named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Boating Education and Safety
Produces and distributes guidelines for safe and courteous boating on Findley Lake to enhance public safety and lake enjoyment
Grounds Maintenance
Maintains key public properties including the dam, boat launch, docks, gazebo, and Waterwheel Overlook Building with public restrooms
Strategic Water Quality Management
Implements a comprehensive plan to improve water quality, including herbicide treatments for invasive weeds like Eurasian watermilfoil and addressing nutrient loading and dissolved oxygen levels
Water Quality Monitoring
Participates in the DEC’s Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP), with trained volunteers collecting water samples four times per summer for lab analysis
Weed Harvester Program
Operates a GPS-equipped weed harvester to remove invasive aquatic vegetation from Findley Lake; publishes weekly reports showing harvest locations and volume removed
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Lake and Watershed Monitoring & Assessment 3 activities
- Environmental advocacy and strategic planningAdvocates for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of Findley Lake’s environment through public-facing strategic planning. Published a 2024 Strategic Management Plan outlining comprehensive practices to improve water quality and lake usability.
- Public reporting and response for harmful algal bloomsReceives, processes, and responds to public reports of potential harmful algal blooms, including collection of photos and location details. Collects and shares images and information to support monitoring and public awareness.
- Water quality monitoring and researchParticipates in the DEC's Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program by collecting shallow and deep-water samples four times per summer for laboratory analysis. Conducts and produces water quality reports, bathymetric assessments, and sediment oxygen demand studies in collaboration with external experts like Princeton Hydro, and develops water quality plans and status updates for the Findley Lake watershed.
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Lake Invasive Species Management 1 activity
- Aquatic weed management in Findley LakeConducts targeted aquatic weed treatments using herbicides and mechanical harvesting to manage invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil across approximately 41 acres in the northern portion of Findley Lake. Activities include GPS-tracked weed harvesting operations, with annual removal of hundreds of tons of drained biomass (e.g., 620 tons in 2022, 585 tons in 2023), and plans for continued treatment in 2025 and 2026.
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Nonprofit Organizational Management 1 activity
- Membership operations and governanceManages organizational governance through volunteer leadership and conducts annual business meetings for paid members. Provides online and printable tools for membership renewal, profile updates, and management of associated contacts. Makes bylaws publicly available and issues financial reports such as treasurer's reports.
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Stewardship and maintenance of public propertiesOwns and maintains multiple public properties in downtown Findley Lake, including the dam, waterwheel building, gazebo, boat launch, marina-adjacent land, and three docks, as part of ongoing environmental and community stewardship efforts.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$107K
Contributions & grants$96K90%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$159K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$12K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$185K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$185K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -26.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 7
- BEN FERGUS — DIRECTOR
- BILL SIMPKINS — DIRECTOR
- CHRISTINE CRAFFEY — DIRECTOR
- ERIN MILLER — DIRECTOR
- GEORGE MIHALIK — DIRECTOR
- LANT LICTUS — DIRECTOR
- PAUL FELLINGER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Chautauqua County Government — Geographic area in which the foundation operates and maintains the lake.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates with FLWF on water quality monitoring and management, including participation in the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP).
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates with the DEC by directing the public to DEC resources and reporting protocols for harmful algal blooms.
- PayPal Partner — Payment processing partner used to facilitate online membership renewals.
- Princeton Hydro Partner — Partnered with Princeton Hydro to conduct a bathymetric assessment and sediment oxygen demand study on Findley Lake.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Governance with Public Agenciesmethodology: government-partnershipBy partnering with state environmental agencies, the foundation enhances water quality management and regulatory alignment, because collaboration with technical and enforcement bodies increases the legitimacy, reach, and effectiveness of local conservation efforts.
- Community-Based Stewardship Modelmethodology: community-stewardshipBy engaging property owners and community members as active participants in lake protection, the foundation fosters collective responsibility and sustained environmental care, because shared ownership increases long-term commitment and local accountability.
- Integrated Environmental Managementmethodology: integrated weed managementBy combining chemical, mechanical, and adaptive approaches to invasive species control, the foundation improves ecological outcomes, because multi-method interventions are more effective than single-treatment strategies in complex aquatic systems.
- Volunteer-Driven Organizational Modelmethodology: volunteer_governanceBy relying on volunteer leadership and governance, the foundation ensures community-rooted decision-making and cost-effective operations, because local volunteer engagement strengthens trust, continuity, and civic ownership of environmental outcomes.