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Audubon Nearing the Finish Line in Wiping Out Invasive Water Chestnut

Press Release – Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Jamestown, NY – Hundreds of volunteers over five summers deserve credit for the Audubon Community Nature Center’s (ACNC) nearing the finish line in eradicating the European Water Chestnut that first appeared in 2013.

Audubon senior naturalist Jeff Tome reports that, “In waders and kayaks, Western New York PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) staff recently spent four days pulling water chestnut out of our waterways.  Thanks to their efforts coupled with the work of our great seasonal staff and local volunteers, the problem appears to be getting under control.”

The European Water Chestnut is an invasive species that can cover a water body so densely it chokes out other plants and animal life. Much of ACNC’s 600-acre wetland preserve is covered by a series of ponds, making it dangerously vulnerable to the annual invader. ACNC staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly since its first appearance to control its infestation and prevent it from spreading to other waterways in the region, including Conewango Creek and Chautauqua Lake.

Western New York PRISM is a regional partnership created to address the negative impacts of invasive species on our economy, environment, and human health. With offices in the Great Lakes Center at SUNY Buffalo State, their collaborative approach to invasive species management includes local citizens, private landowners, non-profit organizations, state, federal, tribal, and local agencies, business, researchers and universities. More information can be found at wnyprism.org.

Work of the PRISM staff followed a major pull on June 24, when volunteers enjoyed a delicious lunch following their morning efforts and “everyone had fun.”

Audubon Water Chestnut Coordinator Julie Gibson welcomes help as she continues to focus on pulling on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She can also arrange to work with volunteers on Saturdays and evenings. You can participate by emailing Gibson at waterchestnut@auduboncnc.org.

 Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania. To learn more, call (716) 569-2345 or visit auduboncnc.org.

Recently Western New York PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) staff helped Audubon Community Nature Center near its long-sought goal of removing all the invasive European Water Chestnut from its waters. PRISM staff are pictured here in waders pulling water chestnut from Audubon’s Big Pond. Photo Credit: Jamestown Audubon

Recently Western New York PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) staff helped Audubon Community Nature Center near its long-sought goal of removing all the invasive European Water Chestnut from its waters. PRISM staff are pictured here in waders pulling water chestnut from Audubon’s Big Pond. Photo Credit: Jamestown Audubon

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.

 

Contact:

Jeff Tome, Senior Naturalist

Audubon Community Nature Center 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown NY  14701 (716) 569-2345

jtome@auduboncnc.org

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