PRESS RELEASE: 4/27/12
Contacts: NY Invasive Species Specialist Chuck O’Neill, 585-831-6165, chuck.oneill@cornell.edu
New York Sea Grant Recreation & Tourism Specialist Dave White, 315-312-3042

Ithaca, NY — Marina operators, boaters and anglers are the front line for preventing the spread of Hydrilla verticillata, a nasty aquatic invasive plant, and now is the time to act says Cornell University Cooperative Extension invasive species specialist Charles “Chuck” O’Neill.

“Now – before launching boats for the 2012 boating season – is the time for taking measures to prevent Hydrilla from reaching other waters. This is a priority in New York where the popularity of boating creates the opportunity for spread,” O’Neill says.

New York Sea Grant and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Invasive Species Program have written “Hydrilla: What Marinas Need to Know” and “Not Wanted! Hydrilla” fact sheets to help people recognize the invasive plant and closely inspect watercraft to prevent its spread.

To prevent Hydrilla’s spread over land and by water, O’Neill says the timing is critical for marina operators, boaters and anglers, especially those who travel from waterbody to waterbody to participate in tournaments, to practice aquatic invasive control measures.

Measures include the use of drain filters when washing boats to opening airlocks and air bladders to prevent Hydrilla fragments from surviving in a kayak’s damp nooks and crannies. Sharp-eyed observation and proper disposal of debris that clings to watercraft are also good methods for slowing the spread of unwanted species. Continue Reading →

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Press release: April 25, 2012
Contact: Kathy Bunting-Howarth, New York Sea Grant, 607-255-2832; Gregory Boyer, SUNY ESF, 315-470-6825

Ithaca, NY — In August 2010, Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario, suffered from algal bloom (Microcystis sp.). Now, with New York Sea Grant (NYSG) funding, a team led by Dr. Gregory Boyer, from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, and Joseph Atkinson form the University of Buffalo, is developing a model to provide better understanding of the nutrient and algal dynamics of Sodus Bay.

Boyer is a recognized leader in algal blooms research, having worked on red tides along the Atlantic Coast and more recently focusing his efforts on the blue-green algae blooms that occur in the Great Lakes. Boyer has developed an analytical technique for measuring microcystin and other toxins produced by blue-green algae.

Water quality managers are among the stakeholders impacted by Boyer’s research. The results of the research work on Sodus Bay will aid decision making by the Bay’s natural resource managers and marina operators.

“New York Sea Grant projects address the critical needs of coastal stakeholders. Dr. Boyer and his team are focused on applying their academic expertise to better understand and control harmful algal blooms. What we learn from this project on Sodus Bay should lead to valuable information for use by shoreline communities throughout the Great Lakes region,” said NYSG Extension Director Dr. Katherine Bunting-Howarth, Ithaca, NY.

The Sodus Bay project has received $192,381 in Sea Grant funding. Monies for these projects come via NYSG’s parent organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP), Silver Spring, MD.

The Sodus Bay project funds are among the $2.4 million New York Sea Grant has received for projects in 2012-2013.

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