Finger Lakes PRISM

Did someone say ✨restoration✨ with American eelgrass?

Our aquatic invasive species field team has been working with Region 7 DEC and SUNY Morrisville on an aquatic plant restoration project in Fall Creek, an area previously infested with invasive Hydrilla. Since it is such an aggressive invader, Hydrilla often leaves empty space in an ecosystem after it is treated, and planting native species can help prevent further invasions!

Fall Creek is ready to be rejuvenated with beneficial native species, such as Vallisneria americana (American eelgrass)! American eelgrass is a common and highly beneficial native species, providing crucial habitat for native fish and food for our lovely waterfowl. We are excited to expand this project in the coming years to continue improving our local aquatic ecosystems 🌊🦆🌱

📢Shoutout to partners on the Hydrilla Local Task Force for their continued involvement and dedication in the treatment and monitoring of invasive Hydrilla in Cayuga Lake 📢

It's the event announcement you all have been waiting for! Join us for our 2nd Annual Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass Scraping Workshop on November 7th at the Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges! 🔴🏮🪰⚫️

This workshop will introduce you to the different life stages of SLF and give you the opportunity to help the Finger Lakes PRISM with hands-on management of the known SLF population right out our back door. We'll also talk about actions you can take as a citizen in limiting the spread of spotted lanternfly and best reporting techniques.

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/jSfp66T8WV or by scanning the QR code on the flyer. We hope to see you there!

Join us two weeks from today, September 15th, for a Trail Survey Program Workshop with Finger Lakes PRISM in collaboration with RMSC Cu***ng Nature Center !

We will explore and survey our trails from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. to identify terrestrial invasive species & how you can survey by yourself. Please register at the link in our bio.

Did you miss our Summer 2026 Webinar: Japanese Knotweed - The Science Beneath the Soil and the Actions Above It? Not to worry, it's now available on our YouTube channel! Click here to watch:

www.youtube.com

Have you ever wanted to know which invasive species is your fated mortal enemy? Look no further! Comment which one you got based on your birth month, and tag your friends so they can find out too! 🐛 🍃 🐟
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Joining our citizen science programs is a great way to get first hand experience at dealing with some of these species, so check out the link in our bio to learn more!
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Want to learn more about any of these species? Visit our website fingerlakesinvasives.org and search for the species you’re interested in via the search bar!

Volunteers took early detection to the next level! 🔍💪

Huge thanks to everyone who joined our spotted lanternfly & tree‑of‑heaven workshop at Green Lakes State Park last Friday. Because of YOU, we confirmed the first spotted lanternfly (SLF) sighting at the park — exciting for science, unfortunate for the ecosystem.

Only one adult was found, which gives us hope the population isn’t large. This moment shows exactly why early detection & rapid response matter. The park is already gearing up for follow‑up surveys to determine whether this was a lone hitchhiker or something more established.

Live near Syracuse or the Onondaga–Oswego County border? Your next walk could help protect your favorite outdoor spaces! 🌲🦋 We’re teaming up with the Finger Lakes PRISM to train volunteers to adopt trails and monitor for SLF and its favorite host, tree‑of‑heaven.

👉 SLELO Region: SLELO Land Protectors Program
🔗https://www.sleloinvasives.org/landprotectors/

👉 Finger Lakes Region: FL PRISM trail survey program 🔗https://fingerlakesinvasives.org/citizen-science-programs/

Let’s keep our forests thriving — one sighting at a time. 🌿✨

It's kinda chic to be knowledgeable about invasive species in your area and take action about it! From volunteer opportunities and educational events to summer seasonal work, the Finger Lakes PRISM has plenty of ways you can get involved in protecting your environment and be totally chic ✨🌸🌿

Check out the link in our bio to see how you can get involved and find your next adventure 🧭✨🎒

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! 💪🌲