The Conewango Creek Watershed Association is heading up a clean-up at Chautauqua Lake Outlet.

The clean-up will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Chautauqua Lake Fishing Association near Boulevard Avenue and Waverly Avenue in Celeron, N.Y.

The association doesn’t just represent the 14 miles of the creek in Warren County. The watershed is a drainage basin of about 900 square miles – the overwhelming majority of which is in New York State.

“People ask why the Conewango Creek Watershed Association is involved on Chautauqua Lake with a cleanup,” CCWA Board Member Liz Dropp said. “The answer is that although most people don’t realize it, Chautauqua Lake and it’s watershed is all part of the bigger Conewango Creek Watershed.”

“The CCWA is leading the Chautauqua Lake Outlet Clean-up for the second year in a row,” CCWA board member Ron Keeney said. “Eighty-five percent of the CCWA watershed is in New York State, so in an effort to educate the public that watersheds do not follow state lines and in an effort to attract new members and volunteers from New York state, the CCWA is widening its cleanup efforts into Chautauqua County.”

Both the Conewango and the Little Conewango have headwaters in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., and flow into Chautauqua County before entering Pennsylvania along Route 62.

Chautauqua Lake dumps into the Chadakoin River which joins Cassadaga Creek near Falconer. The Cassadaga flows to the Conewango north of Frewsburg.

The association is looking for volunteers, especially volunteers with their own small watercraft – kayaks, canoes, and small motor boats. “Volunteers will be retrieving trash and other debris from the water and shorelines of the Chautauqua Outlet area downstream from Holiday Harbor,” according to a press release from the association.

Coffee and doughnuts will be provided to volunteers in the morning. “Volunteers are welcome to come for an hour or all day. The cleanup will end around 2 p.m. with a hot dog lunch provided by the Fishing Association… at 1 p.m.”

“Pre-registration is required for planning the number of boats and food we will need,” according to the press release. Those looking to register may do so by calling 726-1441, or by email to info@conewangocreek.org.

“This is a rain or shine event,” according to the press release. “The only reason we will cancel is due to severe weather such as lightning and thunder, severe winds…”

The Conewango Creek was named Pennsylvania’s River of the Year 2015.

“We received much praise last year for our efforts and will continue to service a greater percentage of our watershed,” Keeney said.