KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS:

• Diagnosis of Erosion Issues

• Prioritization of Areas of Erosion Impacts 

• Use of Bank Height Erodibility Index (BEHI) Assessment System

The Chautauqua Lake Management Commission (CLMC) selected TVGA to diagnose and prioritize erosion problems across the 180-square mile Chautauqua Lake Watershed

Data collection began with an outreach to local government officials, the CLMC, the USDA Soil and Water Conservation District Office and special interest groups that were able to identify suspected erosion sites.  TVGA also utilized historical maps and aerial photography to identify suspect areas for field investigation.

Each location was assessed using the Bank Height Erodibility Index (BEHI) assessment system and located using the NAD 87 coordinate system.  ArcGIS Version 9.25 was utilized to develop base maps of the eleven major drainage basins using the Chautauqua County GIS database.  Over 375 individual assessments were performed and prioritized according to BEHI assessment, stream classification, soil types, topography and potentially impacted resources.