SLELO Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management

09/15/2026

🌟 Get your hands in the dirt for conservation!
Our fall restoration plantings are coming up, and we need volunteers to help plant native species across three beautiful sites. No experience needed—just a love for gardening or being outdoors! 🌼🌱

These events are part of our Land Protector’s Learning Experience, and you can join one or more sessions to build your skills and support local habitats.

📍 Oct 15 – 9 AM–2 PM, SLELO PRISM Field Office, 269 Ouderkirk Rd. Pulaski, NY
📍 Oct 16 – 9 AM–2 PM, Selkirk Fen, Route 3, Pulaski, NY (meet at SLELO office)
📍 Oct 17 – 10 AM-3 PM, El Dorado Preserve, Grand Jean Rd. Henderson, NY

Let’s restore these landscapes together 💚
👉🔗Get details and register to join us at: https://www.sleloinvasives.org/event/volunteer-restoration-planting-opportunities/

09/11/2026

Fall is an ideal time to tackle invasive woody plants and make room for beneficial native species. 🍂

Our latest blog covers tips for identifying, removing and properly disposing of invasive plants, plus species to watch for this season. You’ll also find a native planting recommendation from local organic farmer and forest gardener Danni Baker.

Learn more at: https://conta.cc/3T2qg1b

Email from SLELO PRISM Explore fall tips for invasive plant management and planting native species. View as Webpage Fall is an ideal time to tackle invasive woody plants on your property. As temperatu

09/02/2026

🚨 Hydrilla Alert! This aggressive aquatic invader isn’t in the SLELO region yet — and we want to keep it that way.

Hydrilla grows up to an inch per day, forming thick mats that choke out entire waterbodies. It’s a Tier‑1 species for SLELO PRISM, meaning it hasn't been detected in our region but is present in neighboring regions and could easily spread here.

Just recently, watercraft stewards intercepted a boat carrying hydrilla near Mexico, NY — a reminder of how easily this species can be introduced.

🛶 You can help: Clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and gear before entering any waterbody. Your actions matter. 💪

🔎 Hydrilla ID Tips:

Whorled leaves: 4–8 leaves per whorl (usually 5).

Serrated edges: Tiny teeth visible to the naked eye.

Tubers: Potato‑like structures buried in sediment that store nutrients, allowing hydrilla to survive harsh conditions and aggressively resprout for years.

Late‑season mats: Dense surface growth in late summer/early-autumn.

Don’t confuse hydrilla with our native common waterweed (Elodea canadensis)— Elodea has only 3 leaves per whorl and NO serrations or tubers.

Together, we can keep hydrilla out and protect our waters. 💧🌿

👉Learn more about hydrilla and our water protectors program: https://www.sleloinvasives.org/water

08/29/2026

Big news for our early detection efforts! Our Aquatic Coordinator, Adrien Owens, was recently featured in the Adirondack Explorer, sharing how we use environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) to stay ahead of aquatic invasive species.

Since 2016, SLELO has used eDNA to detect genetic material from native and invasive aquatic species. The process involves collecting regional water samples for lab analysis using a highly specialized method that detects trace genetic material. We are proud to highlight our ongoing collaboration with SUNY Oswego, which has provided vital lab analysis support for this project since 2021.

While eDNA can’t pinpoint an exact location or guarantee a species’ presence, it does help us identify potential new invaders, especially tier-one species that haven’t yet reached our region but pose a real risk. Early detection is everything when it comes to protecting our ecosystems. Read the full article and explore our eDNA work on our website👉https://www.sleloinvasives.org/edna.

08/21/2026

🌊✨ RiverKeeper Adventures at Wellesley Island! ✨🌿

We had an amazing time teaming up with Save The River yesterday for their RiverKeeper program at the beautiful Minna Anthony Common Nature Center + Friends on Wellesley Island!

Attendees dove into ways to protect the St. Lawrence River from major environmental threats such as pollution, harmful algal blooms, and aquatic invasive species. After a short but engaging presentation, we hit the water for a peaceful paddle, spotting wildlife, exploring aquatic plants, and seeing firsthand why stewardship matters. We even saw a mink! 🚣‍♀️💙

Programs like these empower community members to take meaningful action to protect the waters we all love.

📅 Final RiverKeeper training this season:
Next Thursday, August 27th, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM – 12 PM
📍 Minna Anthony Nature Center, Wellesley Island, NY (contact the center to register or pop in)

Don’t miss your chance to get involved in this hands-on stewardship experience! 🌿💧

08/17/2026

🌿🛶 What an incredible finale to our Aquatic Invasive Species Learning Experience (AISLE)! Huge thanks to all the amazing volunteers who joined us last week for our guided paddle on the beautiful Millsite Lake in Redwood, NY. Your enthusiasm and curiosity made the day unforgettable.

We explored crystal‑clear waters filled with native treasures like Robbins pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii), eelgrass (Vallisneria americana), and more — and we’re thrilled to share that we found only one invasive species, Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)**. This is a great sign for the health of Millsite Lake and a testament to the stewardship of our community. 💚🌊

If you missed this paddle, there’s another chance to get out on the water! Join our partners at Save The River this Thursday, August 20th from 9AM–12PM at the Minna Anthony Nature Center on Wellesley Island, NY for their RiverKeeper training and paddle — where our Education Outreach Coordinator, Megan, will be a guest speaker. 🌎✨

Let’s keep the momentum going and continue protecting our precious waterways for generations to come. 💦💙

08/17/2026

Hands‑On Workshop at Green Lakes 🌳🔦

Help protect our forests and farms! Join us for a free SLF identification & reporting workshop at Green Lakes State Park on August 21, 5:30–7:30 PM.

You’ll learn to identify spotted lanternfly and its host tree of heaven, use iMapInvasives Survey123, and adopt public areas for early detection. SLF hasn’t reached the SLELO region yet—early action matters.

📍 Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville, NY
🗓 August 21 | ⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
Register: https://www.sleloinvasives.org/event/slfworkshop/

Let’s work together to keep our communities healthy! 💪🌲