Dear Partners,

I hope your new year is off to a good start. The APIPP team is excited to start our year off with the good news that New York State intends to renew our five-year contract to manage the Adirondack PRISM. With level funding expected for the next five years, we look forward to continuing to provide great programs and services. We also look forward to working with our partners and volunteers to meet the Adirondack PRISM’s mission to work in partnership to minimize the impact of invasive species on the Adirondack region’s communities, lands, and waters.

We will kick-off our hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) Forest Pest Hunter season and Winter Webinar Series with a fantastic program on forest ecology along with a case study of HWA in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from 10:00-11:30am, on January 18. This will be followed in February with our Winter Partner Roundtables. Later this month we will reach out to our partners to request data for the 2023 Partner Data Dashboard so we can learn about how partner organizations helped advance the Adirondack PRISM mission in 2023. Please start gathering your data now!

We will, unfortunately, be bidding a sad farewell to Becca Bernacki in mid-March as she leaves APIPP for family reasons. Becca has been with APIPP for almost four years and in that time has built strong relationships with many of you. Her knowledge of Adirondack invasive species is unparalleled and her willingness to help others learn and manage invasives knows no limits. She will be greatly missed.

It will be difficult to replace both Becca’s passion and her professional knowledge, but we are confident we will find a great candidate for the Terrestrial Invasive Species Manager position described on our website. Please pass the job announcement along to anyone who might be interested and/or know good candidates. In addition, we are hiring three 2024 summer seasonal staff. Please help us find good candidates by sharing the job listings with your networks.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved with the Adirondack PRISM over our 25-year history and to those who attended the December 6, 2023, APIPP Anniversary Celebration and Fall Partner Meeting. The notes and recording are now posted on our website. The APIPP team looks forward to working with all of you in the years ahead.

Adirondack Forest Ecology and Great Smoky Mountains HWA Case Study: January 18 10:00am, Zoom

Join APIPP and its partners for a fascinating discussion on Adirondack forests and how they could be changed by hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive forest pest. Mark Lesser, associate professor with the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at Plattsburgh State University, will give a detailed overview of what makes Adirondack forests look and function the way they do. The talk will include foundational tree species, the roles hemlock and beech play, and what could happen if we lose those species to forest pests and pathogens.

Jesse Webster, forester and resource manager at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will present a case study on the impact hemlock woolly adelgid has had on the forests in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect that kills eastern hemlocks if left unaddressed. The first major infestation of this pest in the Adirondacks was discovered in the Lake George region in 2020.

To wrap up the program, APIPP Director Tammara Van Ryn will provide an overview of APIPP’s Forest Pest Hunters program, which trains volunteer citizen scientists to identify, monitor for, and report hemlock woolly adelgid and beech leaf disease. This webinar will officially kick off the 2024 volunteer survey season. Register here.

2024 HWA Forest Pest Hunter Season Kick-Off: Surveys Run from January 18 to April 10

APIPP’s Forest Pest Hunters provide invaluable information about the location of forest pests. The HWA survey season will kick off with the January 18 webinar. After the webinar, we will send new Forest Pest Hunters a link to all the resources they need to get started. Those who have already participated in the program can get started at any time, all the information and the sign up map can be found here.

The results from last year’s Forest Pest Hunters program were impressive, see the brief summary below. Thank you, Forest Pest Hunters!

• HWA Forest Pest Hunters
  • January - April
  • 72 trails adopted
  • Almost 900 observations entered into iMapInvasives
  • Over 300 hours volunteered
• BLD Forest Pest Hunters
  • August - October
  • 59 trails adopted
  • Over 150 observations entered into iMapInvasives
  • Over 100 hours volunteered

February Partner Roundtables

Feb. 7: Terrestrial Invasive Species Partner Roundtable—10:00am-11:30am

Feb. 8: Aquatic Invasive Species Partner Roundtable—10:00am-11:30am

It is hard for partners to stay connected during the winter, so for the last several years we have set aside two mornings in February for partners to gather virtually to talk about plans for the year ahead. This is a great time to share your plans and ideas and to hear from others across the region. Mark your calendar now and register on our website for the February 7 Terrestrial Partner Roundtable, the February 8 Aquatic Partner Roundtable, or both!

Adirondack Lake Ecology: March 6, 10:00am, Zoom

Peter Tobiessen, author of “The Secret Life of a Lake: The Ecology of Northern Lakes and their Stewardship” and biology professor emeritus at Union College, will provide an overview of lake ecology and how invasive species can disrupt these fragile ecosystems. For more information and to register, click here.

APIPP Is Hiring!

All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position announcements will close when a final candidate has been selected. Apply soon!

Fulltime: Terrestrial Invasive Species Manager

The Terrestrial Invasive Species Manager (TISM) is a lead member of the APIPP team who works in partnership with NYSDEC and Adirondack PRISM partners to minimize the impact of invasive species on the Adirondack region and to achieve TNC’s 2030 Goals. The TISM coordinates and implements terrestrial invasive species (TIS) prevention, monitoring, and management efforts with contractors, partners, and volunteers. The TISM and provides technical leadership and scientific support for Adirondack PRISM TIS initiatives. Candidates must have a master’s degree, experience collecting and analyzing scientific data, and NYS Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification. To learn more about the position and required qualifications, go to https://careers.nature.org/ and search for job ID 54559. Submit your cover letter and resume as one document, online at https://careers.nature.org/. 

Summer 2024 Seasonal Positions: These positions will be posted on careers.nature.org soon.

Seasonal Terrestrial Invasive Species Assistant

The Terrestrial Invasive Species Assistant will help protect the Adirondack Park from the threat of invasive species, including forest pests, by conducting invasive species monitoring and management field work. The Terrestrial Invasive Species Assistant performs invasive species surveys and mechanical, biological, and chemical management of invasive species across the Adirondack region of upstate New York, collects and analyzes data, and provides education about invasive species. This is a sixteen-week, full-time, seasonal position for the summer of 2024. The start date is on or about May 13, 2024. Visit https://careers.nature.org/ to learn more about the position and to apply. (Position will be posted soon.)

Seasonal Invasive Species Management Steward

The Adirondack Invasive Species Management Steward will help protect the Adirondack Park from the threat of invasive species by conducting invasive species monitoring and management field work. The Management Steward performs invasive species surveys and mechanical, biological, and chemical management of invasive species across the Adirondack region of upstate New York, primarily at high-use recreation areas such as campgrounds and trailheads; collects and analyzes data; and provides education about invasive species. This is a sixteen-week, full-time, seasonal position for the summer of 2024. The start date is on or about May 13, 2024. Visit https://careers.nature.org/ to learn more about the position and to apply. (Position will be posted soon.)

Seasonal Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring Steward

The Adirondack Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Monitoring Steward will help monitor and manage aquatic invasive species in the Adirondack Park and reduce the spread of AIS throughout waterbodies in the Park. The AIS Monitoring Steward conducts invasive species surveys, collects and analyzes data, provides education about invasive species, updates databases, and helps manages invasive species across the Adirondack region of upstate New York. This is a sixteen-week, full-time, seasonal position for the summer of 2024. The start date is on or about June 10, 2024. Visit https://careers.nature.org/ to learn more about the position and to apply. (Position will be posted soon.)

Wishing you a happy start to the year!

Tammara