Imagine dipping your paddle into a quiet cove, the morning sun glinting off the water as you learn how to spot the floating leaves of invasive water chestnut. Or picture yourself walking beneath a canopy of trees, discovering how to recognize and report invasive pests that threaten the forests, trails, and green spaces you love.
Protecting the lands and waters around us starts with knowing what to look for — and understanding how small, informed actions can make a lasting difference. Through SLELO PRISM’s Land and Water Protector learning experiences, community members can build the skills to identify, survey, report, and manage priority invasive species through both virtual and hands-on opportunities.
These experiences offer an empowering way to learn, take action, and become part of a growing community working to protect the region’s natural spaces. No experience is needed — just curiosity, care for the outdoors, and a willingness to help protect the places that make this region special.
P2P Survey Interest Form
Your input can help shape the future of Pledge-to-Protect. We’re developing a short survey to better understand how people engage with the program, what actions they’re taking to protect local lands and waters, and what support or resources would make it easier to keep making a difference. By sharing your name and email below, you’re agreeing to be contacted when the survey is ready. We’ll send the survey directly to the email address you provide, and your feedback will help guide future Pledge-to-Protect resources, outreach, and engagement opportunities.
Getting Involved
Water Protectors Programs
The Water Protectors Program is ideal for anyone who enjoys time on the water or owns waterfront property. Participants take part in the Aquatic Invasive Species Learning Experience (AISLE), a three-part training series that blends virtual and in-person learning.
The 2026 series begins with a webinar on June 10, followed by an in-person workshop on July 10, and a guided survey paddle on August 14.
After completing the training, Water Protectors adopt a waterbody to monitor at least once a year, helping us detect aquatic invasive species early when management is most effective.
Land Protectors Programs
The Land Protectors Program offers a similarly rich experience for those who enjoy hiking, exploring forests, or caring for wooded property.
This program includes a summer webinar on June 3rd, followed by field sessions throughout June and July, fall restoration plantings, and winter hemlock woolly adelgid learning opportunities.
Participants gain the skills needed to identify, survey, and manage terrestrial invasive species while contributing valuable data that supports regional management strategies.
Upcoming Events
Ready to get involved? Join us for upcoming learning experiences and volunteer events, including New York Invasive Species Awareness Week from June 8–14, a fun bioblitz, guided survey walks, water chestnut pulls, and more.
Species Spotlight: Spotted Lanternfly (SLF)
Overview: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) or SLF, is an invasive insect from Asia that threatens a wide variety of plants such as hops, grapevine, walnut, fruit trees, maple trees. Its preferred host is an invasive plant called the tree of heaven (Ailantus altissima).
SLF was likely introduced to the United States as egg masses transported on a stone shipment from China, India, Vietnam or South Korea. The first US infestation was discovered in 2014, in Berks County , Pennsylvania and has since spread to other parts of PA in addition to bordering states.
Impacts:
Spotted lanternfly can devastate New York’s agricultural and tourism industries and threatens our forests. It feeds on over 70 different plant species including, grapevines, hops, fruit and nut trees, and maple trees. SLF feeds in large numbers and excretes honeydew that attracts sooty molds; these molds interfere with plant photosynthesis and impact crop growth and yields. The honeydew impedes tourism as it puts off a foul odor and attracts stinging insects.
Identification:
Egg masses: Roughly 1-1.5 inches long laid in rows. Newer masses are have a greyish, putty-like, or mud-like coatings that turn beige/grey and cracked over time. Older masses may be missing the coating and appear as rows of bown colored seed-like eggs. Present fall-spring and can be found on any flat surface exposed to the outdoors.
Nymphs: May- July: nymphs are small (1/4th inch) black wingless insets covered in white spots. July-September: nymphs are bright red with white spots and black stripes and about 1/2-3/4 inch long.
Adults: (Present July-November) Winged insects about an inch long. Forewings are gray with black spots; hindwings are red, white, and black and only visable when during flights or when startled.
Survey Tips:
- Optimal Timing:
- Fall-Spring: Look for egg masses
- Spring-Fall: Look for nymphs and adults
- Where to Look:
- Prioritize areas with tree of heaven or nearby areas with hops, grape vineyards, orchards, or maple tree stands.
- Inspect firewood, vehicles, RVs, and patio furniture, especially if you are located in or traveling from a quarantine zone.
- What to Look For:
- Inspect smooth surfaces, including tree bark, stones, and outdoor furniture, for grey, mud-like egg masses and look for nymphs/adults clustering on trunks.
- Survey areas for “honeydew” (a sugary, sticky liquid) or black sooty mold at the base of trees.
Species Spotlight: Fanwort
Overview: Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) is a submerged aquatic perennial plant native to South America. Its name is derived from the fan-like appearance of its foliage. Fanwort form dense mats that impede recreation and reduce light availability for benthic organisms and native plants. This results in a reduced food supply for populations of fish and other aquatic animals.
Impacts: Fanwort can overwinter and grow rapidly in the spring and summer, outcompeting and dominating native vegetation. Fanwort’s dense foliage reduces light availability for benthic organisms and native plants. This results in a decline in populations of fish and other animals dependent on these native organisms. Large diebacks of fanwort can result in reduced dissolved oxygen levels that can impact populations of aquatic species.
Identifying Characteristics:
Submerged leaves, and have a fan-like shape with divided leafletts that split like the letter “Y” at their tips. Floating leaves are narrow and diamond-shaped and are not as common as the submurged leaves. Leaves are green to reddish brown in color.
Stems are slightly flattened, multi-branched, and have long petiols that are attached to submerged fan-shaped leaves.
Flowers have six white petals with yellow stamens that bloom in late summer.
Rhizomes grow horizonally along the sediment and are short and fragile.
When to Look: Summer months. Flowers are present in late summer.
Where to Look: Slow low-moving waters in streams, small rivers, ponds, lakes and ditches. Fanwort is known to be present in Kasoag Lake in Williamston, NY which connects to Oneida Lake through Fish Creek.
Tools to Help You Get Started!
Spotted Lanternfly Management Flyer
Learn more about the Spotted Lanternfly, its life cycle, and how to manage them.
iMapInvasives YouTube Channel
Learn how to create an account, use the iMapInvasives app, and start reporting invasive species today!
In Case You Missed It:
Climate-Smart Gardening
A pretty garden plant may seem harmless, but invasive species can spread beyond backyards and into nearby forests, fields, wetlands, and waterways, where they outcompete native plants and damage habitats for years to come. The good news? Protecting New York’s natural areas can start right at home.
Read the related blog to learn how your garden choices can help prevent the spread of invasive species.
Virtual Toolboxes
Visit the Protector’s Virtual Toolboxes below to access resources themed for each category, and to learn more about how to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species.
Lands & Trails
Lands & Trails
Forests
Waters
Gardens
Communities
Take the Pledge to Protect
Did you enjoy this blog post? Take our Pledge to Protect and get monthly emails showcasing actions you can take to protect your favorite hiking trails, paddleways, forests, garden, and community from the impacts of invasive species!
The Pledge-to-Protect is a fun, positive, inviting, engaging and rewarding way to participate in invasive species prevention and management.
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