Finger Lakes PRISM

06/05/2026

Join us for a timely spring webinar exploring the growing risks of ticks and tick-borne diseases in our region. Guest speaker Harold Nugent will cover tick biology and practical prevention tips. Then, our Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager Lydia Martin will dive into how invasive plants create ideal tick habitat and what landowners and communities can do to reduce risk. This is one you don’t want to miss! 🌿🪳

Register here: https://hws.zoom.us/meeting/register/7bRD7gyARpSggRVcKyxjFA

06/04/2026

New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) is right around the corner! Participate in events June 8th-12th across New York State, including events here in the Finger Lakes Region! Watch through the whole video to find out what our partner PRISMs across the state are doing.

Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management ( -Network) is a state-wide collaborative approach to invasive species management, prevention, outreach, and restoration in collaboration with the DEC. The PRISM network includes @ catskillinvasives @ SLELOPRISM and PRISM. Visit rebrand.ly/NYIS_PRISMs to connect with your local PRISM.

06/03/2026

Our Macrophyte Survey Program is now live and running! Search and record aquatic species (invasive and native) via the Survey123 app and help us understand distribution and macrophyte communities in the Finger Lakes!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/SwFKT0jU89

Our virtual training is today from 5:30-6:30! If you can't make it, it will be recorded, but we encourage participation. Workshops will occur with partners across the region for the duration of the season!

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

🌊🪴 Help protect our lakes and build your own aquatic invasive species sampling rake!

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll create a simple but powerful tool used to monitor underwater plants and detect invasive species before they spread. Learn how scientists and citizen scientists survey aquatic vegetation, gain practical field skills, and leave with your very own sampling rake ready for use in our Macrophyte Survey Program!

Whether you’re a lake lover, volunteer, educator, angler, or just curious about protecting local waterways, this is a great opportunity to get involved in conservation efforts right here in the Finger Lakes region. 💧

📍2375-2371 Town Line Rd, Interlaken, NY 14847
📅 June 10th
⏰ 10am-12pm

Space may be limited so registration is encouraged! Click here to register: https://forms.office.com/r/MwFqD56SvY

05/26/2026

New York Invasive Species Awareness Week is coming up! See the schedule below for a list of events you can attend or tune in to with the Finger Lakes PRISM June 8th-12th. Click any of the links below to register for any (or all) these events! 🌱🌿🪲

Invasive Species Art Gallery Opening: https://forms.office.com/r/c4XQDHduda
Trail Survey Program Virtual Training: https://hws.zoom.us/meeting/register/On-6c48FTlaVzGbglml9iQ
Build Your Own AIS Sampling Rake Workshop: https://forms.office.com/r/MwFqD56SvY
Invasive Species and the Rise of Ticks Webinar: https://hws.zoom.us/meeting/register/7bRD7gyARpSggRVcKyxjFA
Facebook Live - Day in the Life of a Watercraft Inspection Steward: You're already here!

05/08/2026

Protect the waters you love! 🚣‍♂️🌊
Stopping the spread of invasive species starts with us. Whether you’re fishing, wakeboarding, or paddling, remember the three-step ritual before you head home:
✅ CLEAN: Strip off all mud, plants, and tiny critters from your boat and gear.
✅ DRAIN: Pull the plug! Empty your bilge, livewells, and motor.
✅ DRY: Give your gear time to dry completely before hitting a new spot.
👉Get resources from the Clean Drain Dry Initiative at https://rebrand.ly/f9ce5c

Let’s keep our lakes healthy for the next generation. Spread the word, not the weeds! 🌿🚫

are supported by Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management ( )- a statewide collaborative approach to invasive species management, prevention, outreach, and restoration in coordination with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The PRISM network includes Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program SLELO Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management Capital Region PRISM Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA) Finger Lakes PRISM Lower Hudson PRISM Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership WNY PRISM. Visit https://bit.ly/NYISinfo to connect with your local PRISM.

05/08/2026

Our Trail Survey Program has been off to a great start! With three workshops down and many more to go in the season, our team of volunteers have been finding Japanese barberry, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and lesser celandine.

🌱 🌱 🌱

This is just the beginning! Join us anytime, anywhere, and become a citizen scientist today. You can register at the link in our bio. Shoutout to our amazing partners; we couldn’t do it without you!

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from the Finger Lakes PRISM! Our staff is spending Earth Day the best way we know how: out in the field! From the lakeshore to the forests, we're working to protect the Finger Lakes region.

Earth Day is a reminder that protecting our environment starts with everyday actions, and that includes being mindful of invasive species. You can make a difference by following the tips below:

-Plant native to support local wildlife and pollinators
-Clean, drain, and dry boats and gear to stop aquatic hitchhikers
-Buy or burn local firewood to prevent spreading forest pests
-Check your boots, gear, and pets for seeds after spending time outdoors
-Learn and report invasive species in your community

Whether you're out on the water, on the trail, or in your backyard, small actions add up to big impacts.