Adjacent to this is an abandoned rail bed
purchased by the Village for use as a walking path with lake access. Gravits Park is located at Marvin
and Valley Streets and provides sport field opportunities for the community. Chautauqua County owns
a park at the corner of Routes 430 and 394. The park, although owned by the County, is used as a
Village green in the center of the business district. In addition, the Village owns wetlands along Sea Lion
Drive that may one day be utilized.
Town of Ellery
Ellery has three camps located along its shoreline, the Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center, “Mission
Meadows,” and the Boy’s J.I.M. Club. Immediately adjacent to these camps is the Jamestown Viking
Lake Home and Midway Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, and owned by New
York State. Long Point State Park on Chautauqua Lake is also located in Ellery. The 360-acre park is
located just north of Bemus Point and offers a marina, launch ramps, swimming beach, beach house
with lockers and showers and picnic grounds. One of the largest undeveloped waterfront properties,
the Cheney Farm, is located east of Bemus Point. The New York State of Transportation (DOT) and the
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 31
DEC now own portions of the property. The DEC will develop it for fishing access and the DOT is putting
in a rest stop and overlook for visitors. The Town of Ellery has created a Town Park along Heinemann
Road to provide sports field and other recreational opportunities.
Village of Bemus Point
The Bemus Point – Stow Ferry crosses the lake here and loads/unloads next to the Casino at the end of
Lakeside Drive. The Village owns the Casino and leases it to concessionaires. Next to the Casino is a
lakeside park with basketball courts and a playground. The Village maintains a public swimming beach
adjacent to the park and Casino. The DEC maintains a public launch site, a parking area.
E. Public Access and Recreation
Lake Access
Given the number of people that live in or visit the Chautauqua Lake watershed to enjoy the beauty and
recreational qualities of Chautauqua Lake, it is not surprising that issues involving access to the lake
have arisen and, sometimes, have created conflict between different types of lake users. The issues are,
in fact, sizeable enough to have gained State recognition and "access to Chautauqua Lake" is one of the
priority projects (Chautauqua Lake Access, Vistas, Shore Lands & Tributaries) listed in the 2006 New York
State Open Space Conservation Plan. The term "access", as used here, is given broad meaning, and
includes public and private access for boating, shore fishing, ice fishing, swimming, and picnicking, as
well as parking and rest rooms to support lake access areas. See Public Access and Recreation Map.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 32
Chautauqua Lake is contained within approximately 42 miles of shoreline, most of which already have
been developed for public and private interests. Public access to the lake includes several State-owned
properties at Bemus Point, Prendergast Point, Stow, Long Point State Park, and Midway Park. A recent
April 1998 purchase added 10 acres of the Cheney farm, in the Lake's south Basin, to the list of State-
owned public access points along Chautauqua Lake. Many of the local municipalities surrounding the
lake (including the Villages of Bemus Point, Mayville, Celoron, and Lakewood and the Towns of Ellicott
and North Harmony); several quasi-public facilities (e.g., Chautauqua Institution, Allegheny Highlands
Council Boy Scout Camp Merz, YMCA Camp, and a number of religious and fraternal organizations); and
a number of privately-owned facilities (e.g., Midway Park, marinas, privately-owned campgrounds, etc.)
offer public access to the lake either at no cost (as is the case with the local municipal facilities) or for a
fee (charged by most of the commercial facilities). The following map and table identifies the major
formal public and private access points that may be utilized by the public.
Chautauqua Lake Access Points
Location
Municipality
Type(s) of Access
Ownership
1
Creative Marine
Mayville
Boat Launch, Docking
Private
2
Lakeside Park
Mayville
Boat Launch, Swim, Scenic, Fishing
Village
3
Chautauqua Marina
Mayville
Boat Launching, Docking
Private
4
Elmwood Road
Chautauqua
Small Boat Launch
Town
5
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua
Scenic, Swimming
Private
6
Knights Road
Chautauqua
Small Boat Launch
Town
7
Meadows Rd R.O.W.
Chautauqua
Small Boat Launch
Town
8
Prendergast Point
Chautauqua
Boat Ramp, Scenic, Boating, Shoreline
Fishing
NYS DEC
9
Snug Harbor Marina
Chautauqua
Boat Launch, Docking
Private
10
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Marina, Boat Ramp, Swim, Scenic,
Shoreline
Fishing
NYS OPRHP
11
Tom’s Point
North Harmony
Scenic, Shoreline Fishing
NYS DEC
12
Bemus Point Park
Bemus Point
Docks, Scenic, Swimming
Village
13
Ball Creek Park
North Harmony
Scenic, Fishing
Watershed
Conservancy
14
DEC Launch Site
Bemus Point
Boat Ramp, Shoreline Fishing
NYS DEC
15
Shore Acres
Bemus Point
Boat Ramp, Docking
Private
16
Cheney’s Point
North Harmony
Public Small Boat Launch, Shoreline
Fishing
Town
17
Cheney Farm
Ellery
Shoreline Fishing
NYS DEC
18
Ashville Marina
North Harmony
Boat Launch, Docking
Private
19
Vukote Park
Busti
Scenic
Town
20
Smith Boys Marina
Busti
Boat Ramp, Docking, Shoreline Fishing
Private
21
Lowe Park
Lakewood
Scenic
Village
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 33
Location
Municipality
Type(s) of Access
Ownership
22
Hartley Park
Lakewood
Swim, Scenic
Village
23
Lakewood Community
Park
Lakewood
Boat Ramp, Scenic
Village
24
Burtis Bay Park
West Ellicott
Scenic, Shoreline Fishing
Town
25
Lucille Ball Park
Celoron
Boat Ramp, Scenic, Handicap Access
Dock
Village
26
Holiday Harbor
Celoron
Boat Ramp, Docking
Private
27
Midway State Park
Ellery
Docking, Amusement Park
NYS OPRHP
In 1990, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) reported on the
utilization of State-owned boat launch facilities. The report stated that highest utilization of State
launch sites was from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, with peak use occurring on summer (i.e., July 1 to
September 3) weekends and on select holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Columbus
Day). The document also reported on the usage, or available capacity, of specific State launch facilities
including the launches at Bemus Point, Prendergast Point, and Long Point State Park. Capacity was
measured as the percent of surveyed days that launch ramp parking lots were filled to capacity. Surveys
were conducted by roving census agents who attempted to measure capacity under a variety of
conditions (e.g., busy summer weekends, slower spring and fall weekdays). The report suggests that
overcrowding was not an issue in 1990 at the State launch ramps on Chautauqua Lake. Parking
associated with the ramps on summer weekends was filled to capacity only 30% of the surveyed days at
Long Point, 0% of the days at Bemus Point, and only 10% of the surveyed summer weekend days at
Prendergast Point. The data, thus, indicate that the capacity of public boat launch sites is adequate on
Chautauqua Lake. It should also be noted that the same survey concluded that less than 1/3 of the boats
in use on lakes in New York State were launched from public launches. A second survey in 1998
confirmed the findings from the 1990 study.
Although this inventory has only focused on public access to Chautauqua Lake, the highly- developed
shoreline of Chautauqua Lake may also create private lake access issues include those relating to
"funneling", the methods by which privately owned non-lakefront, upland dwelling units, or households
secure access to the lake. "Funneling" can become a problem when the number of non-lakefront
households, that many times share a common access point to the lake from an upland project or
subdivision, increases far out of proportion to their allotment of lakefront. "Funneling" situations can
also arise when several households access the lake by sharing a right-of-way, a non-buildable-sized
lakefront lot, or a road that ends at the lake. There will be a tendency for more "funneling" problems to
arise as lakefront lots are built out and more upland, or second-tier, development occurs.
Recreation
Chautauqua Lake is used extensively for recreational purposes with passive viewing of the lake, power
boating, swimming, and fishing topping the list of the recreational activities engaged in most frequently
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 34
by lake users. Some uses, such as boating and angling, have increased in recent years as witnessed by
the over 25% rise in boats registered for principal use in Chautauqua County from 1985 to 1993 and by
angling statistics that show that the number of angler days expended on Chautauqua Lake increased by
over 60 percent from 1973 to 1996.
Chautauqua Lake, in fact, occupies a significant standing, compared with other lakes in New York State,
with regard to angling. It ranked second out of the major New York inland waters in the number of
angler days expended in 1996, and ranked seventh out of 23 major New York waters in estimated
expenditures associated with angling trips conducted in 1996.
Although Chautauqua Lake is widely used for recreational purposes, the 2003 Statewide Comprehensive
Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) projects that Chautauqua County's outdoor recreation facilities
(including Chautauqua Lake) will meet or exceed demand to the year 2020. Aerial counts of the number
of boats on Chautauqua Lake during busy summer weekends and holidays verify that the intensity of
boating use on Chautauqua Lake (i.e., number of surface water acres per vessel) falls within the
minimum lake user space recommended in the SCORP (2003). Fourth of July counts made by the
Chautauqua Lake Association in 1993, for instance, indicated that there were approximately 14.5
acres/vessel, and counts made by the NYS OPRHP in 1990, during busy periods, showed approximately
39 acres/vessel. More recent counts made by the DEC are consistent with the other counts; the
smallest space per vessel recorded by DEC during its May - December 1998 study period was 28.6 acres
per boat. These counts meet or surpass the minimum 15-20 acres recommended in the SCORP (2003)
for each vessel engaged in water skiing (water activity with highest space requirements).
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 35
Although official counts have indicated adequate capacity based on space per vessel on Chautauqua
Lake, anecdotal evidence raises questions of those conclusions. The past five years has seen an increase
in the popularity of personal watercraft (jet-skis) and raised concerns in especially congested areas of
the Lake, such as at the Bemus Point Narrows. Recent State legislation governing the use of personal
watercraft may address concerns raised during the public input portion of the creation of this document
and the level of usage.
In addition to the traditional water related activities associated with Chautauqua Lake, the lake area
provides visitors and residents with a variety of other recreational opportunities. The following table
categorizes the most popular alternate recreational uses and their locations.
Alternate Recreational Opportunities
Activity Township Location
Golf
Chautauqua Point Golf Course
Chautauqua
Bemus Point Golf Club
Bemus Point
Chautauqua Golf Club
Chautauqua
Willow Brook Golf Course
Chautauqua
Webb’s Miniature Golf
Mayville
Camping
Camp Chautauqua
North Harmony
Hadley Bay - Stow
North Harmony
Camp Prendergast
Chautauqua
Stow Camping Area
North Harmony
Davis Camp Grounds
Chautauqua
Chautauqua Heights
Chautauqua
Wildwood Acres
Ellery
James Lakefront Camping
Busti
Lucille Ball Memorial Park
(Handicapped
Access)
Celoron
Burtis Bay Park
Ellicott
Lakeside Community Park
Lakewood
Hartley Park
Lakewood
Stow Ferry Line
North Harmony
Prendergast Point
Chautauqua
Lakeside Park
Mayville
Long Point State Park
Ellery
DEC Boat Launch
Bemus Point
Bemus Park
Bemus Point
Town of Ellery Park
Ellery
Field Sports
Burtis Bay Park
Ellicott
Lucille Ball Memorial Park
Celoron
La Grega Memorial Field
Lakewood
Vukote Park
Busti
Lakeside Park
Mayville
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 36
Activity Township Location
Ellery Town Park
Ellery
Biking
Long Point State Park
Ellery
NYS Routes 430 and 394
Bike Lanes
Whole Lake
Hiking
Busti Wetland Preserve
Busti
Tom’s Point
Stow
Dobbin’s Woods Preserve
Stow
Mayville Rail Line
Mayville
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Tennis
Hartley Park
Lakewood
Southwestern School
Ellery
Lakeside Park
Mayville
Bemus Point Elementary School
Bemus Point
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua
Snowmobiling
Design
ated areas surrounding
Chautauqua
Lake
Designated areas within Towns & Villages
except
Bemus Pt., Celoron, Lakewood, and
N Harmony
Long Point State Park –
Connects to Trail System
Ellery
Cross Country Skiing
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Stow Farm
North Harmony
Tom’s Point
North Harmony
Chautauqua Institution Golf
Course
Chautauqua
Ice Fishing
Many areas of lake
Ice Boating
Whole Lake
Bird Watching and Wild Life
Observation
Dobbins Woods – Bly Hill
North
Harmony
Bentley Nature Preserve
Ellicott
Bird Watching and Wild Life
Chautauqua Lake Outlet Preserve
Ellicott
Stow Farm Preserve
North Harmony
Prendergast Creek Preserve
Chautauqua
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Tom’s Point
North Harmony
Elm Flats Wetlands Preserve
Chautauqua
Busti Wetlands Preserve
Busti
Bird Sanctuary/Gifford Avenue
Wetlands
City of Jamestown (Borders WRA)
Entire Lake
All Towns
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 37
F. Infrastructure
This section examines the infrastructure systems located within the Chautauqua Lake Communities. The
systems inventoried include water supply, sewage, and solid waste disposal, and the transportation
network within and around the communities.
Water Supply
As a Class "A" (6 NYCRR Part 701) potable water supply, Chautauqua Lake is an essential resource for the
communities within the watershed. The lake serves as a source of water for drinking, bathing and food
preparation for a number of public and private water supply systems.
The New York State Department of Health defines any water system serving more than four housing
units as a public water supply system, even though they may be owned and operated privately. Public
systems dependent on the lake for their water supply include the Chautauqua Utility District serving
Chautauqua Institution and the systems serving the condominium developments at Chautauqua Lake
Estates and serving Point Chautauqua on a seasonal basis. In addition to these public systems, about 25
lakefront property owners draw their water directly from the lake.
The remainder of the watershed finds its water supplies from wells, including a number of municipal
systems. Municipal systems dependent on well water in the watershed include the Village of Mayville
and the City of Jamestown water systems. The City of Jamestown provides water service to the Villages
of Celoron and Lakewood, and portions of the Towns of Ellicott, Busti, and North Harmony.
Mayville
The Village of Mayville water system capacity is 0.65 million gallons per day (mgd) and the current usage
rate is .3 mgd or 46% of its total operating capacity. The Village is serviced by three wells located on
Patterson Street and Morris Street in the Village. Mayville is currently exploring the options of drilling a
fourth well to augment its supply and has added a chlorination system. The collected water is stored in
three tanks on West Maple Drive each holding 600,000 gallons, 200,000 gallons, and 200,000 gallons
respectively. The district is comprised of the entire Village. Generally, the Village of Mayville’s water
supply network has had some excess capacity. The addition of a fourth well will ensure that capacity is
adequate to meet proposed LWRP projects.
Chautauqua
The Town of Chautauqua is primarily served by private wells with the exception of two public water
supply systems that utilize Chautauqua Lake as a source, which provide water to large residential
clusters.
A. Chautauqua Institution is served by the Chautauqua Utility District, a public system
dependent upon the lake for a water supply. The Chautauqua Utility District water
system capacity is 1.5 million gallons per day (1.5 mgd) and the current average usage
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 38
rate is 1.1 mgd. Peak demand during the summer season reaches 1.0 mgd. The system is
augmented by a 1.2 million-gallon storage facility.
B. Chautauqua Lake Estates, a condominium development, relies upon the lake as a water
supply to provide owners with potable water.
Although water capacity is limited in the Town of Chautauqua, the projects proposed in the LWRP will
not be limited by this factor.
Bemus Point
The Village of Bemus Point is served completely by individual wells. Artesian wells serve part of the
community while other properties such as the Surf Club need 400+ feet deep wells to obtain an
adequate water supply. Investigation of water supply capacity would be necessary on a project-by-
project basis in Bemus Point.
Ellery
The Town of Ellery is served completely by individual wells. Investigation of water supply capacity will be
necessary on a project-by-project basis.
Ellicott, Busti, Celoron & Lakewood
The City of Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) primarily serves the Town of Ellicott with some
Town properties in the upland areas relying upon wells. The Town of Busti is partially served by the City
of Jamestown Board of Public Utilities. The BPU district serves the lakeshore area and Hunt Road. Both
the Village of Celoron and the Village of Lakewood are completely served by the City of Jamestown
Board of Public Utilities. The BPU relies upon wells in two well fields fed by the Cassadaga and
Conewango Aquifers. The collected water is stored at three reservoirs with a combined capacity of 12.5
million gallons. The City of Jamestown water system capacity is 12 mgd and the current usage rate is 5.5
mgd or 46% of its total operating capacity.
North Harmony
The Town of North Harmony is primarily served by individual wells. The Village of Lakewood provides
water to a limited district along the lakeshore that ends across from the Ashville BOCES on Route 394.
Investigation of water supply capacity will be necessary on a project-by-project basis during the planning
phase for LWRP projects.
Sewage Disposal
Many changes in wastewater discharge management have been made since the benchmark nutrient
budget studies for Chautauqua Lake were calculated in the 1970's. One of the most important changes
has been the development of municipal wastewater collection and treatment systems. See Sewer
Districts Map.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 39
In the lake's south basin, the Villages of Bemus Point, Lakewood and Celoron and portions of the Towns
of Busti, Ellery, Ellicott and North Harmony are now served by the South and Center Chautauqua Lake
Sewer Districts' wastewater collection and treatment system, which discharge into the Chadakoin River,
the lake's outlet. On the northern shore of the lake, the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer
District begins at Midway Park in the north end of Maple Springs and ends at the limits of the City of
Jamestown. On the southern shore the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer District begins in the
Town of North Harmony at Ashville Bay Road and travels to the limits of the City of Jamestown. Sunrise
Cove, a residential development in North Harmony, is located in North Harmony Sewer (Water) District
# 1 and contracts to pump waste for treatment.
The sewer district facility has a maximum treatable capacity of 4.1 mgd. Current usage averages
approximately 2.0 mgd. Occasional peak flows of 5.0 mgd do occur during wet periods due to inflow
and infiltration. Cummins Engine and Fairbank Farms are two companies outside of the district
contracting for waste treatment. They are the two largest contributors to the system at approximately
0.07 mgd. Residential users in the municipalities listed have the greatest impact on daily capacity of the
sewer system. North Harmony has expressed an interest in extending the district to the Stow area, if
feasible, which would add an additional 900 housing units. As long as the current facility is operating at
less than 50% of capacity, the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts’ would have adequate
capacity to absorb this extension and has no plans for upgrading or expanding the existing system.
Moreover, proposed LWRP projects in Busti, Ellery, Ellicott, North Harmony, Bemus Point, Lakewood,
and Celoron should not propose an undue burden on the shared wastewater treatment facility.
In the North Basin, wastewater generated from another seven miles of lakeshore development, from
the eastern shore of Hartfield Bay to Prendergast Point, is now collected and directed through two
secondary treatment plants. The North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District and the Chautauqua Utility
District serve areas that either had no previous service, or that discharged effluents into the lake basin
following only primary wastewater treatment. The North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District facility
currently has a maximum capacity of .5 mgd. Current daily usage is 190,000 gallons per day with spring
and summer flows exceeding the daily flow by 30%. The facility is currently being upgraded which will
raise the maximum capacity to .75 mgd. The Chautauqua Utility District’s facility has a maximum
capacity of .84 mgd. Current daily usage averages 0.31 mgd with summer flows reaching .58mgd.
Proposed LWRP projects in Mayville and Chautauqua are unlikely to create the necessity to further
increase capacity at either facility.
Enforcement activities, in the remaining areas around Chautauqua Lake with private sewer systems,
undertaken since the mid- 1970's by the Chautauqua County Health Department have resulted in a
marked reduction in the number of individual households discharging wastewater directly into the
Chautauqua Lake. Chautauqua Estates, Bayberry Landing and the Chedwell Club condominium
complexes are all located outside of established sewer districts in the North Basin. Chautauqua Estates
and Bayberry Landing have each installed a secondary package plant to address wastewater generated
in their developments. Chedwell Club condominiums are served by a septic system with a sand filter.
New community systems are either required to provide a minimum of secondary wastewater treatment,
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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or are not permitted to discharge effluents into the lake. Presently, the feasibility of connecting these
areas to one of the existing municipal sewer networks is unlikely due to the significant cost involved and
the lack of adequate development to support those costs. LWRP projects that are proposed in these
areas will each need to be evaluated on a project-by-project basis.
Solid Waste Disposal
The Towns of Chautauqua, Ellery, Ellicott, Busti, and North Harmony allow residents to choose their own
private contractor for refuse disposal or to utilize the county or Town transfer station.
The Towns of North Harmony and Busti provide a transfer station for residents every Saturday, the
Town of Chautauqua provides recycling capacity, and the residents in the Oriental Park in the Town of
Ellery are part of a public benefit district which provides them trash pickup from a single contractor.
Chautauqua Institution and the Village of Lakewood each contract all solid waste services with a single
contractor. The Villages of Celoron, Mayville and Bemus Point each utilize municipal forces for solid
waste services on a weekly basis.
Municipalities and refuse haulers primarily use the Chautauqua County landfill, which is located on
Towerville Road in the Town of Ellery.
Transportation Systems
Roadways:
The communities around the lake have four interchanges on the I-86 Expressway providing a major east-
west link to I-90 and I-79, two major north-south and east-west corridors, and the nearby population
centers of Erie, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio. The Stow Interchange, one of the four interchanges,
is the only interchange on the southern shore of Chautauqua Lake and is located southwest of the lake
in the Town of North Harmony. This is an integral interchange because it provides access to the
Chautauqua Lake Veterans Bridge on I-86. The bridge, which opened on November 12, 1982, provides
the only vehicular crossing to the opposite side of the lake and improves the circulation pattern for
residents and emergency vehicles. See Roadways Map.
The Village of Bemus Point has two interchanges on the northeast side of the lake. The Route 430
interchange connects NYS Route 430 with the community at the northwestern edge of the Village and
the Chautauqua Bridge interchange connects the north and south sides of the lake at the Village’s
southeastern border. The last interchange in the WRA is the Strunk Road exit on I-86, which is located in
the Town of Ellicott and provides direct access to NYS Route 430 at the southeastern end of the lake.
The two major roadways that interconnect the Chautauqua Lake communities, creating a ring around
the lake, are NYS Routes 394 and 430. These primary highways form the outer boundary for the
Waterfront Revitalization Area (WRA) in a majority of the waterfront area surrounding the lake.
On the north end of the lake, Routes 394 and 430 intersect in the Village of Mayville. Route 394,
originating to the north on the shores of Lake Erie, follows down the southwestern side of the lake to
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Ashville and continues eastward into the City of Jamestown. Along the way Route 394 intersects with
the I-86 interchange in North Harmony, Route 474 in the Town of Busti, County Road 69 in the Village of
Lakewood and County Road 67 in the Village of Celoron.
Starting in the Town of Mina, Route 430 follows a northeasterly route until it intersects with Route 394
in Mayville. It then runs southeasterly around the northern perimeter of Chautauqua Lake until it ends
at Route 60 in the City of Jamestown. Then, it intersects with County Roads 27, 29, 54 and 58 in the
hamlet of Hartfield, in Dewittville with County Route 52, and at Maple Springs it intersects with County
Route 46. In the Towns of Ellery and Ellicott Route 430 intersects with County Road 59 also known as
Townline Road and County Road 44 (Bemus Point–Ellery Rd).
Because NYS Routes 394 and 430 are a major part of the circulatory system around Chautauqua Lake,
and intersect with many major county roads, and several I-86 interchanges, they have a high volume of
traffic that includes truck traffic especially in the summer months. This has created entrance and exit
problems on residential roads originating at the lake and intersecting these two state routes. Beginning
in 2002, during the summer months, NYS Route 394 was posted for a limit of 45 mph due to its
configuration and the number of vehicles accessing it from lakeside residential roads. The involved
communities would like to see some restrictions on truck traffic and do not want to have roadways
widened. The communities feel the ambiance and charm of the area would be compromised if roads
were widened to make them accessible to greater amounts of traffic.
I-86, formerly State Route 17, parallels Route 430 along the northeasterly side of the lake. Within
Chautauqua County, it is a four-lane limited access highway, with the Chautauqua County portion
designated as a federal interstate highway in December of 1999. One of the projects on I-86 that has
been planned for years that is coming to fruition is a safety rest stop/overlook area located on the south
side of I-86, between Westman and Bellview Roads, just to the north of Rte 430. It is on a prominence
located on the old Cheney Farm, and provides a panoramic view of Chautauqua Lake. There were no
rest areas on I-86 in Chautauqua County before this construction.
Rail:
The CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern serve the Chautauqua County Area, as well as the short line,
the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYPRR). See Railroads Map
All are engaged in hauling freight within the county either solely by train or through a combination of
rail and truck service. The WNYPRR has a rail line going through the Villages of Lakewood and Celoron. It
is not now a passenger line but could be used as tourist transportation. Amtrak passenger service is
available out of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo, New York, providing rail access from all major areas.
Air:
Chautauqua County has two county owned airports that are classified the following way. The
Jamestown Airport is classified by the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) as a small commercial
service airport, non-hub. U.S Air Express flies out of Jamestown on a daily basis along with private and
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corporate airplanes. Nearby Jamestown Community College uses the airport to conduct a pilot training
program as part of its curriculum for commercial pilots.
The FAA classifies the Dunkirk Airport as a general aviation airport with corporate and private planes
flying from that field. Chautauqua Lake is also within a 1 ½ - 3-hour drive of six major international
airports – Buffalo/Niagara, Erie, Cleveland, Rochester, Toronto and Pittsburgh. There is also a privately
owned field in Mayville – DART Airport. It is used for private planes and gliders. People visiting
Chautauqua Lake have an opportunity to fly in, as well as driving to their destination.
Buses:
Bus Service within the county is through the county run Chautauqua Area Rural Transportation Services
(CARTS). Neither Jamestown nor Dunkirk now has private bus service within those cities. CARTS assists
them along with the rest of the county. Niagara Scenic provides a bus link between Jamestown and
interstate bus and rail terminals in Buffalo.
Bike and Pedestrian Connections:
Providing alternatives to the automobile, like sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use trails is becoming
increasingly popular in communities across the country. The Chautauqua Lake LWRP communities are
working toward putting walking/hiking and bicycle paths together either under their auspices or through
groups such as Rails to Trails.
It is a collective wish of the Chautauqua Lake LWRP communities that a trail be established that rings
Chautauqua Lake. Routes 394 and 430 are designated as bike routes and there is a bike lane extending
from Jones and Gifford Avenue in Celoron into downtown Jamestown. The Village of Mayville several
years ago bought the old railroad bed that followed the lakeshore within the Village. One reason for
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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doing this was to provide a walking path for the community and visitors. The plans are to enhance it
minimally providing a natural setting with a lake view for walking and bicycling.
G. Historic Resources
The Chautauqua Lake communities are rich in historical significance dating as far back as 5,000 years ago
when the Native American “Mound Builders”, a part of a larger industrious civilization believed to have
flourished in North America at that time, lived around the shores of Chautauqua Lake. Sites and
structures of both national and local significance, including archaeological resources, are located within
the waterfront revitalization area of Chautauqua Lake.
Archaeological Areas of Sensitivity
Archaeological Areas of Sensitivity are general areas known to contain significant archaeological sites.
Archaeological Areas of Sensitivity are defined as the location of past focused human activities, defined
in close proximity of continuous distribution of artifacts. The sites identified within the WRA are
primarily at trail heads, creek outlets and deltas, which provided the ideal setting for fishing and
gathering natural materials. Many of the sites contain evidence of past settlements, Indian burial
mounds or an Indian cemetery. The specific locations of these sites are not provided in the LWRP text in
an effort to prevent disturbance to these sensitive cultural areas. However, an unofficial digital
representation of part of the NYSOPRHP “Circles and Squares” map produced in 1992 illustrates general
areas of sensitivity. All development projects, whether inside or outside of NYSOPHP’s designated zone,
will be subject to an appropriate archaeological investigation.
Historic Places
In an effort to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archaeological resources, the National Park
Service established the National Register of Historic Places under the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1966. NYS OPRHP followed by establishing the New York State Register of Historic Places under the
New York State Preservation Act of 1980. These registers are the culmination of coordinated public and
private efforts to protect properties including districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that are
significant to New York State and American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture.
In addition, achievement of Register status means more than simply protection. The benefits include
eligibility for grants, tax breaks, and emphasis for historic projects in the planning processes that have
federal or state involvement.
This section identifies locally significant sites based on research of existing inventories and reports.
Additionally, information gathered at public meetings and interviews with local people aided with the
identification of other significant sites. Some sites have been included that are outside the waterfront
revitalization area but are regionally significant enough to be part of this inventory.
Point Chautauqua and Chautauqua Institution are both historic districts. Point Chautauqua, founded in
1875, was originally a Baptist Bible Camp. Frederick Law Olmstead was asked to layout the building plan
for the community. Mr. Olmstead had already distinguished himself as America’s most eminent
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landscape architect of the 19th Century as the designer of both Central Park in New York City and the
Buffalo Parks System. To honor Olmstead’s unique design of the area, the Point Chautauqua it was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District.
Chautauqua Institution was founded as a religious center in 1874 by Lewis Miller and John Heyl Vincent,
a Methodist minister. The Chautauqua Movement evolved from the first Chautauqua Sunday School
Assembly in 1874 and the belief that people needed secular education as well as Biblical learning. Today,
Chautauqua Institution is thought of as an experience rather than just a place. It is valued as a place of
“spiritual growth and intellectual stimulation, where faith is restored and the arts are valued.” Not only
is the Chautauqua Institution on the Historic Register but the district was also designated as a National
Historic Landmark on June 30, 1989.
There are several other properties within the waterfront revitalization area that should be noted
although they are not on the National Register. They include the Minturn Mansion located within Long
Point State Park, Midway Amusement Park in the Town of Ellery, and the Stow-Bemus Point Ferry in
North Harmony and Bemus Point.
The following chart lists the primary historic resources identified by communities. Members of the LWRP
committees have suggested undertaking a historic resource study to more accurately capture all historic
resources within the WRA boundary.
Chautauqua Lake Communities Sites of Historic Significance
Resource Name
Address
Town/Village
National Historic
Register
State Historic
Register
Bly, Smith, House
4 N. Maple St.
Ashville
10/1/1974
Yes
Busti Mill
Lawson Rd.
Busti
7/23/1976
Yes
Chautauqua
Institution
Historic
District
Bounded by
Chautauqua
Lake,
North
and
Lowell Aves and
Rte
39
4
Chautauqua
6/19/1973
Yes
Lord, Dr. John,
House
Forest Rd. Extension
Busti
3/2/1991
Yes
Lewis Miller,
Cottage,
Chautauqua
Institution
Rte 394
Chautauqua
10/15/1966
Yes
Athenaeum Hotel
Chautauqua Institution,
Rte
394
Chautauqua
In Chaut. Historic
Dist.
In Chaut.
Historic
Dist.
Chautauqua
Amphitheater
Chautauqua Institution,
Rte
394
Chautauqua
In Chaut. Historic
Dist.
In Chaut.
Historic
Dist.
Holland Land
Company
Vault
Erie Street
Mayville
No
No
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Resource Name
Address
Town/Village
National Historic
Register
State Historic
Register
Point Chautauqua
Historic
District
Roughly bounded by NY
430
and Chautauqua
Lake
between Lake
and
Leet
Aves.
Chautauqua
5/17/1996
Yes
Erie Railroad
Station
211-217 W 2nd Street
Jamestown
Pending
Pending
Minturn Mansion
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Eligible
Eligible
Midway
Amusement
Park
“Trolley
&
Steamboat
Park”
Rte 430
Ellery
No
No
Stow Ferry
Rte 394 – Stow Ferry Rd
N. Harmony
No
No
Bemus Point
Casino
Lakeside Drive
Bemus Point
No
No
Hotel Lenhart
Hotel
Lakeside Drive
Bemus Point
No
No
Sorg Mansion
3W. Terrace Street
Lakewood
No
No
Sheldon Hall
Griffith’s Point
Ellery
No
No
Steamboat
Docking
Italian fisherman site
Bemus Point
No
No
Ice Houses
Ashville Bay
North
Harmony
No
No
Tom’s Point –
Indian
Mounds
Stow
North
Harmony
No
No
Bemus Park –
Pottery
Site
Lakeside Drive
Bemus Point
No
No
First State Fish
Hatchery
Greenhurst
Ellery
No
No
Old Trolley Barns
Rte 394
Mayville
No
No
Old Trolley
Station
-
Lighthouse
Grocery
Rte 394
Chautauqua
No
No
Oddfellows Hall –
Skillman and
Wight
Main Street
Bemus Point
No
No
County Clerk
Office
–
Grapevine
Erie Street
Mayville
No
No
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Resource Name
Address
Town/Village
National Historic
Register
State Historic
Register
Restaurant
Bush Home and
Boathouse
35 W. Lake Street
Lakewood
No
No
Celoron
Amusement
Park
Site
Boulevard and Dunham
Streets
Celoron
No
No
Packard Cottages
W. Terrace Avenue
Lakewood
No
No
Watson Estate
Stow
North
Harmony
No
No
Neits Crest – Ruth
Jackson
Route 394
North
Harmony
No
No
Busti Victorian
Center
Busti
No
No
Grange Hall
Mill Street
Busti
No
No
Packard Estate
Terrace Avenue
Lakewood
No
No
H. Topography and Geology
The physical setting of the Chautauqua Lake communities is very attractive, with wonderful viewsheds
and scenic locations. Chautauqua Lake is situated within a glaciated valley with steep slopes along much
of its shoreline. Celoron, Lakewood, Ellicott and Busti are situated at the southeastern end of the Lake
valley with lakeshores that either have gentle slopes or are flat. The Towns of Ellery, North Harmony,
and Chautauqua all have steep slopes along a majority of their shoreline. Areas within these Townships
associated with primary stream drainage channels have flat areas that have developed over time. Bemus
Point (Bemus Creek), Maple Springs (Maple Springs Creek), Dewittville (Dewittville Creek), Hartfield (Big
Inlet), Mayville (Little Inlet and Mud Creek), Lighthouse Point (Clear Creek), Prendergast Point
(Prendergast Creek), and Stow (Ball Creek) are the lowland areas existing within these Townships.
Chautauqua Lake and its drainage basin are situated within a glaciated valley in the Allegheny Plateau.
The lake itself and the unconsolidated sedimentary deposits of the area are products of the continental
glaciations. The bedrock underlying the watershed for one-to-two thousand feet depth consists of shale
and sandstones that were thought to be deposited ca. 350 million years ago in a marine environment.
These marine mud was subsequently buried by more sediments, compacted and cemented into rock,
uplifted and eroded into stream valleys prior to the onset of glaciations about 2 million years ago
(Tesmer, 1963; Muller, 1963). There are a few limited bedrock outcrops within the Chautauqua Lake
watershed, typically found in streambeds. Most of the bedrock lies below the veneer of glacial deposits
(Tesmer, 1963). The glacial deposits in the center of the valley are several hundred feet thick, while
those in the uplands are much thinner (10 to 100 ft thick) (Crain, 1966).
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The Soil Survey of Chautauqua County (Puglia, 1994) provides information as to the types and areal
extent of the soils developed on the glacial deposits in the study area. Many of the soils developed on
recent stream gravels or on the older glacial stream gravels are highly permeable, allowing rainwater to
soak in. Many of the hilltop soils, in contrast, are developed in glacial debris that is silt or clay and
therefore impermeable. These impermeable soils yield more runoff from rainfall than other soil types.
Soils in the Chautauqua Lake watershed are formed by natural weathering of the glacial deposits rather
than weathering of exposed bedrock. If soils formed directly on the top of bedrock, these soils would be
more acidic because the bedrock contains no exposed limestone. Because the glaciers transported
numerous fragments of limestone from the north, much of the glacial deposits and their topsoil’s are
less acidic. Thus the soils help to buffer the human-caused highly acid rainfall that takes place in
Chautauqua County.
I. Water Quality
Chautauqua Lake is a 17-mile long water body with a 42-mile perimeter located in south-central
Chautauqua County. At 1,308 feet above sea level, it has a surface area of 13,156 acres or 20.5 square
miles. It is classified as a Class A potable water supply by the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), as it serves as a source of water for drinking, bathing, food
preparation, fish propagation, fishing and contact recreational uses. The NYSDEC states that Chautauqua
Lake “offers exceptional fishing for walleye, bass, muskellunge and several species of pan fish.” The lake
also is a popular spot for winter ice fishing. The lake is divided into two basins, the shallow South Basin,
and the deeper North Basin. It is fed through 11 major tributaries and many small ones. Studies indicate
that Total Phosphorous and Nitrogen loads of Chautauqua Lake are high. The resulting aquatic
vegetation growth and algae bloom limit the recreational use of the lake at times, particularly in the
shallow south basin. See Chautauqua Lake Watershed Map.
The Chadakoin River is the lake’s outlet at its southwest corner, and flows through the City of
Jamestown, the Town of Ellicott and the Villages of Falconer and Celoron. The outlet has approximately
461 acres of wetlands. The Chadakoin is classified as a Class C waterbody, suitable for fisheries and
non-contact activities. In 1996, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
indicated that this river is “stressed for fish propagation by metals from an unknown source(s).”
The eleven major tributaries of Chautauqua Lake comprising 76.4% the lake’s watershed are: Ball Creek,
Bemus Creek, Big Inlet Creek, Dewittville Creek, Dutch Hollow Creek, Goose Creek, Clear Creek, Little
Inlet Creek, Maple Springs Creek, Mud Creek, and Prendergast Creek.
All are Class C waters, suitable for fisheries and non-contact activities, but for two exceptions.
First, portions of Goose Creek and Prendergast Creek also have the (T) designation, indicating support of
a trout population. Second, portions of Goose Creek and Dutch Hollow Creek are Class B waterbodies,
thus are best used for swimming and other contact recreation, but not for drinking.
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Studies have shown that Little Inlet Creek has “especially high concentrations of both P (phosphorous)
and N (nitrogen).” Ball, Big Inlet and Goose Creeks tend to be high in P, while Big Inlet, Dewittville and
Mud Creeks have higher N concentrations.
Efforts to reduce phosphorus loading in the lake, through the introduction of non-phosphate detergents,
the establishment of the South and Center and North Chautauqua Sewer Districts, and the closing of the
malted milk factory on Little Inlet Creek, have greatly reduced point source introduction of phosphorus.
However, the “Chautauqua Lake – Entering the 21st Century: State of the Lake Report” indicates that
non-point sources such as urbanization (deicing and stormwater discharges), atmospheric deposition,
home fertilizers, periphery development and agriculture have raised the phosphorus load of Chautauqua
Lake from the levels recorded in the 1970’s.
Erosion, sedimentation, Phosphorus and Nitrogen concentrations and the resulting impacts on aquatic
vegetation and algae blooms are the greatest water quality issues facing Chautauqua Lake today. Apart
from these issues the water quality of both Chautauqua Lake, and its tributaries, is satisfactory and
should not pose constraints on future waterfront development with appropriate measures to control
and mitigate them.
J. Protected Features
This section defines areas within the Chautauqua Lake Communities that have been protected from
future development. This section consists of conservation easements, DEC wildlife management areas,
State and public properties and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy holdings.
Conservation Easements
A conservation easement is a legal agreement in which a landowner donates the development rights of
the property to a non-profit land trust or governmental entity, thereby protecting the land in perpetuity.
Limited development is warranted as long as it does not negatively impact the resources being
protected. The landowner maintains ownership of the property and each property is managed according
to the owner’s vision. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is exercising an option to purchase a
900-foot conservation easement along the Chautauqua Lake waterfront on the Lutheran Camp property
in the Town of Ellery (Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle). This conservation easement will protect 16-acres
of undeveloped shoreline.
DEC Wildlife Management Areas
Wildlife Management Areas are state owned and managed properties designated for the preservation of
wildlife species and habitat.
Tom’s Point is a 71.34-acre site with wetlands in the Town of North Harmony (Chautauqua USGS
Quadrangle). It is on the Chautauqua shoreline close to the Stow Ferry Road and across the lake from
Long Point State Park. It was purchased with funds from the 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act.
Tom’s Point was acquired by the State to preserve and manage wildlife, maintain waterway access, and
preserve the natural shoreline.
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Stow Farm - In December of 2002, the DEC purchased 18.6 acres (1,150 feet of lake shore) of the Stow
Farm property on the southwestern edge of Chautauqua Lake in the Town of North Harmony
(Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle). The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy facilitated the purchase
through the procurement of grant money to supplement State Environmental Protection Fund money.
Although not yet officially designated by NYS, the purpose of acquisition was shoreline preservation and
waterway access. This acquisition protects one of the most important fish and wildlife habitat sites
remaining on Chautauqua Lake. It contains extensive wetlands and the waterfront contains the second
longest band of water lilies on the lake. The Stow property is listed in the 2002 New York State Open
Space Conservation Plan, which guides the State’s preservation efforts.
Prendergast Point – NYS Fish Culture Station - The DEC maintains a fish hatchery, rearing ponds and a
three-acre boat launch facility at Prendergast Point located on Prendergast Blvd. off Rt. 394
(Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle). The boat launch has been designated a Fisherman Access Site. This
area is protected from further development by virtue of State ownership. Going south along the lake
from the boundary of the boat launch site New York State protects the shoreline wetlands until it
reaches the boundary of the Prendergast Creek Wetland Preserve. This shoreline area is designated by
New York State as a State Fish Hatchery area.
Cheney Farm – A portion of the Cheney Farm was acquired by the NYS DEC for shoreline protection. The
10.3-acre site includes 1,200 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Chautauqua Lake, in the Town of Ellery.
Money from the Clean Water and Clean Air Bond Act – 1996 was used to purchase the parcel. The parcel
is one part of the original Cheney Farm. Another parcel from the original farm was acquired by DOT as
the site of a permanent lake overlook, the balance of the farm remains in private ownership. This 10-
acre site has not yet been designated by the state.
All of these properties owned by the State have been purchased under section 3-0305 of the
Environmental Conservation Law.
State Lands
Long Point State Park - New York State, through the OPRHP, owns and maintains Long Point State Park,
a three hundred and sixty acre site. This site has many outdoor recreational opportunities including
some of the best fishing on the lake off the point near the old Minturn Mansion. Preserving and
protecting this land from other development allows large numbers of the public to have access to open
areas and nature.
Bemus Point DEC Launch - The New York State DEC also owns and maintains land within the Village of
Bemus Point. This is a boat launch and parking area. This preserves space for public use in what is a very
densely used and populated area of the WRA.
Public Lands
Other lands around Chautauqua Lake are areas protected by virtue of municipal ownership and their use
as parks or protected areas. These are near or on the lake and they provide public access to the lake
and/or a view of the lake and its surrounding area. Included in this are the Mayville Village Park, and its
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adjacent rail bed hiking path; the Bly Hill Overlook in the Town of North Harmony, part of the
Chautauqua County Park System; a small 60 x 147 foot lot (24-1-14) with lake frontage near Cheney’s
Point owned by the Town North Harmony; The Bemus Point – Stow Ferry landing area owned by the
Town of North Harmony; The Busti Wetlands Preserve, Rte. 474 (this park is the only Town-owned area
in the WRA dedicated to conserving wetlands and providing wetlands access), and The Busti Town Park
at Vukote; Lowe Park, Richard Hartley Park, and Lakeside Community Park, all within the Village of
Lakewood; The Burtis Bay Park in the Town of Ellicott on the south side of the lake; The Lucille Ball
Memorial Park in Celoron and its adjacent boat launch; the Bird Sanctuary/Gifford Ave Wetlands in the
City of Jamestown (not within the LWRA but adjacent); Bemus Park within the Village of Bemus Point;
the Town of Ellery Town Park on Heinemann Road (not on the lake but only a short walk away).
Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Holdings
As part of its conservancy, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy (CWC) has four wetland areas vital
to the health of Chautauqua Lake.
Elm Flats Wetland Preserve is 83-acres of red maple and shrub swamp located in the Town of
Chautauqua (Hartfield USGS Quadrangle) at the headwaters of Big Inlet Creek that flows into
Chautauqua Lake. This “extensive wetland is typical and is the largest wetland tributary of Chautauqua
Lake”. (Source: Chautauqua Lake Watershed Conservancy)
Prendergast Creek Wetland Preserve in the Town of Chautauqua (Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle) is a
wetland shoreline along Prendergast Creek and Chautauqua Lake, which consists of only 6 acres.
However, it includes 500 feet of wetland frontage on the lake and 435 feet of stream shoreline. Going
north from the preserve along the lake, New York State protects the shoreline wetlands until it reaches
the DEC Prendergast Point boat launch and fish hatchery. The 6 acres of preserve is part of a 97-acre
wetland with the most biologically productive shallow water habitat on Chautauqua Lake.
Chautauqua Lake Outlet Wetland Preserve in the Town of Ellicott (Lakewood USGS Quadrangle), is a
floodplain wetland bordering the Chautauqua Lake Outlet encompassing an area of 50 acres, which
includes 2,880 feet of the north shoreline. The site is predominantly red maple swamp and shrub
swamp. A variety of ferns, along with wetland herbaceous species such as Cardinal Flower and shrubs
such as Buttonbush, compose the plant community here. This site provides good habitat for migratory
birds, particularly waterfowl. Species that may be observed here include Piedbilled Grebe, Horned
Grebe, Tundra Swan, Canada Goose, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted
Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and many others. The CWC plans to develop a parking
area and walking path along the old railroad bed with a branch path going to the riverfront.
Ball Creek Park - In addition to its wetland holdings, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has 5.5
acres of creek shoreline on Ball Creek on the north side of the Chautauqua Lake Veterans Bridge in the
Town of North Harmony (Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle). This was purchased with the intent of
developing a municipal park.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Houston Avenue Nature Preserve – A 1.3 acre sloping forest site located in the Village of Celoron
(Lakewood USGS Quadrangle). This site contains forested area with vernal pools and a small marsh area
that serve as breeding habitats for a variety of salamanders, frogs and toads.
Dobbins Woods Preserve in the Town of North Harmony (Panama USGS Quadrangle) is a 100-acre
hardwood and conifer forest. It occupies a ridge top overlooking Chautauqua Lake off Bly Hill Road.
Within the preserve is a small wetland out of which flow the headwaters of two Chautauqua Lake
tributaries, Bly Creek and Cheney’s Creek.
Rails to Trails Holdings
The Chautauqua Rails to Trails preserves abandoned rail corridors by converting them into off- road
trails for recreational use. It utilizes abandoned rail bed, owned by the Village of Mayville, as a hiking
and bicycle path along the north shoreline of Chautauqua Lake in the Village of Mayville (Hartfield &
Chautauqua USGS Quadrangles). The path is a 100-foot wide strip running from Mud Creek to Rte 430
(approximately 1 mile). The Village property was purchased from the Penndel Co. to preserve it for
public use and complement the existing Mayville Park. The Chautauqua Rails to Trails also has an
easement on more of the rail bed (owned by Webb’s Resort) running from Mud Creek to Morris Road
(6.3 acres and 1/2 mile long) and owns the rail bed beyond Webb’s property. The LWRP portion of this
easement is in the Village of Mayville (Chautauqua USGS Quadrangle).
Chautauqua County State Agricultural Districts
There is a limited amount of land within the Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Area
(WRA) that is designated as a portion of a State Agricultural District. The Town of Ellicott contains two
parcels totaling 28.2 acres (S-B-L # 18-1-7.1 and 18-1-10.1) that are part of Chautauqua County State
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 52
Agricultural Districts # 11. In addition, agricultural districts are located within the LWRP Towns outside
the Waterfront Revitalization Area (WRA).
Some agricultural district lands are located adjacent to the WRA lands. Those adjacent lands are
portions of agricultural district #8 in Sections 2, 4, 25, and 29 of the Town of Chautauqua, portions of
agricultural district #6 in Sections 2, 5 and 6 of the Town of North Harmony, portions of agricultural
district # 11 in Sections 14, 17 and 18 of the Town of Ellicott and portions in sections 9, 14 and 18 of the
Town of Ellery. All the agricultural districts’ lands within the LWRP Towns play an important role in
maintaining open space, a viewscape and protecting wildlife habitat near Chautauqua Lake.
K. Natural Resources
This section builds on the previous section by further identifying land and water resources within the
WRA where future development should be avoided. Reference should be made to Appendix E for a
graphic display of landform.
Floodplains
Most floodplains are low areas adjacent to rivers, creeks, lakes and oceans that are prone to periodic
flooding. The interaction of water and land and the action of water on the land produce soils, vegetation
and drainage systems of floodplains that are unique and recognizable. In order to protect and avoid
development within these floodways, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has
designated 100 and 500-year flood zones. Areas in the 100-year flood hazard area have a 1% chance of
flooding in any given year; within the 500-year flood plain, that occurrence interval is 0.2%. Areas prone
to flooding are shown on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM maps) by community.
Flood maps and designations are documents officially adopted by communities and used for land use
planning purposes, in addition to flood insurance purposes. However, flood maps do not show all areas
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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subject to flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) regulations allow FEMA to review and
amend maps and Flood Insurance Studies (FIS) reports as warranted or when requests from community
officials or involved property owners are received. Development within flood zones is not recommended
and is prohibited entirely by some municipalities due to flood hazards.
The following is a list of FEMA designations and the 100 and 500-year floodplains as identified by FEMA
on FIRM maps by community:
Federal Emergency Management Agency – Definition of Types of Flood Zones
Zone A
Areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors are not
determined.
Zone AE
100-year base flood elevation determined.
Zone A1-A30
Areas of 100-year flood; base flood elevations and flood hazard factors determined.
Zone B
Area between limits of 100-year flood and 500-year flood; areas of 100 year shallow
flooding where depths are less than 1 foot. (On map – medium shading)
Zone C
Areas outside the 500-year flood. (No shading)
Zone X
500-year flood; areas of 100-year flood with average depths of less than one foot or
with drainage areas less than one square mile; and areas protected by levees from
100-year flood.
Village of Celoron
FIRM Panel# 310135 0001B - March 1980
Within the WRA Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of shoreline from the western corporate limits at the Busti Town line to the eastern
corporate limits at the City of Jamestown. Outside the WRA School Creek is located in the southeastern
part of the Village. The entire length of the creek within the Village limits is designated Zone A1 with
Zone B surrounding certain areas of Zone A1. The remaining land in the Village is designated Zone C.
Town of Ellicott
Firm Panel # 361073 0017 A - August 1984
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the Conrail tracks to Livingston Street, the corporate
limits of the Village of Celoron on the south side of the lake. Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in
Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from where the
corporate limits of the Town of Ellery and the Town of Ellicott meet and along the shoreline to the
beginning of the City of Jamestown Corporate limits.
Village of Lakewood
FIRM Panel # 360142 0001B - November 1977
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of shoreline from the Village’s corporate boundary in the west to corporate
boundary in the east. Inland and adjacent to this there are large areas of Zone B that follow the same
shoreline and go inland in some places as far as the Village’s southern corporate limits. Within the WRA,
Zone A2 designation also encompasses the various tributaries going into Chautauqua Lake. The
remaining Village property is designated as Zone C.
Town of Busti
FIRM Panel # 361106 0004 C - January 1993
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of all the shoreline from the Town corporate limits on the west to corporate limits
on the east. A large section of the Town, from Loomis Bay south across Rte 430, down to and including
Rte 474, is designated Zone X. Goose Creek tributary that flows into Chautauqua Lake is surrounded by
land designated as Zone AE as is Cottage Park Creek. An unnamed tributary between Sugar Grove and
Second Ave. is surrounded by Zone A. The remaining land within Panel # 4 is designated Zone C.
Town of North Harmony
FIRM Panels # 361076 0016 B - February 1980
Panel # 16 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the Town’s corporate limits in the north to Tom’s
Point. At Tom’s Point, Zone A2 widens to encompass all of the Point. The remaining land in Panel # 16 is
designated as Zone C.
Town of North Harmony
FIRM Panels # 361076 0018 B, 0031 B, 033 B - February 1980
Panel # 18 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from just south of Tom’s Point to just south of Quigley Park.
From the mouth of Ball Creek east along the creek to Rte 394 is designated as Zone A2 and is
surrounded by Zone B. At old Rte 394, Ball Creek’s designation changes to Zone A, up to and beyond
new Rte 394. The remaining land in Panel # 18 is designated as Zone C.
Panel # 31 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from just north of Cheney Point going south to Ashville Bay.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Cheney’s Creek is designated as Zone A within the WRA. The remaining land in Panel # 31 is designated
as Zone C.
Panel # 33 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of all the shoreline from Ashville Bay to just east of the mouth of Goose Creek. The
area around Goose Creek up to Rte 394 is Zone A2 and beyond Rte 394 Goose Creek is designated as
Zone A3. Tributaries to Goose Creek are designated Zone A and Zone A1. An area just to the southeast
of Goose Creek near route 74 and Magnolia and Mulberry Avenues is designated Zone B. The remaining
land in Panel # 33 is designated Zone C.
Town of Chautauqua
FIRM Panels # 361071 0005 A, 0013 A, 0025 A - June 1984
Panel # 5 A
Big Inlet Creek is designated as Zone A. The majority of the land in panel #5 is Zone C.
Panel # 13 A
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses the shoreline at the mouth of Big Inlet Creek. At Whallon Street on the Big Inlet, the
designation changes to Zone A4 and continues to Route 430. Between the mouth of Big Inlet and Route
430 there are pockets of Zone B adjacent to the A4 Zone. Most of the remaining land in panel 13 is Zone
C.
Panel # 25 A
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of all the shoreline within Panel#25. Zone A encompasses the land around several
of the tributaries going into the Lake continuing up to and including Routes 394 and 430 respectively.
The majority of the remaining land in Panel#25 is designated Zone C.
Town of Chautauqua
FIRM Panels # 361071 0035 A - June 1984
Panel # 35 A
Within the WRA Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of all the shoreline starting in the north near Canterbury Road and ending at the
Town’s southeastern corporate boundary. Prendergast Creek is Zone A2 from the Lake to Route 394 and
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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past Route 394 it is designated as Zone A. The majority of the remaining land in Panel #35 is designated
as Zone C.
Village of Mayville
FIRM Panel # 361059 0001C - January 1978
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a strip of all the shoreline from the north boundary of the Village to the southeastern
boundary of the Village. Inland and adjacent to this are areas of Zone B that follow the same shoreline.
The Mud Creek Tributary near the south edge of the Village is designated as Zone A2 from its mouth up
to and beyond Route 394 (West Lake Road). Little Inlet Creek is Zone A2 from its mouth up to and
beyond East Whallon Street. The remainder of the Village is Zone C except along Black Creek, an area of
Zone A near Water, Pratt and Valley Streets, and a Zone B area to the west of Whallon Street.
Town of Ellery
FIRM Panels # 361072 0006 B, 0008 B, 0016 B - March 1980
Panel #6 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the north boundary of the Town at the Crosswinds
Development southeast to Midway Park. Inland and adjacent and to this within the WRA are areas of
Zone B that run parallel to the same shoreline. The remainder of the land in Panel 6 is designated Zone
C.
Panel # 8 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the north boundary of the Town near Midway Park
southeast to Long Point. Maple Springs Creek is designated as Zone A2 up to and just beyond Rte 430.
This is also within the WRA. The remaining portion of the Town in Panel 8 is designated Zone C.
Town of Ellery
FIRM Panels # 361072 0016B, 0018 B, 0026 B, 0028 B - March 1980
Panel # 16 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the north near Long Point and then continuing south
along Bemus Bay to the Village of Bemus Point corporate limits. Zone A encompasses a tributary up to
Route 430. Zone A3 and Zone A surround Bemus Creek up to and beyond Route 430. From the south line
of the Village of Bemus Point south to the boundary of Panel 16, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits
in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline. Inland and
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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adjacent to this are areas of Zone B that run parallel to the same shoreline. The aforementioned is also
in the WRA. The remaining land in Panel # 16 is in Zone C.
Panel # 18 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline near Williams and Nesmith Streets south to the shoreline
area near Colburn Ave. At the mouth of Bemus Creek, Zone A2 changes into Zone A1 and then into A3.
Inland and adjacent to this there are areas of Zone B that run parallel to the same shoreline. The
remaining land in Panel #18 is in Zone C.
Panel # 26 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from an area near Colburn Avenue to the shoreline area
near an access road off Route 430. Also within the WRA, a Zone A is located near two tributaries,
Belleville Creek and Driftwood, ending at Route 430. Zone C encompasses the rest of the land in panel
18.
Panel # 28 B
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from an area near Griffith Bay south to the Sunnyside area.
At Sunnyside, Zone A2 widens and encompasses almost all the land up to Rte 430. Inland and adjacent
to these are areas of Zone B that run parallel to the same shoreline. Within the WRA, starting at the
mouth of Dutch Hollow Creek and going to Route 430 there is an area of Zone A2 on both sides of the
creek. Zone A also encompasses the creek up to I-86 and beyond.
Village of Bemus Point
FIRM Panel # 360133-0001B - Nov. 1977
Within the WRA, Zone A2 goes from the corporate limits in Chautauqua Lake to the lakeshore and
encompasses a thin strip of all the shoreline from the north boundary of the Village to the south
boundary of the Village. Inland and adjacent to this are areas of Zone B that follow the same shoreline
and run parallel to Lakeside Drive but do not encompass it. There is an area designated as Zone A
surrounding Bemus Creek where it flows through the Village. The remaining land in the Village is labeled
as Zone C.
Wetlands
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. They are characterized by hydric
soils, diverse hydrophytic vegetation, and numerous species of fauna. These water-laden lowlands yield
high plant biomass that in turn provides food, habitat, and protection for many species of vertebrates
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 58
and invertebrates. In addition, wetlands are valued for their ability to improve water quality by filtering
nutrients, sediments and minerals. In compliance with New York State’s Freshwater Wetlands Act, the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) identifies and regulates wetlands
greater than 12.4 acres or which have unusual local importance, as determined by the NYSDEC
Commissioner. “Around every wetland is an adjacent area of 100 feet that is also protected and
provides a buffer for the wetland.
The wetlands are identified on the basis of vegetation because certain types of plants out-compete
others when they are in wet soils, so are good indicators of wet conditions over time. The characteristic
plants include wetland trees and shrubs such as willows and alders; emergent plants such as cattails and
sedges; aquatic plants such as water lilies; and bog mat such as sphagnum moss.” (Source: DEC Website)
Once identified, these wetlands are classified into one of four categories by the NYS DEC (NYS
Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975-6NYCRR Part 664) according to their diversity, inventory, and
regulatory need. A Class 1 wetland is the highest rating and affords the greatest wetland benefits. “The
U.S. Corps of Engineers also protects wetlands under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, irrespective of
size. There are no regulatory maps identifying wetlands protected by the U.S. Corps of Engineers under
the Clean Water Act. The National Wetlands Inventory, prepared by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, is
a good source of information about where the smaller wetlands occur, but are not regulatory maps and
landowners should not rely on them exclusively.” (Source: DEC Website)
The wetlands, within the designated Waterfront Revitalization Area that affect Chautauqua Lake, are
located in many areas around the lake. See Chautauqua County Hydrology Map. The Town of
Chautauqua (Hartfield Quadrangle) within the WRA has several wetlands that influence Chautauqua
Lake. The wetlands described as HF-4 (designated Class 2) consisting of 208.4 acres at the north end of
the lake along with 71.4 acres of a second wetland HF-2 (designated Class 2) both surround the Big Inlet
tributary. These wetlands comprise the largest wetland area within the WRA and are secondary to the
larger complex of wetlands outside of the WRA known as the Hartfield Swamp. Going southeast along
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 59
the lake there is a wetland CH-5 (designated Class 1) just beyond the Village of Mayville’s eastern
boundary and behind Camp Merz with an area of 64.9 acres. Further south in the Town of Chautauqua
at Prendergast Creek is wetland CH-2 (designated Class 2) with an area of 66.4 acres. The Shoreline of
this area has been designated by the NYS DEC as a State Fish Hatchery area.
The Town of North Harmony (Chautauqua Quadrangle) contains a wetland at Tom’s Point, CH-1
(designated Class 1) is 28.2 acres in area. The wetland is designated as a Wildlife Management area by
NYS DEC. Adjacent to Ashville Bay (Lakewood Quadrangle) is another wetland, LW1 (designated a Class
1) with 28.8 acres of land.
In the Town of Busti (Lakewood Quadrangle) an 80.4-acre wetland, LW-2 (designated Class 2) is located
on the south side of Rte. 394 at Vukote. Also at Rte 474 near Cottage Park there is an 89.4-acre wetland,
LW-8 (designated Class 2). Both of these are part of tributaries flowing into Chautauqua Lake. The Busti
Wetland Preserve is 44-acres of the second wetland. In the Village of Lakewood there is a 20.5-acre
wetland, LW-3 (designated Class 3) situated between the Railroad line and Summit Avenue near
Shadyside Ave. The Town of Ellicott (Lakewood Quadrangle) contains a 162-acre wetland, LW-1 1
(designated Class 1) at the lake outlet into the Chadakoin River. The Chautauqua Watershed
Conservancy owns a 23-acre section of that wetland which is maintained as a nature preserve.
Going northwest along the lake into the Town of Ellery just west of the Town Line Road, there is a 54.4-
acre wetland, LW-6 (designated Class 2). It lies between Greenhurst and Elmhurst near Sunnyside.
Steep Slopes
Steep slopes pose a unique set of problems. They are areas that can be prone to erosion and instability.
They can produce runoff levels that carry large sediment and nutrient loads into downstream
waterways. Yet since they provide scenic views and even panoramic views, developers would like to use
them. There is a need to manage or limit the intensity of use so that development can be harmoniously,
appropriately and safely located on steep slopes. This is to protect surface waters from sedimentation,
turbidity, runoff of storm water, and effluent from sewage disposal systems; while maintaining
ecological balance. Management of steep slopes should also be used in some cases to keep the natural
setting in place by prohibiting all development.
Many communities across the state have ordinances in place that manage the steep slope problem
and/or have zoning overlay districts that come into play when development takes place in an area
designated a steep slope area. None of the communities in the LWRP have any steep slope ordinances
or provisions within zoning districts adjacent to the lake in place at this time. Each Chautauqua Lake
community should consider evaluating the need for a steep slope ordinance that at a minimum requires
site plan review and a sediment and erosion control plan for projects on sites with a 15% or greater
slope.
The Towns of North Harmony, Chautauqua and Ellery and the Village of Mayville all contain steep slopes
within the WRA. Specifically, slopes in the 15-25% range exist in between Warner and Sunset Bays in
North Harmony and in Long Point State Park. In addition slopes in the 8- 15% range on the southern side
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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of the Lake exist between Wahmeda and the eastern side of the Chautauqua Institution, from just west
of Magnolia to the eastern side of Victoria and in Quigley Park and in the area along Bly Bay. On the
northern side of the Lake slopes in the 8-15% range exist between the eastern portion of Shorelands in
the Town of Chautauqua and Maple Springs in the Town of Ellery, at Sunset Bay, along Lakeside Drive in
Bemus Point and from Crestview to Driftwood. The large areas listed are interspersed with smaller areas
that have slopes in the 0-3% and 3-8% and are more appropriate in some cases for development.
L. Environmentally Sensitive Features
There are some landscape features that pose a threat to future development in the Chautauqua Lake
LWRP. Solid waste landfill, wastewater discharge, sewage treatment facilities, hazardous waste, and
dredge spoil spots are all potential threats to the health of the environment.
Hazardous Waste Sites
Active hazardous waste sites include those sites that are currently accepting hazardous waste for
disposal. These sites are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and require disposal
permits. There are no active sites within the Chautauqua Lake LWRP.
Inactive hazardous waste sites once accepted hazardous materials for disposal but are no longer in
operation. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has classified these
locations based on the severity of the contamination and the risk of harm to the surrounding resources.
Classifications range from one to four, a Class one designation indicating the highest degree of concern.
Currently, the Chautauqua Lake Communities have one inactive hazardous waste site not within the
WRA. It is the Dinsbier Road Landfill in the Town of Chautauqua, now designated Class 3 by the DEC. This
particular site should be noted because the general movement of ground water from the site extends
into Dinsbier Creek, which is a tributary of Chautauqua Lake.
Wastewater Discharge Facilities
The New York State DEC issues State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits to facilities
that discharge to surface waters or discharge more than 1000 gallons per day to subsurface soils. The
primary facilities for wastewater discharge within the WRA are the South and Center Chautauqua Lake
Sewer District, the North Chautauqua Lake Sewer District and Chautauqua Utility District. Chautauqua
Estates, Bayberry Landing and the Chedwell Club condominium complexes are all located outside of
established sewer districts in the north basin. Chautauqua Estates and Bayberry Landing have installed a
secondary package plant to address wastewater generated by the development.
The Chedwell Club condominiums are served by a septic system with a sand filter. Other facilities, such
as private residences, commercial establishments and institutions also exist in the region. Too much
wastewater discharge into a water body can cause high nutrient flux, leading to algal blooms and fish
kills. The chart on the following page identifies all properties within the Chautauqua Lake Waterfront
Revitalization Area (WRA) that currently discharge to surface waters and require SPEDES permits.
SPDES Permits within the Chautauqua Lake WRA
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Dist.
Name
DED ID
SWIS
Location
Municipality
21308
Bayberry Landing
9062800005
628
5301 E. Lake Road
Dewittville
21317
Chautauqua Utility Dist
Stp
9062800015
628
South Lake Dr
Chautauqua
21327
North Chautauqua Lake Sd
Wwtp
9062800027
628
Clark St
Mayville
53896
Mallard Cove Subdivision
9062800073
628
East Side Nys Rt 394
Chautauqua
53896
Brookwood Subdivision
628
East Side Nys Rt 394
Chautauqua
8503
Chautauqua Fish Hatchery
9062800098
628
5875 Prendergast Rd
Mayville
214009
Chautauqua Heights
Sewer
Dist.
9062800122
628
Rte 17
Chautautqua
66857
Crosswinds Subdivision
628
Route 430
Ellery
46034
Lake Chautauqua
Lutheran Camp
9063600049
636
Rt 17 - 1 Miles Morth
Of
Midway Park
Opposite
Davies
Motel
Maple Springs
66857
Chedwel Club
9063600060
636
Route 430
Ellery
21441
South & Center
Chautauqua Lake WWTP
9063800053
638
Gifford Ave
Celoron
Source: Chautauqua County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health
Solid Waste Landfills
The Chautauqua Lake LWRP Communities have one active solid waste facility within their boundaries. It
is the Chautauqua County Landfill located in the Town of Ellery. The landfill is outside the Waterfront
Revitalization Area and outside the watershed that encompasses Chautauqua Lake.
Dredge Spoil Areas
There has been numerous times over the last 200 years that tributaries and Chautauqua Lake itself have
been dredged to help navigation. Historically dredging has helped improve navigation not only for
commerce but also for fisherman and recreation on Chautauqua Lake. One notable dredging job was the
removal of sediment and debris from the outlet at McCrea Point upstream to Fluvanna in the years from
1888 to 1891. New York State paid to have a channel dredged 60 feet wide and 10 feet deep to improve
steamboat navigation. It is interesting to note that the spoils were put on barges, transported to Burtis
Bay, and dumped there. As is currently noted in 2003, Burtis Bay is shallow, and at times can be weed
choked, and difficult to navigate. In 1899 federal law, the Rivers and Harbors Act gave the Secretary of
War, acting through the Army Corps of Engineers, the power to regulate any excavation or construction
in any navigable waters under United States authority. Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act
reinforced this federal power with the Secretary of the Army acting through the Chief of the Army Corp
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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of Engineers being given the power to issue permits for any category of activities involving discharges of
dredged or fill materials.
Many other dredging projects have taken place over the years around Chautauqua Lake. As an example,
in 1998 the Town of Busti obtained permits from the New York DEC (#9-0622- 00091/00001) and the
Army Corp of Engineers ((#98–975-0040 (0)) to dredge the Vukote Canal system. This was completed in
1999. It provided recreational watercraft access to Chautauqua Lake from the cottages in the area and
provided for the placement of the spoils in a permitted area. The proposed plan for dredging the two
man-made canals (tributaries to the lake) called for a dredge depth of 6 feet, and a width of 12 feet, and
a length of just over 3,300 feet. The dredge spoils were placed as fill in the adjacent Busti Town Park. An
amended plan changed the dredge depth to 8 feet at summer lake levels. At an 8-foot depth, the spoils
measured 11,000 cubic yards of sediment.
Bass Island Oil & Gas Reserves under Chautauqua Lake
The reserves under the lake, if accessed without appropriate safeguards, could prove to be detrimental
to the environmental health of Chautauqua Lake. New York State owns the mineral rights under
Chautauqua Lake. It is the policy of New York State at this time not to lease the drilling rights for oil or
gas within any bodies of water under its jurisdiction. The state also restricts the drilling of gas or oil wells
within 650 feet of a shoreline.
M. Fish and Wildlife
Fish
Chautauqua Lake offers exceptional fishing opportunities:
- Muskellunge
- Walleye
- Bullheads
- Crappie
- Yellow Perch
- White Perch
- Pumpkinseed
- Bluegill
- Bass – Largemouth, Smallmouth
Chautauqua Lake supports a sports fishery that ranks fourth in New York State in angler use with
estimated annual expenditures exceeding 11 million dollars (Connelly et. al. 1998).
Muskellunge historically have been an established part of the Chautauqua Lake fishery with many game
class 40–50 inch muskellunges caught each year. Minimum keeping size for muskellunge in the lake is 40
inches. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation annually stocks the lake with
muskellunge fingerlings. Natural reproduction contributes only 25% or less of adults captured in test
nets.
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Chautauqua Lake ranks among the top bass lakes in New York State. There is a Chautauqua Lake Bass
Tournament held every year. In addition, numerous bass clubs sponsor club sanctioned bass
tournaments each year on the lake. The lake offers shallow weedy areas for largemouth bass and deep
drop-offs, gravel bars and weed lines for smallmouth bass.
Walleyes, inhabiting the lake’s gravel shoals, are another sport fish found in Chautauqua Lake. The best
walleye fishing occurs during the nighttime hours or early morning in the month of May. The walleye
fishing season runs from the first Saturday in May through March 15th. Good areas for walleye are
Mission Meadows, Prendergast Point, Long Point, Cheney’s Farm, Bemus Bay, Tom’s Point, and Warner
Bay. Trophy size walleyes (exceeding eight pounds) can be caught on occasion but most run 15–18
inches.
Trout are also found in the tributaries going into Chautauqua Lake. Goose Creek is the most sought after
trout fishing stream tributary to the lake. Goose Creek is stocked annually with 3,800 brown trout
yearlings and 700 two year old brown trout, over a 9.5 mile section.
Ice fishing or “hard” water angling is a winter opportunity for fisherman. Walleye and panfish are the
primary catches. Access during the winter months is available off Mayville Park, Prendergast Point,
Bemus Point, Lakewood Community Park and Long Point State Park. The Chautauqua County Sports
Fishery Advisory Board would like to see additional sites developed for ice fishing access. Currently many
additional informal access points are used to pursue ice fishing.
Consumption limits because of contaminates associated with fish coming out of the Great Lakes is not a
problem in Chautauqua Lake or its tributaries. The New York State Department of Health provides all
fish consumption advisories for the State. Although there are no specific fish consumption advisories for
Chautauqua Lake, it is advisable to follow the statewide advisory of “eat no more than one meal per
week of fish from any freshwater in the State.”
Wildlife
As a rural area, Chautauqua County has an abundance of wildlife. Even close to Chautauqua Lake where
there is a great amount of human habitation, wildlife manages to find its niche. No statewide mammal
surveys have been done; consequently, there is no definitive list of mammals that inhabit the
Chautauqua Lake area. There are of course the usual raccoons, ground hogs, turkey, squirrels and
whitetail deer. They seem to live close and thrive near inhabited areas including the Chautauqua Lake
area. The brown bat is common around the lake as is the hoary bat. Human livability in the summer
months around the lake is due in some part to the bats’ voracious appetites for mosquitoes. Mink are
common on Prendergast Creek. Muskrats and River Otters (reintroduced into Chautauqua County in the
late 1990s) live in the tributaries and wetlands in the county. Roaming throughout the county and
sometimes interacting with humans are black bear and coyotes (some experts think that the canid who
roams New York State’s forests are a cross between wolf and coyote). Black Bears have been sighted in
the Towns of Busti, North Harmony, Chautauqua and Ellery.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Birds
Birds, especially waterfowl, use Chautauqua Lake (latitude 79 degrees 23 minutes west, longitude 42
degrees 9 minutes north) as a stopover in their migration travels. According to the Audubon Society, at
least 270 species of birds have been documented in the Chautauqua Lake area. The Audubon Society
goes on to note that the primary habitats are lacustrine and riverine, surrounded by deciduous trees,
shrub/scrub, grassland and cultivated field. The land use is primarily recreation and tourism and
secondarily urban, industrial, utility and wildlife conservation. The potential threats to the bird
population around Chautauqua Lake are pollution, recreation, development and overuse.
N. Tourism Resources
Chautauqua Lake and the Chautauqua Institution are major attractions to the surrounding tri-state area
and Canada. In addition, Chautauqua County contains many “world class” and local historical, cultural
and recreational attractions. Chautauqua County is recognized as an area where people can experience
a mix of outdoor recreation, entertainment, the arts and cultural endeavors. Chautauqua County is
within three and a half hours drive of four major US cities and Toronto, Canada. Seven major highways;
US Rte’s I-86 and I-90, and State Rte’s 60, 20, 5, 430, and 394 serve the County and link its tourism
resources.
The existing pattern of attractions surrounding Chautauqua Lake provides a strong basis for locating
tourism-related development in the Chautauqua Lake region. Sleeping accommodations, interpretive /
historical facilities or products, at locations such as the Minturn Mansion, and/or other points of
destination and events are needed to attract more tourists to the region. Such endeavors should focus
not only on the prime summer season but also on promoting uses of the lake region during the winter
season.
The Chautauqua Lake Communities contain many of the amenities needed to support tourist trade. The
communities offer several general dining opportunities such as restaurants, diners, café’s and bars. In
addition, the communities offer lodging in the form of cottages, condominiums, vacation homes, camps
and some hotels. These services support attractions both within and surrounding the Chautauqua Lake
Communities.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Housed at the main gate of the Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua County Visitors’ Bureau (CCVB)
coordinates marketing and tourism development for the County.
The CCVB interacts with tourism and development agencies in Allegheny and Cattaraugus counties to
market the region through travel guides, calendars and advertising campaigns. CCVB’s web site
www.tourchautauqua.com provides visitors all the necessary information needed to locate and access
local points of interest and events.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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The Chautauqua Lake LWRP Communities have always been a large portion of the tourism industry in
Chautauqua County. Though there are a number of attractions in the LWRP area for visitors and resident
alike, there are still opportunities for more tourism products to be developed.
As tourism evolves nationally, as a prosperous industry, the Chautauqua Lake communities will be well
positioned to take advantage of this opportunity. Working within the framework of the LWRP the
communities hope to enhance and expand existing attractions and develop new areas of interest in
anticipation of these opportunities.
Chautauqua Lake Tourism Resources
Type Resource Location
Cultural
Cultural Chautauqua Institution
– Athenaeum Hotel
–
Amphitheater
Chautauqua
Bemus Point Library
Bemus Point
Mayville Library
Mayville
Smith Memorial Library
Chautauqua Institution
Historical
The Point Chautauqua area - a Frederick Law Olmstead
Community
Point Chautauqua
Lenhart Hotel
Bemus Point
Mayville Train Depot / Historical Society
Mayville
Chautauqua Institution Walking tours
Chautauqua Institution
Devon Taylor Walking Tours
Mayville
Busti Mill & Historical Society
Busti Hamlet
Recreational
Chautauqua Lake
Chautauqua Lake Region
Bass and Muskie Fishing
Chautauqua Lake
Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
Jamestown
Chautauqua Belle Paddle Wheel Boat
Mayville
The Stow-Bemus Ferry
Bemus - Stow
Summer Wind Tour Boat
Celoron
Chautauqua Golf Club
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua Point Golf Course
Rte 430 Point Chautauqua
Willow Run Golf Course Rte
394 Magnolia
Bemus Point Golf Course
Bemus Point
Webb’s Miniature Golf
Mayville
Long Point State Park
Ellery
Midway Amusement Park
Maple Springs
Hartley Park
Lakewood
Lakeside Community Park
Lakewood
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Type Resource Location
Lucille Ball Memorial Park
Celoron
Mayville Village Park
Mayville
Chautauqua Marina
Mayville
Creative Marina
Chautauqua
Holiday Harbor Marina
Celoron
Smith Boy’s Marina
Busti
Ashville Bay Marina
North Harmony
Snug Harbor Marina
Chautauqua
Long Point Marina
Ellery
Shore Acres Marina
Ellery
Busti Wetland Preserve
Busti
Dobbin’s Woods Preserve
North Harmony / Stow
Tom’s Point
Stow
Kayak and Canoe Outfitters
Ashville
Bemus Point Casino
Bemus Point
DART Airport and Aviation Museum
Chautauqua
Prendergast Point Fish Hatchery Tour
Chautauqua
In addition, the County contains numerous other points of interest to tourist and visitors such as:
Type Resource
Location
Cultural
Reg Lenna Civic Center
Jamestown
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute
Jamestown
The Lucy – Desi Museum
Jamestown
The Robert H. Jackson Center for Justice
Jamestown
The Lily Dale Spiritualist Community
Cassadaga
Lucile M. Wright Air Museum
Jamestown Airport
SUNY Fredonia - Rockefeller Arts Center
Fredonia
Amish Communities
Clymer/Sherman/Westfield
Adams Art Gallery
Dunkirk
Historical
Dr. Barker History Museum
Fredonia
Dunkirk Historical Museum
Dunkirk
Fenton History Center
Jamestown
Harmony Historic Society House
Harmony
McClurg Mansion
Westfield
1891 Opera House
Fredonia
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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Type Resource Location
Barcelona Light House
Westfield
Dunkirk Light House
Dunkirk
Recreational
Chautauqua County Fair
Dunkirk
Peak and Peek NIKE Golf Tournament
Mina
Westfield Arts and Craft Festival
Westfield
Gerry Rodeo
Gerry
Chautauqua Wine Trail
Lake Erie Communities
15 Additional Golf Courses
Chautauqua County
Cockaigne Ski Resort
Ellington
Peak n Peek Ski Resort
Mina
Findley Lake
Findley Lake
Cassadaga Lake
Cassadaga
Bear Lake
Stockton
Lake Erie
Northern Chautauqua
County
Panama Rocks Scenic Park
Panama
Rails to Trails Walking & Biking Paths
Chau., Mayville, Portland
County Overland Trails
Chautauqua,
Burgeson Wildlife Sanctuary (Audubon)
Kiantone
Bird flyway areas in the county
Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake
Veterans park
Dunkirk
I-86 Overlook
Ellery
Luensan Overlook Park
Portland
Erlandson Overlook Park
Carroll
Lark Erie State Park
Portland
O. Scenic Views
In 1987, the President’s Commission on Americans identified scenic beauty as the most important
criterion Americans use in choosing parks and recreation areas.
Many communities are choosing to protect the special view sheds and visual characteristics that give an
area a distinctive sense of place. Some of the tools that can be used to protect these areas include:
height and use restrictions, signage standards and landscaping regulations.
Chautauqua Lake LWRP communities have a number of scenic viewsheds along roadways, waterways
and surrounding hillsides. By taking the step of identifying these specific viewsheds, the LWRP
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
CommunitieswillbeabletohelpprotectpanoramicviewsinandneartheWaterfrontRevitalization
Area.Specialareasofscenicvaluearehighlightedbelow.SeeChautauquaLakeViewingPointsMap.
ExistingScenicViews
VillageofCeloron
x
LucilleBallMemorialPark(41)
x OldCeloronAmusementParkSite(42)
x WestendsofDuquesne,Chadakoin&LivingstonSts–Panoramic(43)
TownofEllicott
x
BurtisBayPark(39)
x LongviewAvenue–WestEllicott(40)VillageParktoWestLivingston(43)
VillageofLakewood
x
HartleyPark(34)
x ChautauquaLakeYachtClub(35)
x LakeontoHistoricPackardEstate&HartleyParkHistoricPackardEstate(33)
x WinchesterDock–Sunsets(31)
x RRTracksatChautauquaAve(straightlinevieweast)(36)
x LakeStreetfromWaldemeretoPackardWay(32)
x ChautauquaAve(37)
x Rod&GunClubProperty(38)
x Waldemere&SunsetParks(30)
TownofBusti
x
Rte394ontoGooseCreek(27)
x Grandview(29)
x NorthofHuntRoadbetweenRidgeRdandBigTreeRdAlongRte394(Lowrise
buildingsaccommodateviewoflake)(28)
x SouthwesternBlvdsouthofHuntRd(44)
TownofNorthHarmony
x
Tom’sPointtoLongPoint(22)
x StowFerry–Up&DownLake(23)
x RamseyRoad(BestviewatRte394&RamseyRd)(24)
x Cheney’sPoint(25)
x BlyHillRoadOverlook(26)
VillageofMayville
x
Rte394–downhilltolakeanddownthelake(2)
x RRrightofwayalongMayvilleshorelineanddownlake(3)
x LakesideParkdownthelake(4)
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
TownofChautauqua
x
BurdickRoad(1)
x PointChautauquaGolfCourse(5)
x HillsatbackendofCampMerzBoyScoutontolake(6)
x LakeontoshorelineatChautauquaInstitution’sBellTower(7)
x FootbridgeoverravinebetweenHawthorneandParkAvenuesinChautauqua
Institution(8)
x RearofChautauquaGolfCourse(9)
VillageofBemusPoint
x
FerryLandinginBemus(13)
x VillageParktowardBemusBay(14)
x Casino–ViewfromlaketoCasinoandviewfromCasinoupanddownlake(15)
x BoatLaunchArea(16)
TownofEllery
x
LutheranCampProperty–PanoramicView(10)
x LongPointStatePark(anypartoflakefrontespeciallythepoint)(11)
x LowerBayviewRoad(12)
x MapleGroveRdattheSamuelsonFarm(17)
x AlongRte430toLake(18)
x I86Overlook(19)
x CheneyFarm–ViewofLake&BlueHeron&RedTailHawkhabitats(20)
x UpperDriftwood–ViewofEntireSouthernBasin(21)
x Veteran’sMemorialBridge(45)
ThreatstoScenicViews
x Growthoffields(trees)atCheneyFarmifnotmaintained
x Vacantagriculturallands
x DevelopmentofGrandViewarea
x LightPollution
P.Zoning
AlloftheChautauquaLakecommunitieshavezoningordinancesinplacethatgovernlandusewithin
theirrespectiveboundaries.
VillageofCeloron
TheVillagehassevenzoningcategoriesincludingindustrial,commercial,shorelinecommercial,cultural
recreation,multiresidential,residentialandfloodplain.LandwithintheWRAboundaryincludesparcels
governedbyallclassifications.Inaddition,asupplementalsectiononlakeshoreregulationsgoverns
parcelsdirectlyadjacenttotheshorelineofChautauquaLake.SeeVillageofCeleronZoningMa
p.
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Uses within the residential district are appropriate for the WRA area. A majority of the residential uses
in the multi-residential district will have a minimal and appropriate impact upon the WRA area.
However, one use, mobile home parks, may not be an appropriate use in the portion of the multi-
residential zone included in the WRA.
Celoron’s prime business zone is located along Boulevard Street, which separates the shoreline
commercial and commercial districts. Shoreline commercial uses allowed are marinas, boat storage,
boat houses, boat sales, and other water related commercial uses, while the commercial district allows
traditional retail shops and municipal offices, appropriate for the WRA area. Although a majority of uses
in both districts help meet the communities’ long-term goals, there are some uses that should be
reviewed such as nursing homes, used auto sales, shopping center / mall and department stores. These
uses may not be appropriate for the commercial or shoreline commercial zone within the WRA.
The cultural recreation district primarily encompasses the Lucille Ball Memorial Park and is limited to
uses that primarily provide a public benefit such as public parks, libraries and public tennis courts. Lands
within the WRA marginally enter into the industrial district along School Creek between Chautauqua
Avenue and Jackson Avenue. Uses within this district, while not appropriate on a large scale within the
WRA, are appropriate in this situation due to the limited scale and potential for impact.
The floodplain district and lakeshore regulations overlay the other existing districts. These districts affect
lands within the WRA as determined by the Flood Hazard Boundary Map (September 20, 1974) and the
lakeshore (as established by elevation of 1310 feet mean sea level). Uses within these overlay districts
are restricted by additional setback requirements from the lakeshore, docks restrictions, and
construction guidelines.
Town of Ellicott
The Town has eight zoning districts, one of which is in the WRA boundary. The area within the boundary
is also governed by a floodplain overlay district and Chautauqua Lake shore regulations. See Town of
Ellicott Zoning Map.
The southern and northern portions of the Town of Ellicott, located with the WRA, are zoned residential.
All uses allowed within this district will promote the objectives of the LWRP. The segment of the Town of
Ellicott located along the northern shoreline of Chautauqua Lake is adjacent to a mercantile district. The
mercantile district encompasses NYS Route 430, a large wetlands tract and a portion of the shoreline of
the Chadakoin River. Most uses allowed within the district will be limited to the area adjacent to NYS
Route 430 due to the wetlands conditions. These uses are complementary to the WRA due to their
limited location.
Village of Lakewood
The Village has four zoning categories within the WRA area including single-family residential (R-1),
multiple-family (R-2), retail business (B-1) and highway business (B-2). The uses allowed within the WRA
are also governed by a floodplain overlay district and Chautauqua Lake shore regulations. All lands in the
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 72
industrial and mobile-residential (R-3) districts are outside of the WRA. See Village of Lakewood Zoning
Map.
A majority of the WRA area is comprised of single-family residential and multiple-family residential
districts. Uses are limited to residential and public uses in the R-1 district. The R-2 allows a small amount
of business in the form of home occupations, professional offices, bed and breakfast, and nursing
homes. All uses allowed in the residential districts in the WRA are appropriate.
The B-1 district along Chautauqua Avenue is the Village of Lakewood’s downtown revitalization area.
Traditional downtown retail uses, that are compatible with the LWRP, are allowed within this district.
However, it is suggested that the list of allowed uses be reviewed to examine such uses as shopping
centers, nursing home, building material retail, auto sales and vehicle service station. These uses,
although appropriate for some commercial areas, may not enhance the community’s investment or
promote the goals established in the LWRP.
The B-2 district is located across from the end of Fairdale Avenue on the north side of Summit Avenue.
This B-2 district currently is comprised of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, which are utilized for private
meetings, meals and membership activities. The current use is an appropriate use for the WRA area.
Some of the uses allowed in a B-2 district may not be appropriate for this location if future owners
desire to change the use of the property.
The floodplain district and lakeshore regulations overlay the other existing districts. These districts affect
lands within the WRA as determined by the Flood Insurance Rate Map (November 2, 1977) and the
lakeshore (as established by elevation of 1310.5 feet mean sea level). Uses within these overlay districts
are restricted by additional setback requirements from the lakeshore, dock restrictions, fence conditions
and construction guidelines.
Town of Busti
The Town has ten zoning districts; of which four cross the WRA including conservation – residential,
multi-family residential, gateway commercial, and lakeshore commercial. Busti requires site plan review
for the site development of any lot or lots prior to the issuance of any development permit except for
single family housing and certain specified residential units. See Town of Busti Zoning Map.
One of two conservation–residential zones within the WRA is located along NYS Route 474. The uses
allowed in the zones such as single and two-family dwellings, wildlife sanctuaries, parks, camps, golf
courses, forestry and agriculture are consistent with conservation and open space objectives. The
second conservation – residential zone, located along NYS Route 394, flanked by Summit Avenue and
Fourth Street, has potential for conflict from uses in the adjacent highway commercial zone. Buffering
should be a key consideration for future development in either zone in this area.
The lakeshore commercial zone southwest of Lakeside Avenue along NYS Route 394 contains uses such
as marinas, boat repair, storage and servicing, hotels, boat houses, piers, wharfs, docks, and retail for
water-related goods. All of these uses are consistent with the objectives of the community and LWRP.
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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The gateway commercial zone in the Town along NYS Route 394 is the only gateway zone in the Lake
communities. The zone allows typical gateway uses such as hotels, food products, gifts, eating and
drinking establishments and shops. This zone’s objective is to stimulate and encourage tourism in the
area and is consistent with goals set forth by the community.
The Town zoning ordinance also has lakeshore regulations, which impose additional setback
requirements, and regulate both floating docks and dock placement. In addition, the Town has separate
ordinances that govern flood damage and the retaining walls at the Vukote Canal development.
Town of North Harmony
The Town has the most complex zoning ordinance within the study area in terms of the total number of
districts with 32 zones being located within the WRA. The Town has seven zoning categories including
single-family residential (R-1), duplex multiple- family (R-2), multiple-family (R-3), multiple-seasonal
residential (R-4), hotel multiple-family (R-5), agricultural-residential (AR), and commercial (C-1). See
Town of North Harmony zoning Map.
A majority of the WRA area is dedicated to residential zones R-1 through R-3 with 21 of the 32 zones
falling into these categories. Uses within these districts are minor variations of each other and allow
uses that range from single-family, boat storage, cluster-residential (R-1) to multiple dwelling, nursing
home, bed and breakfast, recreation camp (R-3). All uses within these districts are consistent with
objectives expressed by the community in public hearings for the LWRP.
An R-4 district is located along NYS Route 394 at the northern most section of the Township. Uses within
this district not found in other residential districts (R-1 to R-3) are marinas, cabins / cottages, travel
trailer parks, mobile homes and mobile home parks. Most of the uses allowed are consistent with the
objectives set forth for the zone in question but the allowance of mobile home parks in this location may
need to be examined.
The only hotel multiple-family (R-5) zone is located in the Stow area adjacent to a commercial zone. This
use is compatible with the development goals of the I-86 interchange at Stow.
The agricultural – residential (AR) zones are located along the Town of Busti border south of NYS Route
394. The zones encompass an area that had traditionally been agricultural in nature and has been
changing to residential uses. Many open spaces exist with some panoramic views of the lake. Traditional
AR uses are allowed in the district such as dwellings, agriculture, roadside stands, golf courses, home
occupations, riding academies and recreation camps. Uses within the district are consistent with the
development plans identified in the LWRP. Commercial zones have been established at locations that
have existing retail activity. There are five commercial zones in the WRA. The first zone is in the Ashville
business district; the second zone is bordered by NYS Route 394(the Township’s western border)
Chautauqua Lake and encompasses Goose Creek; the third zone is at the Stow interchange along NYS
Route 394; the fourth zone surrounds the Niagara Mohawk facility; the final zone is located in Magnolia
along NYS Route 394. Uses allowed by right or by a special use permit cover a wide variety of retail,
professional and service businesses as well as general limited industry. Due to the varied geographic
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 74
area and settings that these commercial districts are located in it may be appropriate to customize
districts so the allowed uses more closely fit the goals and objectives of the community for that
particular area.
Town of Chautauqua
The Town has six zoning categories within the WRA including residential, residential-lakeside,
residential-recreation, residential-agricultural, business and the Chautauqua Institution. The area within
the WRA is also governed by a separate flood damage protection law and a supplemental section within
the zoning ordinance regulating lots on Chautauqua Lake. See Town of Chautauqua Zoning Map.
A majority of the WRA area in the Town of Chautauqua is dedicated to residential zones. The most
restrictive of these is the residential district, which encompasses the area of Point Chautauqua,
Prendergast Point, and an area south of the Chautauqua Institution. Uses in these areas are limited to
single family dwellings, private boathouses and docks, governmental activities and home occupations.
The residential-lakeside zone, which comprises the largest area of the WRA, allows golf courses, antique
shops, condominiums, country inns, and limited agriculture in addition to the uses previously listed. All
residential zones, and the uses allowed within, enhance the objectives of the Town.
The Town has three business zones within the WRA. The first business zone is located south of the
Chautauqua Institution along NYS Route 394 and is comprised of hotels, cottages and realty offices. The
second zone is located in Hartfield around the intersection of NYS Route 430 and Plank Road and
consists of a convenience store, restaurant and gift shop. The third zone is located in Dewittville and has
a restaurant, greenhouse/nursery, boat-servicing operation, and post office. Other uses allowed are
retail and wholesale establishments, community services, service businesses, and manufacturing. All
uses, except for manufacturing, meet the Town’s development objectives in the WRA area.
The most unique zone in the Town is the Chautauqua Institution zone. Property within this zone is
exempted from the Town of Chautauqua Zoning Law. Chautauqua Institution has devised its own set of
standards to which property owners within the zone must comply. This is unique because of the
Institution’s ability to solely govern land use issues within its boundaries.
Village of Mayville
The Village of Mayville is currently undergoing a revision of its zoning ordinance. These revisions may
affect some of the districts as described below. The districts described are based on a map received
from the Village on July 23, 2002. See Village of Mayville Zoning Map.
The Village has five zoning categories within the primary portion of the WRA in the Village of Mayville,
which include commercial (C-1), commercial (C-2), residential (R-9), residential (R-9A) and
manufacturing (M-1).
A majority of the WRA area is dedicated to residential zones R-9 and R-9A. Uses within these districts
have minor variations from each other but are primarily residential in nature. Uses allowed are single-
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
Section II 75
family, cluster-residential, church, hospital, clinic and professional offices. All uses within these districts
are consistent with objectives expressed by the community in public hearings for the LWRP.
The C-1 districts are comprised of the downtown business district, a small area along Sea Lion Drive on
the edge of the village and an area along Route 394 in the southern portion of the village, which is
adjacent to the WRA. The C-1 district allows for retail sales, personal service establishments, eating and
drinking establishments, amusement centers, banks, hotels and marinas. All of the uses listed are
consistent with the objectives of the LWRP.
The C-2 district is located at the northern edge of Chautauqua Lake along Route 394. All uses allowed
within the C-1 district are allowed in addition to motor vehicle sales, service stations, warehouses, drive-
ins and farm implement dealers. The historic rail station, a large portion of the lakeside redevelopment
plan and existing trails are within the boundaries of this district. Due to the community objectives voiced
by residents during public meetings, it is recommended that the village carefully review the uses
allowed within this area prior to completing the revision of the village zoning ordinance. Final uses
allowed should promote the community vision and plans for the area within the WRA.
Town of Ellery
The Town has six zoning categories within the WRA including single-family residential, residential,
multiple-family residential, retail business, highway business, and lakeside business. In addition, a
supplemental lakeshore regulations section regulates parcels contiguous to the Chautauqua Lake
lakeshore. The primary land uses in the Town is residential. See Town of Ellery Zoning Map.
The single-family district is designed to accommodate new developments. The district allows single-
family dwellings, cluster-residential development, and typical accessory uses such as garages. The
residential district maintains a similar density and use pattern as the single-family district but does allow
for duplex development. The multiple-family districts are areas of the Town where higher density can be
accommodated. The district accommodates multiple-family units, church camps, bed and breakfast
establishments, and large group gatherings. These districts comprise the majority of the land and uses in
the WRA.
Ellery has four business zones in the WRA area. The first zone, a highway business zone, is located along
NYS Route 430 at Maple Springs. The second such zone is located further south along NYS Route 430 in
the Greenhurst area. Midway Amusement Park is located in Maple Springs with restaurants and stores
nearby. Retail business is located in the zone at Greenhurst. The highway business zone allows a wide
variety of retail and service businesses that are typically found in commercial downtown areas. These
commercial areas act as anchors for the neighborhoods nearby providing services to them.
The single retail business zone located in the Town is in Oriental Park. Uses allowed in the zone include
small shops, professional offices, and residential development. This zone complements the business
district of the Village of Bemus Point. The lakeside business district is located at Shore Acres along NYS
Route 430. Uses in the district include marinas, boat storage, restaurants and cabins. All districts and
uses in the WRA complement the objectives set forth by the community.
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Village of Bemus Point
The Village has five zoning categories in the WRA including low density single family, medium density
single family/duplex, medium density Town house/apartments, retail business and
parks/recreation/conservation. In addition, a floodplain overlay district and supplemental lakeshore
regulation govern parcels within the WRA. See Village of Bemus Point Zoning Map.
Low-density single-family housing zones are located along Lakeside Drive and Lincoln Road. Uses in this
zone are limited to single family, golf courses, public park, boat storage, and typical accessory uses. A
large segment of the community’s open spaces are located within this district.
A majority of the core of the Village is comprised of a medium density single family/duplex zone. Uses in
the district are still restrictive due to the lack of available space for development. The medium density
district allows professional offices and duplexes in addition to the uses previously stated uses.
The medium density Townhouse/apartments zone is located along Lakeside Drive between the Village
park and the Italian Fisherman Restaurant property. The uses allowed in this district are similar to those
allowed in the other residential zones except for notable addition of multiple attached dwellings,
accessory apartments, and nursing homes. This zone may be in conflict with the Village’s objectives
because the limits of the zone reach the lakeshore. Development along the lakeshore would block the
vistas.
The retail business and parks zones both allow uses that are either in existence currently or would be
complementary to the community.
Q. Water Surface Use
Existing Water Surface Use
Chautauqua Lake is a 17-miles long with a surface area of 20.5 square miles and is the largest inland
water body in Chautauqua County. The Lake is popular for numerous water recreational activities:
boating, fishing, water skiing, and personal watercraft use, ice skating, ice fishing and snowmobiling.
Some water surface activities on the Lake are summarized as follows:
Boating
Sailing is a long standing use on the Lake. Regattas have traditionally been held in front of the
Chautauqua Institution grounds. The Chautauqua Yacht Club and the Chautauqua Institution Sailing
School both promote sailing on Chautauqua Lake.
Motorboat use of the Lake has been growing since 1985 as witnessed by the over 25% rise in boats
registered for principal use in Chautauqua County from 1985 to 1992 and the following 20% rise from
1992 to 2002. The past five years has seen an increase in the popularity of personal watercraft and has
raised concerns in especially congested areas of the Lake such as at the Bemus Point narrows.
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Canoeing and kayaking at the south end of the Lake, along the outlet (Chadakoin River), and some
tributaries is increasing. Canoeist often find that boat wakes from increased motorboat traffic creates
conditions not conducive to canoeing in parts of the lake.
Commercial boat traffic is minimal on the Lake. The Summer Wind, a dinner excursion boat, is based in
Celoron and routinely uses the Lake. The Chautauqua Belle, a replica of steamship, operates from
Mayville at the Lakeside Park. The Bemus Point- Stow ferry crosses at the narrows from Stow to the
Casino in Bemus Point.
Commercial and public marinas are located at various points along the lakefront. All commercial and
public marinas with wet slips and launching capacity have been identified and mapped as part of this
document in Section II pages 27 to 30 under Chautauqua Lake Access Points.
Boat launching points, for both large and small crafts, have been identified and mapped as part of the
Chautauqua Lake Access Points chart in Section II, pages 28 to 30, of this document.
Recreational Activities
Personal Watercraft (PWC): activity is growing on Chautauqua Lake. Concerns over noise generated by
PWC's and conflicts between motorboats and PWC surfaced in community discussions regarding the
lake. New changes to the New York State Navigation law regarding the use of PWC are expected to
mitigate many of the largest concerns voiced by residents over safety and conflicting users on the lake.
Water skiing is a popular activity on Chautauqua Lake because of the calm conditions often found on
the lake. Water skiers have found that conditions are best during off-peak hours (early morning) and
days (mid-week) as wakes and congestion increase as more boats get on the lake.
Swimming is a significant activity in many portions of Chautauqua Lake. Public beaches are located in
Lakewood, Chautauqua, Mayville and Bemus Point. In addition, private shoreline or beaches are located
at residences and organizations around the lake.
Fishing for recreation is a popular activity on Chautauqua Lake. The lake supports a sports fishery that
ranks fourth in New York State in angler use. Additional details regarding the fishery are located in
Section II, page 60 of this document.
Winter use of Chautauqua Lake's water area consists of ice fishing, skating and snowmobiling on
portions of the lake.
Water Surface Regulations
Currently, surface use regulations in place on Chautauqua Lake are speed limit/no wake zones created
by the Chautauqua County Legislature as allowed by an amendment to the New York state Navigation
Law in 1989. This establishes a 20-mph speed limit one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before
sunrise on the lake and a no-wake/ 5-mph limit within 200 feet of the shoreline, a dock, float, pier, raft,
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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or anchored vessel unless vehicles for the purpose of enabling a person engaged in water skiing to take
off or land. In addition a 5-mph speed limit was established from the East side of the Chautauqua Lake
Veterans Memorial Bridge (I-86) to the West side of the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry crossing; and from a
line extending directly from the centerline of Dunham Avenue to the Village of Celoron across the lake
parallel to said street to the East boundary of the Carlson Boat Livery property. These speed limits are
enforced by the marine patrol of the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office.
The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is the designated state agency for
administration of the New York State Navigation Law. The Bureau of Marine and Recreational Vehicles
has general responsibility for boating safety in New York State and provides funding and training for
marine law enforcement as well as boating education programs. The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office
Marine Patrol is partially funded through this program.
Docks and Breakwalls
Chautauqua Lake has a highly developed shoreline with many residential and commercial docking areas.
Breakwalls vary in type from cement and steel smooth walled structures too rip-rap. Although permits
are required for the installation of new breakwalls, no database exists that allows an accurate
measurement of the percentage of the 42-miles of shoreline affected by this man-made hardening of
the shoreline. Officers of the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Marine Patrol estimate that 20-30% of the
shoreline has breakwalls. However, this is only an anecdotal estimate.
The installation of private docks is exempt in many cases. Commercial docks, all breakwalls and some
residential docks are covered by the following regulations:
Use of Underwater Lands
Office of General Services
The State of New York holds title, on behalf of the public, to lands submerged by navigable rivers, lakes
and coastal waters, and formerly underwater filled lands to the last known location of mean high water
– in accordance with the public lands law. On Chautauqua Lake and its tributaries, the boundary
between these “lands under water” and the privately owned upland is the elevation of the mean low
water line (1306.95). The New York State Office of General Services (OGS) is the agency designated to
manage underwater lands, unless title to those lands has been transferred to another agency.
In New York State, the interest that a shoreline owner has in gaining access to navigable water has long
been acknowledged and reflected in the laws regarding the administration of submerged lands. To
secure that interest, the riparian owner may be allowed to place a single dock upon publicly held land
for private non-commercial use. The riparian owner enjoys the exclusive use of this dock against other
private interests and also holds the right to apply to the NYS OGS for authorization to place additional
installations upon submerged lands.
While the right of access cannot be extinguished by State action without compensation to the upland
proprietor, this right cannot be enlarged by the upland owner without compensation to the State of
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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New York. Where shore front proprietors wish to erect permanent or substantial installations on
submerged land, authorization is required in the form of a lease or easement.
A lease or easement in underwater lands is a legal instrument that allows the shorefront proprietor to
use underwater lands for a specific purpose. Through the provisions of the Public Lands Law, the New
York State Legislature has delegated the authority to convey the right to use underwater lands to the
Commissioner of General Services. The Public Lands Law, together with the policies adopted by the NYS
OGS, serves as the administrative guidelines for the conveyance of leases and easements.
The NYS OGS Division of Land Utilization Submerged Lands Program has been established to ensure that
the conveyance of underwater lands administered by OGS yields the highest possible economic return
to the public and complies with the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR).
The Division’s staff reviews the regulatory notices of the USACE, the NYS DEC and NYS DOS to determine
if proposed shoreline development will impact publicly owned submerged lands. The proposed
installation must also meet all local codes and ordinances. As part of the application for a lease or
easement, an upland proprietor must notify the locality of his or her intention to apply for a conveyance
of underwater land. An easement does not relieve the applicant of the responsibility for obtaining any
regulatory permits required by NYS DEC and the USACE.
A lease or easement is different from regulatory permits that may be established to control density and
regulate waterways. Although less than complete ownership, a lease or easement in underwater lands
gives the upland owner a real property interest in the area on which a marine installation is located. This
interest is assignable with the consent of the Commissioner of General Services.
The NYS OGS Submerged Lands Program is a multi-purpose effort aimed at the comprehensive
management of a valuable public resource. The NYS OGS has stated that it recognizes that this often
requires the achievement of a delicate balance between economic development and environmental
preservation. The program’s commitment is to work together with local communities to ensure that the
public’s right to enjoy the waters of New York State is not diminished by the development of the
shoreline. An issue in some areas of Chautauqua Lake is the situation of “keyhole” development where
large upland areas with relatively small shoreline are developed for residential uses at densities that
result in large numbers of docks along the shoreline. The Town of Ellery has recently enacted a funneling
provision within their local ordinance to address the keyhole development issue.
Construction Regulations for Docks and Other Underwater Structures
Under existing regulations, structures proposed for placement in Chautauqua Lake are generally
regulated and controlled by multiple levels of government - local, State and Federal, with overlapping
jurisdictions. A summary of the requirements and principal standards, under each levels of government,
for the placement of structures in the Lake is provided in this section.
Local Government Regulations
Most of the Chautauqua Lake municipalities do not have regulations governing docks specifically. The
Village of Lakewood is an exception with a permit process in place for docks placed upon public right of
Chautauqua Lake Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
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ways. While absent any formal approval authority, waterfront developments in any of the Towns
requiring site plan, special use or variance approval may also be subject to review and comment by the
Chautauqua County Planning Board.
State of New York Regulations
New York State has approval authority for all structures and many activities occurring in the near shore
waters and adjacent land areas of Chautauqua Lake. This authority rests primarily with DEC, with
additional jurisdiction by the NYS OGS and NYS DOS in certain situations.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
The NYS DEC authority stems from two sources: (1) the regulation of disturbances to water body banks
and beds pursuant to Article 15, Protection of Waters and its associated regulations (6 NYCRR Part 608),
and (2) the requirement that a Water Quality Certification be issued by the DEC for any required Federal
Permits and actions pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and its
amendments.
The applicability of each of these DEC regulatory programs to structures in Chautauqua Lake is described
separately below.
Article 15 - Protection of Waters
Article 15 of the NY Environmental Conservation Law provides the DEC with the responsibility to
regulate a variety of activities for disturbance of the bed or bank of protected streams and below the
mean high water level of navigable waters. This regulation also addresses dock and mooring facilities on
or above underwater land not owned by New York State. It also covers docking facilities for five or more
boats and mooring areas for ten or more boats. The regulations implementing this regulatory program
are found in 6 NYCRR Part 608.
The regulations also require that a permit be obtained for any excavation disturbance to the bed or bank
of Chautauqua Lake, protected water; for dredging or filling in navigable waters and adjacent marshes
and wetlands, and for a dock, pier, wharf, platform, or breakwater in, on or above navigable waters with
certain exceptions. The exceptions include, among others, structures authorized by the Commissioner of
General Services pursuant to the NYS Public Lands Law, docking facilities providing docking for five or
fewer boats and encompassing an area of less than four thousand square feet, and a mooring area
providing mooring for fewer than ten boats.
The standards for permit issuance under Article 15 are given in 6 NYCRR Part 608.8. For a permit to be
issued it must be found that the proposal is (1) reasonable and necessary, (2) will not endanger the
health, safety or welfare of the people of the State of New York and (3) will not cause unreasonable,
uncontrolled or unnecessary damage to the natural resources of the State.
ChautauquaLakeLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram
401WaterQualityCertification
PursuanttotheFederalWaterPollutionControlAct,anyapplicantforafederallicenseorpermitwithin
NYStatemustobtainaWaterQualityCertificationfromDEC.Thiscanbeintheformofa“blanket”
certificationissuedforCorpsnationwidepermits,regionalpermits,generalpermits,oranindividual
permits.ImplementationofthisprograminNewYor
kisasspecifiedin6NYCRRPart608(seeappendix).
TheWaterQualityCertificationistoassurethatactionsandactivitiespermittedbyfederalauthorities
willnotresultinacontraventionofestablishedwaterqualitystandardsoreffluentlimitations.Given
thisnarrowfocus,anin
dividualWaterQualityCertificationisoftenrequiredforlargerprojectsnot
coveredbytheU.S.ArmyCorps’issuednationwide,general,orregionalpermits.WhenindividualWater
QualityCertificationsarerequiredNYSDECusesthisapprovaltoensurethatstormwaterdischarges
fromlandside,ancillarydevelopmentoraccessfacilitieswillbeproperlymanagedtoprote
ctwater
quality.
DepartmentofState
TheNewYorkStateDepartmentofStateadministerstheLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgramwithin
NewYorkState.ThisincludesworkingwithlocalgovernmentwithrespecttopromulgatingLocal
WaterfrontRevitalizationProgramsthatareconsistentwithNewYorkstatepolicies.Thesepoliciesare
generallydesignedtopromotethebeneficialuseofcoastal/waterwayresources,preventi
mpairmentof
certaincoastal/waterwayresources,andprovideformanagementofactivitieswhichmayimpact
coastal/waterwayresources.
StateapprovalofprojectswithintheChautauquaLakewaterfrontareamustbefoundconsistentwith
thepoliciesoftheapprovedLWRP,tothemaximumextentpracticable,inaccordancewiththe
guidelinesestablishedbyth
eDepartmentofSt
atesetforthinAppendixB.
FederalRegulations
ThefederalgovernmentjurisdictionforactivitiesinChautauquaLakeisadministeredthroughtheUSACE
regulatoryprogram,withinvolvementoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andtheU.S.
FishandWildlifeService.Theseprogramscontrolstheplacementofanystructurein,under,orover
navigablewatersandadjacentwetlands,underSection10ofth
eRiversandHarborsActof1899,aswell
asthedischargeofdredgeorfillmaterialsintowatersoftheUnitedStates,includingwetlands,pursuant
toSection404oftheFederalCleanWaterAct.Projectsareauthorizedthroughtheissuanceof
nationwidepermits,regionalpermitsandgeneralandind
ividualpermits.
SectionIII.WaterfrontRevitalizationProgramPolicies
Thissectionsetsforththe13waterfrontrevitalizationpoliciesestablishedbytheNewYorkState
DepartmentofStateandreflectedintheWaterfrontRevitalizationofCoastalAreasandInland
WaterwaysAct.Theexplanationsrefinethesepoliciestoreflectlocalcircumstancesandconditions.
DevelopedWaterfrontPolicies
Policy1
Fosterapatternofdevelopmentinthewaterfrontareathatenhancescommunitycharacter,
preservesopenspace,makesefficientuseofinfrastructure,makesbeneficialuseofawaterfront
location,andminimizesadverseeffectsofdevelopment.
ThewaterfrontareasoftheChautauquaLakecommunitiesincludeawidevarietyoflanduses,natural
resources,culturalandhistoricresources,residentialcenters,andrecreationalfacilities.Thevitalityof
theselakecommunitiesiscriticaltothesuccessoftheChautauquaLakeRegion.Thecharacterofthe
areaalongChautauquaLakeisdefi
nedinlargepartbythelake’shistoricaldevelopmentasa
recreationalattractionandtheupland’sagriculturalpast.ChautauquaLake’sprimarylandusepatternof
developmentisresidential,whichhasseenincreasedgrowthsincethecompletionofasewersystem
aroundalargeportionofthelake.Theincreasedgrowthhasresultedinara
piddeclineinthelimited
amountofundevelopedshorelinethatremained.Evenso,theshorelinestillmaintainsaruralcharacter
withvacantfarmandwoodlandsinterspersedbetweenhistoricresidentialclustersandahandfulof
modestsizedVillages.ThecharacteroftheuplandsbeyondtheWaterfrontRevitalizationArea(W
RA)is
markedlyrural.
TheninecommunitiesaroundChautauquaLakearespreadacross42milesofshorelineandare
comprisedofbothVillagesandTownshipswithvaryingtopographies.Duetothesevariables,theland
usegoalsfortheareawithintheLWRP,althoughhavingsimilarities,areoftenunique.Thefutureofthe
ChautauquaLak
eareawillbeinfluencedbytheabilityoftheChautauquaLakecommunitiestopreserve
openspacesandprotectnaturalresourceswhileenhancingandrevitalizingthecommunityassetsthat
helptocreatetheuniqueexperienceofvisitingChautauquaLake.Tourismistheprimaryeconomicbase
formanyofth
elakecommunitiessuchasChautauqua,ElleryandBemusPoint.
Thispolicyisintendedtofosteradevelopmentpatternthatprovidesforthebeneficialuseofthe
environmental,historical,andculturalresourcesoftheChautauquaLakecommunitieswhilemaintaining
andbuildingontheirtraditionaleconomicbase.Theprimarycomponentsofthedesireddev
elopment
patternsare:strengtheningthedowntownareasoftheVillagesandthehistoricresidentialclusters,
suchasChautauquaInstitutionandDewittville,ascentersofactivities;encouragingwaterdependent
usestoconcentrateinexistinglocationsofmaritimeactivities;upgradeandenhanceexistingfacilitiesto
encourageuseofunderutilizedwaterfrontareasbyre
sidentsandvisitors,andpreserveopenspaceand
