How long is chautauqua lake

With its two cities, Jamestown and Dunkirk, its 27 towns, and 15 villages, it covers 1, square miles and has a present population of , Census. Because of 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. The county takes its name from the largest lake, which is 20 miles long and 1, feet above sea level, and which was called "Jad-dah'gwah" by its native inhabitants. At one end is located Mayville, the county seat, and at the other end is the city of Jamestown.

This body of water is a significant factor in the history of our county. Their quest was southward passage to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This has associated the county with national and international affairs. Following the survey of the Holland Purchase in , settlers began migrating to this area. By an act of , the limits of the county were defined and the name "Chautauque" given to it the spelling was changed to the current usage in Results of the federal census indicated a population of more than , and the county government was formed in Early industries were typical of the period, with the manufacture of pot and pearl ash and that of black salts as primary sources of capitol.

The water power of Chautauqua Lake was used to cut lumber, which was sawed into planks for flat boats on which the salts were shipped from Mayville to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then on to New Orleans.

Today, the manufacturing sector provides the base for the county's economy with important and growing contributions from the retail, service, and tourism sectors. Farming continues to contribute to the county's economy, as well as the associated food processing industry. With commercial farms , 15, acres of grapes, and eight wineries, Chautauqua County has more farms and produces more grapes than any other county in New York State.

This successful grape production is made possible because of the county's northern border on Lake Erie. Department of the Interior U. Misc Caribbean Islands U. Click to hide News Bulletins. Full News. We're modernizing Water Data for the Nation delivery.

Find out what this means for you. This page will be discontinued Jan. Click to hide station-specific text. Funding for this site is provided by: Chautauqua County. Cooperative Water Program. The lake is divided into two basins of nearly equal size by Bemus Point. The north basin of Chautauqua Lake averages 25 feet deep, with a maximum depth of 75 feet.

The south basin is considerably shallower, with an average depth of 11 feet and a maximum depth of 19 feet. The water from the lake drains to the south, emptying first into the Chadakoin River in Jamestown, New York before traveling east into the Conewango Creek. The creek goes south, entering the Allegheny River in Warren, Pa.

The Chautauqua Lake Watershed has likely been inhabited for 10,, years. The first significant impacts to the lake and watershed, however, did not occur until the 19th century when deforestation and overfishing were at their peak.

Warner Dam was built in and is currently used to partially regulate lake levels.