Stewards begin 10th summer fighting invasives - 2009-06-30

PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE STEWARDS BEGIN 10TH SUMMER FIGHTING INVASIVES
Watershed Stewardship Program helps keep area waterways clear of nuisance

CONTACT: Kenneth Aaron, director of communications, (518) 327-6297

PAUL SMITHS – For the 10th consecutive summer, stewards from Paul Smith’s College are deploying at area waterways to help keep them free of invasive species.

This summer, two new lakes – Great Sacandaga Lake and Tupper Lake – have been added to the list of waterways the stewards will monitor.

“Our stewards have taught thousands of boaters how to keep an eye out for these species, which can wreak havoc to ecosystems and the economy,” said Eric Holmlund, director of the Watershed Stewardship Program, which is part of the college’s Adirondack Watershed Institute.

The stewardship program, which has been active since 2000, places stewards at launches across the Adirondack Park each summer. Stewards work with boaters to ensure that they neither bring invasive species into waterways as they begin their journeys, nor take invasives from the water as they pull out.

Invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels, water chestnut and curly leaf pondweed are an increasingly dangerous threat in the Adirondacks. Their rapid proliferation kills off native species, can make waterways impassible and
hurts tourism and other industries. Preventing their introduction into waterways is time-consuming – but much simpler than eliminating the species after they arrive.

In addition to Tupper and Great Sacandaga lakes, this summer, stewards from Paul Smith’s will be stationed at Upper St. Regis Lake; Lake Placid; Rainbow Lake; Second Pond; Osgood Pond; and Great Sacandaga Lake, where a new threat, spiny waterflea, was detected last year.

Additionally, the Watershed Stewardship Program worked closely with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Lake George Association to offer training to stewards stationed elsewhere.

ABOUT PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE

At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. We are the only four-year institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs, in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences, draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere.

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