This summer, we’re once again conducting aquatic invasive species (AIS) citizen science training and on-water early detection surveys and monitoring in and around Chautauqua Lake!
Sandra Emke (pictured below) is joining us for the summer as our Seasonal AIS Coordinator and will be leading this year’s efforts to survey and monitor sites where aquatic invasive plant species, particularly water chestnut and starry stonewort, have been previously detected and scope out potential new sites for them as well.
Through online and in-person informational training, participants will learn how to differentiate the lake’s beneficial, native aquatic plant species from the invasive, problematic species. They’ll also learn what they can do as individuals and as a community to help prevent the arrival of new invasives and help prevent the spread of those already found here. An online informational session will be held on Wednesday, June 7th from 7-8pm and again on Monday, June 12th from 7-8pm (via Zoom). The Zoom meetings will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel and website later for those unable to attend on these dates.
From mid-June through September, several on-water paddles will be offered each month (weather permitting) where participants will survey the local aquatic vegetation to look for and, if needed, report and carefully remove invasive plants. The paddles will take place at various locations in and around Chautauqua Lake to re-survey sites where invasives have previously been detected and scope out potential new sites as well. Participation in these programs is free, but pre-registration is requested for the on-water surveys as attendance is capped at 10 participants per session. RSVPs can be sent to Sandra at ais@chautauquawatershed.org. Anyone joining the on-water surveys will need to bring their own kayak or canoe and personal protective equipment (life jacket).
Visit https://www.chautauquawatershed.org/aquatic-invasive for more info, links to the Zoom meetings, and tentative on-water survey dates, locations and launch times. Funding for the program is provided in part by the Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance.
