Adirondack Watershed Institute Stewardship Program: Summary of Programs and Research 2014
Adirondack Watershed Institute
The Year in Review
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) continue to be a great concern all across the Adirondack region, demanding increasing attention and resources from communities and agencies far and wide. The Adirondack Watershed Institute Stewardship Program (AWISP) is part of coordinated efforts at the local, regional and statewide levels to detect and arrest the spread of AIS. The Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) works year-round with partner organizations, communities and government agencies to understand and manage a range of environmental quality issues through research and education. 2014 marked the fifteenth field season for the AWISP.
2014 highlights:
Clean, Drain, Dry! AWISP stewards provided coverage at 31 launches on 26 lakes and ponds this season sharing the message of “Clean, Drain, and Dry!”
New Education Program! The AWISP launched an off-site environmental education program called the Water Shield Workshop. The program integrates land-based exercises with on-water activities for participants of all ages. Water Shield Workshops were held at Lake Pleasant, Schroon Lake, and Lower Saranac Lake in 2014.
Finding Bythotrephes! Survey efforts by AWISP staff confirmed the presence of spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) in Lake Pleasant and Piseco Lake for the first time.
See it! Touch it! Learn it! The AWISP purchased an Enviroscape watershed model for education and outreach activities.
Round-up of accomplishments, by the numbers:
AWISP stewards confirmed and removed 834 AIS from inspected watercraft across the Adirondack region.
Stewards educated 63,471 visitors and inspected 25,033 watercraft.
The AWISP employed 28 full-time stewards, 4 part-time stewards and 2 regional supervisors.
The AWISP was funded by 7 lake associations, 1 state authority, 1 tax district, 1 federal agency, 1 private foundation, and 1 college.
While 94 waterbodies in the Adirondack Park are confirmed AIS sites, there are still 235 waterbodies which remain free of invasive species and need protection!
This is just a sample of the work conducted by the AWISP. What else have we done in 2014, and what is to come? Read on to find out!