CLINTON COUNTY — The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program is co-hosting three invasive species-themed events in Clinton County this summer.
The first, a water chestnut pull in Plattsburgh Bay, is happening Friday. There will be a guided terrestrial invasive species walk at Point Au Roche on July 28 and another guided walk at Hayworth Mason Park in Peru Aug. 12.
All events are free and open to the public. To learn more or register, visit www.adkinvasives.com/events-news/events.
PLATTSBURGH WATER CHESTNUT PULL
APIPP, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Lake Champlain Basin Program are looking for volunteers to help remove water chestnut plants near the Plattsburgh Boat Launch from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday.
Infestations of aquatic invasive plants like water chestnut can cover large expanses and make accessing waterways difficult, reduce water quality and outcompete native species for resources.
This hands-on, on-the-water invasive species pull will teach about invasive plants and how infestations are managed while helping to preserve the ecological integrity of Lake Champlain.
All participants are asked to register by Thursday.
Everyone must bring their own boats and safety gear, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
LEARN ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES AT POINT AU ROCHE
Visit Point Au Roche from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 28, to learn about the invasive species of the park’s past and present.
This guided walk will begin at the Deep Bay parking lot and continue to the scenic overlook at the end of Long Point.
Kristin Collins, environmental educator with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, will lead a discussion on Point Au Roche that, including the history of invasive species there.
Shaun Kittle, the communications manager for APIPP, will cover basic plant identification, invasive species identification, how to prevent the spread of invasives and how to report invasives using the iMapInvasives app.
Participants will learn to identify invasive species present along the Long Point Trail and about invasive forest pests like beech leaf disease and hemlock woolly adelgid, which are not yet known to be in the Plattsburgh area.
For those who want to go deeper, there will also be a short talk about APIPP’s volunteer Forest Pest Hunters and Lake Protectors programs.
All participants should be prepared to walk along a mostly level trail for about two hours. Wear close-toed shoes and bring snacks, water, sunscreen, insect repellent and whatever else makes you comfortable in the woods.
Field guides to invasive species and other materials will be provided to all participants.
INVASIVE SPECIES AND WATER QUALITY WALK AT HAYWORTH MASON PARK
Join naturalists with APIPP and Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District to learn about invasive species, water quality monitoring and how to get involved as a citizen scientist.
The free guided walk will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Heyworth Mason Park in Peru.
Participants will walk along the Little Ausable Trail with Kittle, who will cover basic plant identification, how to identify invasive species and how to become a volunteer Forest Pest Hunter by adopting a trail to monitor for beech leaf disease.
Some invasive species will be identified in the wild and some will be samples.
CCSWCD District Technician Brittany Bashaw will talk about the organization’s water quality monitoring project along the Ausable River.
Field guides to invasive species and other materials will be provided to all participants.
To learn more or register, visit adkinvasives.com/events-news/events.