Blockbuster 2017

September Newsletter

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to Continue Hosting Lower Hudson PRISM!

We’re beyond excited to announce that the 2018-2022 contract for the Lower Hudson PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) has been, once again, awarded to the Trail Conference under the coordination of Dr. Linda Rohleder, our Director of Land Stewardship! We look forward to continuing the fight against invasive species and are confident that with the addition of the Terrestrial Invasive Species Project Manager and the Invasive Species Educator and Volunteer Coordinator that the program will be stronger than ever. Thank you for joining the fight with us!

Survey123 Superheroes!

Irene Voce and Tom Hobbick

Our program wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of all our volunteers, and these two are no exception. Even if you’re new to the program, you’re probably aware that the smart phone app is a brand-new addition for collecting your data; but did you know it was created entirely by volunteers? Irene and Tom dedicated countless hours over the last year developing the application for multiple projects, including the Blockbuster Survey and the Invasives Strike Force. They had a vision for a way to make stewardship and citizen science more accessible and we cannot praise them enough. Thank you, Irene and Tom! You are truly amazing!

Labor Day Weekend Warriors!

Spend Time on the Trails

September is the last month to get a good look at all of those invasives before the cold weather comes, so why not use Labor Day weekend to finish up your block?! We've received dozens a photos, terrific questions, and spectacular surveys so far; let's finish the season strong!

Data Details

  • Having trouble with the Survey123 app? No worries! You can still use the paper data sheet along with a GPS unit or the Avenza app. The data sheets for the Blockbuster survey can be found here, and the instructions for collecting data on the paper form are here.
  • Dont forget about the Opportunistic Survey! Even if you've completed your block, we urge you to report any invasives you may have missed, especially if it's a new occurrence.
  • Check out our Blockbuster Status Map! If you’ve completed your survey but don't see a star on your block or haven’t heard from us, your data may not have been sent! For help on how to send a survey saved in your "Drafts" or "Outbox" folder in the app, email or call Lindsay at 201-512-9348 ext.822 right away and she can walk you through it!
  • We need your hours! If you haven’t already, please be sure to send us your volunteer hours, including travel and survey time, and any additional time you’ve spent on the project. As a non-profit organization, hours are incredibly important to show just how much is done by our volunteers. You can also include your T-shirt size with your hours so we can give you a small token of our appreciation.

      As always, please email us at invasives@nynjtc.org with any and all questions or plant ID photos! We're here to help.

Canopus Lake, Fahnestock State Park

Appalachian Trail, Bear Mountain State Park

Terrific Teamwork!

Alan and Gillian Leslie were among the first to observe Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus) in Dutchess County, and reports have been pouring in ever since. Awesome job; this is definitely a species to watch for! 

Jessica Schuler of the New York Botanical Garden has the only reported occurrence of Siebold's viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii). We know it's out there, so be on alert!

Beth Harris found Chinese bush-clover (Lespedeza cuneata) in her block, 5755A, in Rockland County. This invasive is particularly easy to misindentify because it has several look-a-likes, like hairy lespedeza, slender bush-clover, and Korean clover. Look for the bristle tip on the leaflet!

                 A field of Japanese hops, Leslie, Block 5860B   

Program Updates

We began the Blockbuster Survey with 103 blocks assigned. So far, only 13 blocks have been completed, 10 blocks have two surveys completed and 6 blocks have one survey completed. We have a long way to go, but we know our amazing volunteers can do it! 

The Invasives Strike Force Crew has removed nearly 100,000 invasives this season, with targets on the backs of many more! The crew has been focusing on emerging invasives, removing populations of Salvia glutinosa, giant hogweed, and many more. Check out the Trail Conference blog post to read more about their season!

Salvia glutinosa

Mile-A-Minute Project of the Hudson Valley

Over the last two months, Alyssa Coleman with the Mile-a-Minute Project of the Hudson Valley has been monitoring mile-a-minute observations and surveying previous release sites. She has visited many state parks in the Lower Hudson region and seen a range of success in the weevil establishment. In the main section of the infestation along the Hudson’s shores, many state parks have extensive patches of mile a minute. Some parks, such as Hudson Highlands State Park, have had the mile-a-minute return, despite near eradication in previous years. This is due to increase defoliation of forest canopies, due to the gypsy moth invasion. This defoliation provides more of the sunlight that mile-a-minute thrives in. Weevils have been establish successfully all along the Hudson, though many of these areas may need more weevils to improve population suppression.

Some sites along the edges, such as Ward Pound Ridge, have seen much improvement with their infestations thanks to the weevils. Many sites, such as Cranberry Mountain Multiple Use Area had weevils established, but the plants were still producing seed. Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area, one of the northernmost part of the infestation, does not have many weevils at all.

New observations were made in Middletown, NY, specifically in Highland Lakes State Park. While the infestation was mostly in small patches, there were no weevils established. However, most of the patches were small enough to be pulled. Thomas Bull Memorial Park also had mile-a-minute patches, but there was only one and it was small enough to pull.

Recently, we have received approval to start weevil release. We will receive 4000 weevils, 1000 per site. We plan to release in 4 different state parks, where weevils are needed for establishment. The first batch is scheduled to arrive on August 31st. We will do our first release at Mianus River Gorge, in Bedford, NY. We also plan to do releases in Stewart State Forest, Hudson Highlands State Park and other locations within the Lower Hudson Valley.

If you spot mile-a-minute, feel free to contact Alyssa at MaMHudsonValley@gmail.com.

Mile-a-minute, Allinson and Eifert, Block 5855A

Mile-a-minute, Koneval, Block 6156C

Seasonal Send-Off

It’s that time of year we have to regretfully say good bye to our summer intern. Allison “Aley” McKenna served as an intern with us through a SUNY-ESF program supported by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Aley worked on early detection species across the Lower Hudson, scouting reported locations, monitoring previously treated populations and removing invasive species at a few spots here and there.  She helped scout the boundaries of the large infestation of sticky sage (Salvia glutinosa) in Dover, NY and visited all the scotch broom sites in Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks. She also spent some time removing linden viburnum at a large site in Harriman. We wish Aley success during her last year of college at SUNY-ESF and in her future career in the environmental field.

 

Our seasonal Invasives Strike Force Conservation Corps crew (Spencer, Matt, Danny, and Ryan) will also be ending their season September 18th. Come out and join them at their final volunteer work day on September 11th.

Giant hogweed removal

Earthworms: Invasive?

Rustle up some dirt in any backyard and you’re so sure to see an earthworm that one would think they’re about as American as apple pie; but did you know that the earthworm, or Lumbricina, is actually an invasive species? Originally hailing from Europe and Asia, they hitched a ride via the soil of non-native plants. Earthworms spread in much of the same way that plants do: human missteps. Earthworms are dangerous because they deplete the soil of naturally occurring nutrients found in leaf litter, and as in the case of the Michigan sugar maple trees featured in a recent article, exposes the roots, drying out the trees. It doesn’t stop there; birds, insects, and amphibians are also greatly affected. Much like the invasive plants we are trying to quell, the earthworm is an ecosystem exterminator that should not be ignored. 

                       

 

 

Invasives Strike Force Trail Crew

September Invasives Removal Worktrips

Join us on any of the following dates in September, or email invasives@nynjtc.org to be added to the ISF Crew mailing list and never miss a trip!

September 1st Invasive Plant Removal
Henry Morgenthau Preserve, NY
September 2nd
 
Invasive Plant Removal
Henry Morgenthau Preserve, NY
September 11th Invasive Plant Removal
Ramapo Mountain State Forest, NJ
              

Join the Habitat Helpers!

Friday, September 1st: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sunday, September 24th: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Join us once a month to remove weeds and invasive plants and learn about some of the native plants in our habitat around the Trail Conference headquarters.  Bring work gloves, and your favorite gardening tools if you have some.

Please sign up so we know how many people to expect and we can let you know of any changes of plans due to weather.

If you'd like to receive monthly reminders, sign up here for the Habitat Helpers!

              

MORE TO EXPLORE

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

September 1: Native Plant Landscaping Workday (TC Headquarters, Mahwah, NJ)

Invasives Removal-Pound Ridge (Henry Morgenthau Preserve, Pound Ridge, NY)

September 11: Invasives Removal- Ramapo (Ramapo Mountain State Forest, Oakland, NJ)
September 2: Invasives Removal-Pound Ridge (Henry Morgenthau Preserve, Pound Ridge, NY) September 24: Native Plant Landscaping Workday (TC Headquarters, Mahwah, NJ)
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New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
600 Ramapo Valley Rd
Mahwah, NJ 07430-1199
United States