District invests in new weed harvester | News, Sports, Jobs

Pictured are, from left, Brian Cole and Mitch Cole, Inland Lake Harvesters; Doug Conroe, executive director of the Chautauqua Lake Association; County Executive PJ Wendel; John Ford, president of the CLA; James Cappelino, chief mechanic of the CLA; and Heather Nolan-Caskey, CLA administration and community services manager; and Natalie King, CLA administrative assistant.

Chautauqua County has co-funded a new weed harvester for the Chautauqua Lake Association.

Inland Lake Harvesters employees traveled east from Wisconsin on August 8 to deliver an ILH-1000, their largest available harvester and the “flagship of the ILH fleet.” The new purchase is one of several recent equipment purchases by local stakeholders to support management and research activities on Chautauqua Lake.

Following delivery, County Executive PJ Wendel, CLA President John Ford, CLA Executive Director Doug Conroe, Chautauqua Lake Association (CLA) President John Ford, Executive Director Doug Conroe, Administrative and Community Services Manager Heather Nolan-Caskey, and ILH staff attended a demonstration of the equipment.

“We’re just thrilled with the equipment we’ve received,” Ford said. “We have a lot of equipment that’s aging, and this is really giving us a boost operationally.”

The new machine will perform the same function as the existing CLA harvesters, but features some design differences and modern updates. The ILH-1000 uses a 10-foot-long cutting head to remove excess plant growth and stores up to 15,000 pounds of material on its deck for dumping.

Like the current CLA harvesters, it is driven by side-mounted paddle wheels and powered by a diesel engine. It has a stainless steel hull, with the remaining surfaces finished with a thick marine-grade finish.

“This new harvester will increase our operating capacity and protect us from operational issues that come with our 50-year-old harvesters from time to time,” Conroe said of the expansion. “We are grateful for this collaboration with Chautauqua County that will allow for better lake care.”

While maintenance work on the lake must be funded annually, capital equipment purchases like these represent significant long-term investments needed to continue the work. The state legislature approved the purchase of the new harvester in early 2023, as well as a transport vessel, a Mobitrac support vessel and a research boat. These purchases were funded with funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to support the future health and usability of the lake.

“Thanks to the county’s ARPA funding, we are acquiring this vessel as part of a three-vessel initiative for the CLA,” Wendel said. “With strong leadership and a united effort, my administration remains committed to investing in our magnificent lake and ensuring its natural beauty and economic vitality are preserved for generations to come.”

The county’s new research vessel, the “Unity,” was delivered late last year and is operated by the Chautauqua Institution. It was recently used by the Jefferson Project to deploy vertical profilers in the north and south basins of the lake. Inland Lake Harvesters will also provide the county with its new transport and Mobitrac support vessel.

Included with the harvester’s delivery was another important new piece of equipment: a JCB all-weather forklift, delivered to CLA on July 19, 2024, by Jamestown Industrial Trucks of Frewsburg. The new forklift replaces an existing 1958-model forklift that has been in use since the 1970s. Funding for the purchase was provided by CLA’s foundation, which was matched by a grant from the County Occupancy Tax Program through the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance.

New lake equipment was recently funded through a variety of sources, highlighting collaboration toward a common goal. The county’s Occupancy Tax Program was also used to purchase a new shore conveyor belt, operated by the Town of Chautauqua, that will first be deployed in 2023 as part of a pilot program to remove the invasive star-shaped stoneweed from Ashville Bay.

Private contributions also continue to play an important role in this funding situation. Last year, with support from the Chautauqua Lake Partnership, a Mobitrac cleanup vessel was purchased to be used at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron to help keep the area clear of debris and plant material.