Invasive pests to worry about before HABs strike in late-summer
Peter is the creator and editor of The Water Front Online, the region’s only news organization dedicated to environmental issues in the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York. Have a tip? Send it to peter@fingerlakes1.com.
The peak season for harmful algal blooms, or HABs, is at least two months away, but the Finger Lakes have plenty of other pests and invasive species to worry about before toxic algae takes center stage.
The Catharine Creek and Keuka Outlet tributaries are being treated this month with chemicals to combat sea lampreys, the blood-sucking, eel-like creatures that attach themselves to trout and kill them.
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As this year’s boating season officially kicks off, Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos is reminding water recreationists to do their part in protecting New York’s waters from aquatic invasive species by remembering to clean, drain, and dry watercraft and equipment.
Last year, boater traffic increased by nearly 20 percent at some launches and boat stewards counted more than 390,000 boats at launches across the state, a significant increase from the 276,515 watercraft counted in 2019. DEC anticipates more boaters will hit the water this season and with them an increased risk of introducing AIS to New York’s waters. Taking proactive steps such as cleaning off fishing tackle, removing aquatic vegetation from rudders, disinfecting boat hul
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Home » Public Involvement and News » Press Releases » DEC Reminds Water Recreationists to Clean, Drain, and Dry Watercraft and Equipment to Protect New York s Waters from Invasive Species
For Release: Wednesday, May 26, 2021
DEC Reminds Water Recreationists to Clean, Drain, and Dry Watercraft and Equipment to Protect New York s Waters from Invasive Species
Boat Stewards to Conduct Boat Inspections and Educate Recreating Public at Boat Launches Statewide
As this year s boating season officially kicks off, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded water recreationists to do their part in protecting New York s waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) by remembering to clean, drain, and dry watercraft and equipment. Last year, boater traffic increased by nearly 20 percent at some launches and boat stewards counted more than 390,000 boats at launches across the state, a significant increase from the 276,515 watercraft coun
Editor:
I have an elderly brother with a serious underlying medical condition, who, despite living in Humboldt for four years, still cannot get assigned a primary care physician (PCP) due to a shortage of local docs. The county does not seem to be addressing this demographic regarding how they can get scheduled for vaccines ( Vaxed, Jan. 21).
Although I don t know for sure, I am guessing there are hundreds of such people throughout the county just based on recent banter on the McKinleyville Nextdoor app. I hope Public Health can place a priority on informing these folks how they can get scheduled, considering that the other existing clinic systems already have personnel in place to manage scheduling their patients. My brother and elders like him should not have to live in fear of getting passed over for this life-saving medication.