1. Early Detection Efforts and Accomplishments in SLELO PRISM
Early detection of invasive species is a top priority for SLELO PRISM, our invasive species Volunteer Surveillance Network (VSN), and Aquatic Invasive Species spread prevention team are helping to strengthen early detection efforts in our region. I will now give you brief overview of the efforts and accomplishments of these Early Detection and outreach initiatives.
Engaging the public in Invasive Species
Volunteer Surveillance Networks (VSNs)
to help stop the spread of invasive species.

2. Why Establish Volunteer Surveillance Networks?
Engaging volunteers to conduct annual surveillance for invasive species
Increases early detection capacity
SLELO = 5 counties/ 7,000 square acres
2 seasonal employees/24 Priority Conservation Areas/ 2-year rotation.
Increase our surveillance capacity
Reduces spread potential
Increases feasibility and success of eradication
Cost effective strategy
Engages people in science
Increases understanding of invasive species throughout our communities
Helps fulfill early detection goals within the SLELO PRISM Strategic Plan!
But first why establish volunteer surveillance networks?
SLELO PRISM covers 5 counties that span over 7 thousand square miles of land, not including the vast water resources of Eastern Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and Oneida Lake. That’s a lot of ground to cover in search for invasive species! Currently, SLELO hires 2 seasonal workers to search 24 priority conservation areas on a two year rotation.
Establishing VSNs increase our surveillance capacity, which reduces spread potential of invasives, while also increasing the feasibility and success for eradication efforts.
Furthermore, they’re a cost effective strategy that engages people in science while improving the overall understanding of invasive species throughout our communities; plus VSNs help fulfill our early detection goals within the SLELO PRISM strategic plan!

3. Volunteer Surveillance Network
Emerald Ash Borer (Detected)
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
(Not Detected)
Fanwort
(Detected)
Priority
Watch-List Species
Invasives in low enough abundance to contain/ eradicate
Invasives not yet detected in PRISM
Currently, SLELO has 3 active VSNs that search for emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and fanwort, 3 of our priority watch-list species, which are defined as invasive species that are in low enough abundance to contain or possibly eradicate; or, are species that are in near proximity to our region, but have yet to be detected within our PRISM.
New York

4. Emerald Ash Borer Volunteer Surveillance Network Stats:
27 highly probable areas (HPAs)
50 volunteers
60 deployed EAB traps
Although stopping Emerald Ash Borer from spreading is a hard, and often unlikely task, early detection of this invasive pest will help resource managers and municipalities better prioritize their management strategies.
To help improve the likelihood of detecting EAB early on, SLELO partners have identified 27 highly probable areas or (HPAs) concentrated along the St. Lawrence River in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties, as well as, in Oneida and Oswego county near the most recent EAB detection in Rome. These HPAs are indicated by the green bullseye on this map.
We have quite a bit of volunteers for this VSN with 50 folks who have been educated on how to identify EAB and infestation symptoms and know how to report observations via imap. In addition, SLELO promoted an Adopt a Trap Project, in which 60 purple prism traps were adopted, deployed and will be monitored by various partners and volunteers. I’d like to give a special thanks to those in the audience who were involved with this project.
Agrilus planipennis

5. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Volunteer Surveillance Network Stats:
17 Highly Probable Areas
20 Volunteers
Adelges tsugae
Hemlock woolly adelgid is another priority watch species in which SLELO has reached out to partners, landowners, sportsmen's clubs, outdoor enthusiasts and other volunteers, to search 17 highly probable areas, concentrated within the southern portion of Tug Hill, identified by yellow bullseyes on this map.
So far we have 20 volunteers who have been trained to recognize infestation symptoms of this invasive forest pest, and report both positive and negative observations via imap.

6. Fanwort Volunteer Surveillance Network Stats:
Kasoag Lake
Fanwort Volunteer Surveillance Network Stats:
9 Highly Probable Areas
5 Volunteers
Fish Creek consists of 48 meandering miles that connect Kasoag Lake to Oneida Lake 1.
Cabomba caroliniana
In the fall of 2015, the Kasoag Lake Conservation Association approached SLELO PRISM to survey Fish Creek for fanwort, an aquatic invasive plant that has been established in Kasoag Lake. Fish creek spans about 48 meandering miles connecting Kasoag Lake in Williamstown, NY to Oneida Lake. Our initial survey found no sign of fanwort in Fish Creek, but as a precaution, 9 highly probable areas were identified in which 5 volunteers committed to search for fanwort.
These locations are indicated by the red dots on this map. 3.
Oneida Lake

7. SLELO PRISM Invasive Species Volunteer Surveillance Network Summary
Get involved, join a VSN!
3 Priority Species (EAB, HWA, Fanwort)
55 Highly Probable Areas
75 Volunteers (and counting!)
All together the SLELO PRISM VSN is focused on 3 priority species, in 55 HPAs with 75 volunteers and counting! Thanks to all our partners for teaming up to stop the spread of invasive species!
If you would like to get involved, there is a signup sheet on the SLELO info table and an informational brochure in your folders.

8. 2016 Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Season Summary
Strategic Locations/4 Stewards:
Oswego Harbor
Henderson Harbor
Sackets Harbor
Cape Vincent
Metrix:
1,031 boaters engaged
14% from out of state
Top 3 travel routes include; Route 3, Route 81 and Route 12-E.
In efforts to stop the spread of invasive species in our waterways, SLELO adopted an Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention program in the summer of 2016, which has revealed some pretty interesting data and perspectives.
We had boat launch stewards in 4 strategic locations at Oswego Harbor, Henderson Harbor, Sackets Harbor and Cape Vincent, in which over a thousand boaters were engaged! We learned that quite a few boaters come from out of state and that there are a few popular travel routes; which is information that could help determine the need for and locations of potential decontamination stations.

9. “Other” refers to: utility boats, work boats, etc.,
A majority of boaters reported that the purpose of their trip was for fishing or recreation, with a small portion categorized as utility or work related.
“Other” refers to: utility boats, work boats, etc.,

10. 41% of all vessels had plant materials/organisms on them during the late season.
Data revealed that less than half of the watercrafts inspected had no visible debris/organisms on them, which shows just how easy it would be for invasive species to spread.
A seasonal average of only 33% of all watercraft entering ELO or leaving ELO had no visible organisms or plant materials.

11. Taking a closer look at the data revealed that native elodea, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly leaf pondweed and zebra mussels were the most frequently found species during SLELO watercraft inspections.

12. Spread potential on a larger scale:
Canada
Florida Keys
Alabama
Louisiana
Finger Lakes
Adirondack Lakes
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Texas
Hudson River
Ohio River
On a larger scale, the data showed that spread potential for invasive species is far reaching. Watercrafts from waterbodies as far south as the Gulf of Mexico, as well as, northern locations in Canada are brought to Eastern Lake Ontario.
Considering that boat launch stewards are a state-wide program, there is great potential to gain a larger state-wide perspective on the spread potential for aquatic invasive species, which would surely aid preventive and management strategies for the PRISM network and beyond.

13. Thank you to the 2016 and new 2017 boat launch steward team!
The SLELO PRISM Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention program will continue to the summer of Thank you to our 2016 and new 2017 boat launch steward team!
Thank you to the 2016 and new 2017 boat launch steward team!