Adirondack Park Invasive Species Awareness Week
Celebrated Annually the Second Week of July

Adirondack communities and organizations will celebrate the 3rd annual ISAW July 6- July 12, 2008.

   
Forest edge infested with garlic mustard (left).
Americorps / Student Conservation Association lends a hand to pull invasive plants (right).

WHY    Invasive plants and animals threaten Adirondack lakes, ponds, rivers, and forests, which are precious resources that underwrite the economy of many communities through recreation, tourism, forestry, and numerous other uses. 

WHAT  Learn about the issues surrounding invasive species (both plant and animal, aquatic and terrestrial) and about the importance of native biodiversity in the Adirondacks by attending workshops, field trips, lectures, and control parties. 

WHO   Hundreds of citizens of all ages across the Adirondack Park.

WHERE   Nature centers, natural areas, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, parks, campgrounds, institutions of higher learning, natural history museums…

WHEN   The second week of July every year: 

HOW   Plan an activity for adults or youth. Attend a lecture.  Visit a display.  Lend a hand during an invasive species control project.  Be involved.

Would you like to lead an activity in your area for the 3rd Annual ISAW in 2008?
Contact Hilary Oles, holes@tnc.org

                                  
The 2007 Schedule is Listed Below - Check back in Spring for the 2008 Schedule!

Sunday, July 8, 2007 
8:30am - 10:30am (Boat Ride, Chateaugay Lake)  Boat tours to observe Eurasian watermilfoil will be offered, departing from the DEC Boat Launch, weather permitting (conditions must be sunny and calm).  Weather delay date is Wednesday, July 11.  Meet at the boat launch at 8:30 a.m. for a two-hour tour.  Call Mary Johnson, 518-735-4385 to confirm schedule and reserve space.

1:00pm - 3pm (Display/Workshop, Paul Smiths)  Learn how to identify common aquatic and terrestrial invasive plants of the Adirondacks and their native look-alikes.  Plants will be on display from 1-3, so stop at your convenience to the Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths to see these plants up close and personal.  This event is free and open to the public.  Contact APIPP at holes@tnc.org for more information.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Monday, July 9, 2007
10:00am - 2pm (Display, Lake George)  Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed.  Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.  

11:00pm - 2pm (Display, Inlet)  Learn how to identify invasive aquatic plants of the Adirondacks and their native look-alikes.  Plants will be on display from 11-2, so stop by at your convenience to the Inlet Town Offices to see these plants up close and personal.  A brief presentation will be made on-the-hour to provide an overview of regional and state-wide activities.  This event is free and open to the public.  Contact APIPP at holes@tnc.org for more information.

1:00pm - 4pm (Workshop, Speculator)  The Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District will give a terrestrial invasive plant presentation at the Speculator Pavilion, off of Rt 30 in Speculator, NY.  Learn the ecology, identification techniques, and control methods for these non-native invaders.  Live specimens will be available to aid in identification.  Kids are welcome, and interactive games will start at 3pm.  Please join us for this fun, free event and maybe win a prize!  Prizes will be awarded throughout the day.  For more information, call 518-548-3991.

7:30pm (Presentation, Bolton Landing)  "DFWI Research on Invasive Species in Lake George."  The Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) staff will provide an update on aquatic, exotic, invasive species management within the Lake George watershed, with a focus on Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels.  Potential exotic invasive species on the horizon will also be discussed.  Call DFWI at 518-644-3541 for more info.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 
8:30am - 10:30am (Boat Ride, Chateaugay Lake)  Boat tours to observe Eurasian watermilfoil will be offered, departing from the DEC Boat Launch, weather permitting (conditions must be sunny and calm).  Weather delay date is Wednesday, July 11.  Meet at the boat launch at 8:30 a.m. for a two-hour tour.  Call Mary Johnson, 518-735-4385 to confirm schedule and reserve space.

10:00am - 2pm (Field Trip, Lake Champlain)  RSVP by Friday, July 6 to Erin Walkow, TNC at ewalkow@tnc.org. Join staff from the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, and Lake Champlain Research Institute to explore the waters of Lake Champlain.  The trip will include both shoreline and research vessel activities to investigate aquatic plants, fish, and invertebrates of Valcour Bay.  This is a unique opportunity to learn about aquatic nuisance species threats to the lake and to meet experts working to protect Lake Champlain.

10:00am - 2pm (Display, Lake George)  Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed.  Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.  

9am - noon (Field Activity, Queensbury)  Canoe/Kayak Paddle, Dunham's Bay Marsh.  Learn about aquatic invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil, water chestnut and purple loosestrife as you paddle about the bay.  Staff from the Lake Goerge Land Conservancy (LGLC) and the Lake George Association (LGA) will supply the narration; you must provide your method of staying afloat.  Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 or the LGLC at 518-644-9673 to register or for more info.  Advance registration is required for this event.  Meet at Dunham's Bay Marina parking lot ($5 parking fee).

7pm (Presentation, Lake George)  Drew Monthie will present "Invasive Plants in the Landscape"  at the Lake George Association (LGA) office.  Are some of the plants in your yard or garden invasive?  What about the plants growing in wild areas near where you live?  Find out why certain plants are invasive and how they spread.  Learn about some of the most common invasives growing in yards, gardens, and wild areas and learn what native alternatives to plant instead.  Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 for more info.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
10:00am - 2pm (Display, Lake George)  Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed.  Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.  

11:00pm - 2pm (Display, Wanakena)  Learn how to identify invasive aquatic plants of the Adirondacks and their native look-alikes.  Plants will be on display from 11-2, so stop by at your convenience to the SUNY ESF Ranger School to see these plants up close and personal.  A brief presentation will be made on-the-hour to provide an overview of regional and state-wide activities.  This event is free and open to the public.  Contact APIPP at holes@tnc.org for more information.

7pm (Presentation, Hague)  "Invasive Species of the Lake George Watershed," at the Hague Community Center.  Come learn how to identify and manage some of the current terrestrial and aquatic plant invaders present in the Lake George watershed, and find out what potential threats we should be on the lookout for in the future.  Presented by staff from the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) and Lake George Association (LGA).  Call the LGA at 518-668-3558 or the LGLC at 518-644-9673 for more info.

7:30pm (Presentation, Paul Smiths) "Celebrating Native Aquatic Plants of the Adirondacks," at the Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Center. 

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Thursday, July 12, 2007 
9:30am - 2pm (Field Activitiy, Ticonderoga)  "Pull For Nature!  Water Chestnut Control in the La Chute River."   Join The Nature Conservancy and volunteers to harvest invading water chestnut plants, meeting place in Ticonderoga, contact Elaine Blodgett at The Nature Conservancy, eblodgett@tnc.org or 802-265-8645.

10:00am - 2pm (Display, Lake George)  Stop by the Lake George visitor center to talk to members of various local organizations about invasive species in the Lake George watershed.  Learn how you can help stop the spread of invasive species in your own yard or community.  

7pm (Presentation, Lake George)  "Lake George Zebra Mussels."  The Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) has been monitoring for the presence/absence of zebra mussels since 1995 when larvae were first found in Lake George.  Join John Wimbush, researcher at the DFWI, for a discussion of his research and removal work and whether zebra mussels are inevitable residents of Lake George.  Call the Lake George Association at 518-668-3558 or the Lake George Land Conservancyat 518-644-9673 for more info.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Friday, July 13, 2007
Noon - 2pm (Workshop, Bolton Landing)  "Backyard Invasive Plants: Identification and Management," at the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) office.  Many invasive plants are wreaking havoc in the Lake George watershed and throughout much of New York State and beyond.  This will be an intensive workshop to learn how to identify invasive plants, as well as native/non-invasive look-alikes, how to deal with invasives on your own property, and what alternative plants you can plant in your garden instead of invasive species.  Call the LGLC at 518-644-9673 for more info.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.

Saturday, July 14, 2007
10am - 4pm (Celebration, Ticonderoga)  "Adirondack Waterfest," at Bicentennial Park.  Join in the fun at this day long event about everything water related.  Waterfest is an annual event helping local communities celebrate their water resources through water related educational games, activities, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and much more.  Call the Greater Adirondack Resource Conservation and Development Council at 518-623-3090 for more info.

Ongoing throughout Invasive Species Awareness Week (Plant Identification, Chateaugay)  Is there a plant growing near your house on Chateaugay Lake or off of your shoreline that you suspect is an invasive species?  Volunteers with the Chateaugay Lakes Association are available to make "House Calls" to confirm possible sightings.  Call 518-735-4385 to schedule a consultation.