The Jefferson Project at Chautauqua Lake is growing its environmental monitoring and modeling capabilities through a new partnership with the New York State Mesonet, bringing two advanced weather stations to Chatauqua Lake. The effort builds on the project’s ongoing work with Chautauqua Institution, supported by the New York State Governor’s Office. The new stations will provide year-round weather data to strengthen ongoing modeling and research efforts aimed at understanding and mitigating water quality issues, including those driven by excess nutrients and harmful algal blooms (HABs).

The Jefferson Project — a collaboration of scientists, engineers, and technologists from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the Lake George Association — has been working with Chautauqua Institution to investigate and respond to changes affecting Chautauqua Lake, including HABs, climate change, road salt, invasive species, and nutrient loading and runoff. 

The project’s monitoring and modeling capabilities are being strengthened through the new partnership with NYS Mesonet — the nation’s largest and most advanced weather detection network, housed at the University at Albany. UAlbany and its Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) will also host the computer systems that support weather, hydrological (runoff), and hydrodynamic (lake circulation) modeling for both Chautauqua and Lake George watersheds. The systems will integrate data from the Jefferson Project’s smart sensor network, which includes instrumented buoys and tributary monitoring stations that track physical, chemical, and biological conditions across the lake. By bringing together the resources and expertise of RPI and UAlbany to Chautauqua, the project can better track conditions, improve predictions, and expand its ability to protect and manage the lake.

In addition to supporting research, the stations will provide local residents with access to real-time weather information through a public website, including winter conditions such as precipitation type, snow depth, and accumulation.

“Expanding our collaboration with the New York State Mesonet and ASRC allows us to build on the strong foundation we’ve established at Chautauqua Lake,” said Kevin Rose, director of the Jefferson Project and professor at RPI. “By working across institutions, we’re able to better understand how environmental conditions drive changes in the lake.”

“By integrating our New York State Mesonet weather data with the Jefferson Project’s sensor network, we can improve forecasts of conditions that contribute to harmful algal blooms and other water quality challenges at Chautauqua Lake,” said Chris Thorncroft, director of UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. “This project is a powerful example of how scientific collaboration across institutions can deliver actionable solutions that support community resilience.”

“The health of Chautauqua Lake is integral to the success of our community and region,” said Kyle Keogh, Interim President of Chautauqua Institution. “This partnership strengthens the science behind the Jefferson Project and supports the shared goal of ensuring the lake remains a resource for residents, visitors and the region.”

The Jefferson Project at Chautauqua Lake is funded through the New York State Governor's Office through the Environmental Facilities Corporation and managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Jefferson Project was founded in 2013 as a partnership between RPI, IBM, and the Lake George Association and has expanded from Lake George to include Chautauqua Lake over the past several years. 

The NYS Mesonet features 127 standard weather stations spaced about 17 miles apart across the state. Designed, installed and operated by UAlbany, each site includes automated sensors that measure weather conditions in real time, along with a camera capturing current conditions. Data is collected every five minutes, supporting weather prediction models and decision-making tools across New York.

About RPI

Founded in 1824 for the application of science to the common purposes of life, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first technological research university in the United States. Today, it is recognized as a premier university, noted for its robust and holistic learning community that connects creativity with science and technology. RPI is dedicated to inventing for the future, from shaping the scientists, engineers, technologists, architects, financiers, managers, and entrepreneurs who will define what’s next for humanity, to research that bridges disciplines to solve the world's toughest problems. Learn more at rpi.edu.  

About UAlbany: 

The University at Albany is a Carnegie-classified Research 1 institution driven by academic excellence, pioneering research and scientific discovery, and service to community. UAlbany’s world-class faculty experts and students are creating new knowledge in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor engineering, atmospheric and environmental sciences, cybersecurity, public health, public administration and social welfare while deepening our understanding of our world through scholarship and creative activity in the social sciences and humanities. As one of the most diverse public research institutions in the nation, the University is a national leader in educational equity and social mobility. For over 180 years, UAlbany has molded bright, curious and engaged students and launched them toward success.   

About Chautauqua Institution

Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit, 750-acre community on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State where approximately 7,500 people are in residence on any day during a nine-week summer season. More than 100,000 attend scheduled public events each year and even more engage online via Chautauqua’s YouTube streaming channel. Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts.