LEWPA surveyed municipalities within the NYS Lake Erie watershed. Find out their water quality priorities: download a PDF of the full Survey Report.
The Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance (LEWPA) conducted a survey of municipalities within the New York State Lake Erie watershed, which are in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie counties. The results of this survey will be used to prioritize resources and pursue funding opportunities for implementation of projects. You can download a PDF of the full Survey Report, where you can find out who completed the survey and what the priorities are.
The LEWPA Regional Priorities for 2013 were as follows:
- Economic Development
- Infrastructure Planning/Development/Maintenance
- Maintenance of Bridges and Culverts
- Maintenance of Water Quality Standards
- Flood Prevention/Mitigation tied with
Sewage Discharge to Lake tied with
Tourism Enhancement - Natural Resource Protection
- Regional and Long-term Planning
- Pathogens and Viruses from Septic Waste
- Debris Build-up/Log Jams tied with
Review & Enforcement of Permits/Regulations tied with
Stream Bank Erosion - Heavy Metals, Organics, Petroleum, Chemicals tied with
Stormwater Runoff
These priorities mirror those of various regional agencies. The top priority of Economic Development supports the work of the Regional Economic Development Council and their “Strategy for Prosperity in Western New York.” The second priority of Infrastructure Planning/Development/Maintenance is a prime example of the need for “Smart Growth,” a concept that is illustrated in various regional plans and documents. By taking these priorities together we can enable the region to grow in a responsible manner while protecting and enhancing the natural assets of our watershed. This will allow Western New York to embark on a “Blue Economy” where the region will benefit both economically and environmentally by investing resources in protecting our water resources.