Community Profile

Summary

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, along with support and assistance from various individuals and community partners, are working together to certify Chautauqua County as a National Wildlife Federation Community Habitat. This program will connect the residents of the County and educate and engage people about the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation, one garden at a time. Chautauqua County is the western gateway to New York State. With its six beautiful lakes and approximately 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline, there is no place in the County more than 25 miles from open water. Within the lands that surround these waters lies key habitats that are home to our local wildlife. With the increasing human impact and development in our County, the success and longevity of these habitats are threatened and need to be protected. By certifying and adapting our own backyards and green spaces, we can encourage local and migrating wildlife to visit and thrive, transforming our yards into healthy, beautiful green spaces and creating native habitat to benefit and attract our birds, bees, butterflies, and local wildlife.