Finger Lakes- Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (FL-PRISM)

1. Hilary R. Mosher, Coordinator, FL-PRISM Finger Lakes Institute Hobart and William Smith Colleges 601 S. Main St. Geneva, NY 14456 Mosher@hws.edu 315.7814385 Finger Lakes- Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (FL-PRISM)

2. Hydrilla clogging a boat motor, photo credit: MI Sea Grant Importance of a Collaborative Approach Hemorrhaging cost of invasive species control Estimated damage and cost to control invasive species worldwide amounts to more than $1.4 trillion annually, the majority of which is impacts to agricultural crops and forestry. The lifeblood of the Finger Lakes region Biological invasions can effect the aesthetics of an area and create obstacles and deterrents for tourism, recreation and fishing. Personal cost Finger Lake’s tourism industry, local economies, and town tax revenues associated with shoreline property values, EAB mitigation, etc. are all in jeopardy due to many biological invasions. Synergy Combined value of dedicated citizens, lake associations, research institutions, classroom and outreach is greater than individual efforts. SYNERGY where 1 + 1 = 3 Photo credit: http://www.usawaterquality.org/funded_projects/integrated/SUNYBrock.html Emergent stems and leaves of Hydrilla. Photo: David J. Moorhead, University of Georgie, Bugwood.org

4. The Partnership Representatives from universities, federal, state and local agencies, lake associations, resource managers, Land Trusts, the media, and business and industry, as well as private landowners. Greater potential for collaboration, successful grant funding, citizen science capacity and volunteer base through networking Seventeen Counties of the Finger Lakes Broome Cayuga Chemung Chenango Photo Credit: NYS DEC Tompkins Tioga Steuben Wayne Yates Cortland Livingston Madison Monroe Onondaga Ontario Schuyler Seneca

6. Building Capacity • Large geographical region allows for greater opportunity for information and human and economic resource sharing. • Capitalize on the synergy between academic institutions, non-profits, citizen scientist, and governmental agencies. • Mobilize, train and support citizen science using students, volunteers, retirees, etc. • Have demonstration projects that showcase efforts of critical action on invasive species across counties. • Use leverage points to benefit from small changes in a system. • Use the framework already established by other PRISMs in existence longer. Photo Credit: www.netplaces.com/bicycle/riding-techniques/riding-with-groups.htm

7. Prevention = Protection = $ Saved • Watercraft steward program • Installation of mats to reduce Asian clam invasion • Education and outreach- EAB • Other? Mat installation for the treatment of Asian clams, 2012, Lake George, Fundforlakegeorge.org Water chestnut, photo credit, www.nyis.org Credit: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote67.htm

8. Watercraft Steward Model • Protocol exists to keep continuity among methods of data collection for stewards. • Great for information and data sharing among lake associations, agencies, etc. • Establishes long-term data set regarding use of lakes. • Great way to get citizen scientists involved!

9. Scope of Work For FL-PRISM • Coordinate FL-PRISM partnerships and collaborations • Recruit and train volunteers • Identify and meet PRISM education and outreach needs • Create network for early detection of invasive species • Support academic research through citizen science • Develop a PRISM strategic plan • Develop FL-specific management plan • Create eradication projects • Create annual work plan and annual report • Collaborate with other PRISMs • Coordinate access to private and public lands • Support NYS Invasive Species conference Photo Credit: Soque River Watershed Association

10. FL-PRISM Collaborative Approach • Committee group structure • Stakeholder/Partner Group • Steering Committee • Aquatic Working Group • Terrestrial Working Group • Agriculture Working Group • Education and Outreach Working Group • Steering Committee to guide strategic planning process • Working groups to create annual plan • Need a chair and/or co-chair for Steering Committee and each working group • Charge: determine list of priorities for each working group • Gap or SWOT analysis • Create a strategy for working groups • Determine what activities are being performed • Perform a needs assessment of region • HPAs • Create MOUs to document cooperative agreement between participants • Determine appropriate locations for education and outreach • Create appropriate marketing materials

11. Key Outcomes of FL-PRISM • Five-year strategic plan • Annual work plan • Bylaws through partner consensus • Meetings with stakeholders and committee subgroups • Education and outreach • Success stories to share!! Photo Credit: NYIS.info

12. Activities/Events • NYS IS Speaker Series • April 30th, May 28th, June 25th, Sept 24th, Oct 29th, Nov 19th • ‘Get into the MARSH’ program at Montezuma NWR • Honeysuckle Pop and Garlic Mustard Pull- Apr 26, May 14, and May 28th • EAB Awareness Week • May 18th-May 24th • FLI and FLCC Teacher Training • July 6-8th, 2014 • Others?

13. iMapInvasives Spring Training NYS Invasive Species Website: http://www.nyis.info/ iMap Invasives Training When: June 2, 2014 (Mon) Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm Where: Phillips Free Library, 37 S. Main Street, Homer, NY 13077 When: June 9, 2014 (Mon) Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Where: Yates County CCE Office, 417 Liberty St. Penn Yan, NY Training Schedule: 10:30-11:30 - Beginner invasive species identification           (common invasives) 11:30-12:30 - Basic iMapInvasvies data entry • About the database, navigation, how to enter observations • Assignments for participants 12:30 - 1:00 - break for lunch (BYO) 1:00-2:30 - Advanced invasive species identification (early detection) 2:30-4:00 - Advanced iMapInvasives data entry and analysis • Advanced data (assessment, survey, treatment, IMR) • Analysis – query, map, reports, etc. • IPMDAT online? Assignments for participants Registration is required.

14. Upcoming Meeting Schedule • Stakeholder meeting • Quarterly-April, July, October, January • Next meeting: Week of July 21st • Steering Committee • Monthly as needed • Next meeting: • Week of May 26th • Strategic Planning Session: • Week of June 9th or 16th with facilitator • Working Groups • Monthly as needed • Next Meeting: • Aquatic- Week of June 16th? • Terrestrial- Week of June 16th? • Agriculture- Week of June 16th? • Education and Outreach- Week of June 16th? Photo Credit: http://teambasedconsulting.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-use-steering-committee.html/

15. Photo Credit: http://filmadelphia.org/volunteer/ What YOU can do • Sign up for one or more of the committee subgroups • Sign up for the FL-PRISM listserve- cce-flprism-l@cornell.edu • Create a project for invasive species week (July 6th- 12th, 2014) • Share your invasive species volunteer project • Share your invasive species research projects • Fill out the survey on your table • Meet, collaborate, and help fight invasive species in the Finger Lakes!

16. Photo credit: Adirondackguru.com Together, we can! Become involved, become educated Local campaigns associated with education, research, and monitoring invasive species can increase knowledge and participation in spread prevention. Spread the word! Use local firewood Target partnerships to increase education and awareness of the transport of firewood and critters outside counties. Be a steward of YOUR Lake Increased watercraft steward programs and trainings can reach thousands of recreationists and people who fish during the season. Cleaning equipment can prevent transport of invasive species from one location to another. Plant native species, report invaders When landscaping or gardening, choose plants that are native to our region to ease care requirements and increase biological diversity. Organize volunteer projects Volunteers are your greatest asset! Form a volunteer program. Projects can include: water chestnut pulls, bloody red shrimp assessments, assessments, etc. Stay informed Sign up for the email list: cce-flprism-l@cornell.edu Make your voice heard - Be a stakeholder Attend the stakeholder meetings and make your voice heard! NYSG Launch Steward Brittney Rogers pulling water chestnuts. Photo by: Megan Pistolese, NYSG

17. Questions? Coming together is beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. -Henry Ford