CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
New York
AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS
by Louis Meunier4th grade, Boght Hills Elementary
Abstract The aim of my study is to find the characteristics of a New York county and diagnose its environmental health. My county is Chautauqua County NY. To conduct this study, I used search terms, found newspaper articles, and read the websites of government offices, such as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency. Through my research I learned that
1. Chautauqua County has a lot of manufacturing industries in it.2. Chautauqua County uses a lot of hydro-electric and nuclear power. 3. Chautauqua County’s main lake, Lake Chautauqua, is very polluted, and has invasive species taking over.
MAPS
Map of WatershedsMap of Chautauqua County
In Chautauqua County, there are many water
sources-no place is more than 25 miles from open water
There are a lot of forests in Chautauqua County
Background-Habitats
Picture of Chautauqua Gorge State Forest
Most important industry: Manufacturing-9,833
workers employed in 2013
Second most important industry: Health care and social assistance-facing a shortage of professionals
Third most important: Retail- Growing
Background-Industries
Water resource: Chautauqua Lake- home to bass
and muskellunge
Another water resource: Chadakoin River-powers mills
Background- Water and Soil
Main non-renewable energy source: Nuclear
Main renewable energy source: Hydro-electric
Background-Energy
1 landfill
3 regulated transfer stations
A lot of registered transfer stations
No composting facilities or waste-to-energy stations
Background- Waste
Habitats
Challenges Invasive species in
Lake Chautauqua Pollution in Lake
Chautauqua Cities could start
growing, destroying forest habitat
Solutions Try to control the
invasive species Watch what we are
throwing away, keep chemicals from coming in
Stop growing cities, grow in other ways
Industries
Challenges Bigger industries
make the same thing, could cause closing
Cause pollution Not enough people
become the needed types of workers, e.g. doctors, teachers
Solutions Try to expand Use different sources
to produce the things
Open new places to study the job, offer more money
Water and Soil
Challenges Outbreak of algae
blooms and growth of aquatic vegetation
Health of lakes and rivers in danger
Pesticides and fertilizers used in farming pollutes soil and water
Solutions Keep the amount of
algae and aquatic vegetation under control
Do not use as many boats, are polluting, keep chemicals out of water
Use more organic pesticides and fertilizers
Energy
Challenges Lots of nuclear
power used, can build up be unhealthy
Low amounts of healthy renewable energy used, other than hydro-electric
Solutions Limit use of nuclear
power Increase the amount
of renewable energy use
Waste
Challenges There is not a lot of
room for landfills, made closer to homes which is polluting
Transfer stations can cause air pollution and asthma
Solutions Don’t use landfills as
much, which are polluting, use different ways to dispose of trash
Use less polluting ways to dispose of trash
Chautauqua County should improve its type of energy sources used, for example, reduce the amount of nuclear power.
It should also try to make Lake Chautauqua, otherwise a great lake, more healthy and free of invasive species.
And finally, try to improve its health and social living industry by, for example, try to get more professionals to work for the industry.
Conclusion