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Dear Partners,

Happy Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW)! The APIPP team had great fun hosting ISAW trivia at Raquette River Brewing last night. Check out our Facebook page for photos. Congrats to team Canada Jays for their trivia victory. There is still time to take part in ISAW festivities, check out the statewide calendar of events and watch our “Four Species to Watch For” webinar recording from last week.

Taking action on invasive species does not end with the conclusion of ISAW. APIPP’s Lake Protector season is just beginning. See the information below for the full calendar of events. Also please read on to help us wish Zack Simek all the best in his new endeavors.

Thank You Zack!

It is with great thanks and much sadness that APIPP bids farewell to Zack Simek. Zack has been a key member of the APIPP team since he joined as the Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator in 2015. Zack transitioned to our Conservation and GIS Analyst in 2020. In the nine years he has been with program, Zack has been a leader in the prevention, monitoring, and management of invasive species.

From demonstrating the ability to eradicate small patches of phragmites to pioneering the use of drones to survey for invasive species in the Adirondacks, and from treating the first infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid in the Lake George watershed to applying his GIS skills to a hemlock protection plan for the region, Zack has been at the forefront of our invasive species work. Thank You Zack!

We are very sad to see Zack go, yet we wish him all the best as he transitions to a new position with The Nature Conservancy’s global science team on June 10. This is a great opportunity for him. We know he will continue to have an impact on conservation in NY and beyond.

It is not possible to replace Zack’s technical knowledge and commitment to APIPP’s mission, but we are hopeful we can find a great candidate to serve as our next Conservation and GIS Analyst. The job will be posted on the Conservancy’s website soon. We are looking for someone with 3-5 years of experience in data analysis and reporting, strong GIS skills, programming knowledge in Python and/or R, and knowledge of environmental monitoring, ecology, and/or invasive species management.

Join Lake Protectors and Adopt a Lake

With thousands of waterbodies across the Adirondacks to track, we need your help monitoring for AIS. Please join APIPP’s Lake Protectors program this summer and monitor a waterbody of your choice. This is a fun and easy way to give back while on the water. We ask that all Lake Protectors attend a training and commit to monitoring at least one lake between July and September. Find out more about virtual and in-person trainings below.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Monitoring Webinar (Zoom): June 25, 9:00am – 11:00am

Help protect your local lake by looking for aquatic invasive species! This is an easy and fun way to give back to the lakes we love. To date, over 800 citizen scientists have surveyed over 400 lakes throughout the Adirondacks. This virtual Lake Protectors training will give participants the skills they need to support local conservation while having fun out on the water. Register for the webinar here.

Aquatic Invasive Species Identification and Lake Protector In-Person Trainings: July 15 and August 8

APIPP will offer two Lake Protector field trainings after the virtual training. If you miss the Zoom training or want to practice out on the water, mark your calendar to attend one of these events to learn how to identify and report invasive plants and animals. Even if you have attended a training before, it is good to get a refresher. All trainings are free and open for anyone to join. Registration information will be posted on APIPP’s website soon.

• July 13: 9:00am at Pecks Lake Marina in Bleeker/Johnstown
• Aug. 16: 9:00am at the Adirondack Information Center in Newcomb

Regards,

Tammara