May 06, 2013 — A national environmental group is expanding its legal challenge to new state and Federal rules designed to keep invasive species out the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes.

Neil Kagan, senior counsel with the National Wildlife Federation, says new standards aren't strict enough to keep dangerous organisms from reaching the US in the ballast water of ships, "Neither the EPA permit, nor the state's certification of that are sufficient to prevent new invasive species from coming into New York waters."

The National Wildlife Federation is already suing New York, pushing the state to adopt tougher standards.  Go to full article

Mar 26, 2013 — Washington and Essex counties are considering joining Warren County in banning the transport of invasive species by boats trailered from one body of water to another.

The proposals come as the region pushes boaters toward washing stations at major boat launches on Lake George this year.  Go to full article

Burlington, VT, Oct 08, 2012 — Discovery of the spiny water flea in Lake George has heightened worries that the invasive species will eventually move into Lake Champlain.

And it's brought new attention to the danger of the Champlain Canal, an open waterway between Lake Champlain and the Hudson River.

This past summer, spiny water fleas were found in the canal, and in several areas of Lake George as well. That triggered a quick response from a task force of New York and Vermont experts.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 19, 2012 — If you're fishing for salmon or lake trout in Lake Champlain, you might end up with a fish you didn't bargain for. Sea lamprey are parasitic fish that look like eels. They latch on to larger fish and slowly drain out their body fluids.

Lamprey can decimate entire fish populations, so every four years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with help from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and New York's DEC, treats Lake Champlain tributaries with pesticides to control lamprey populations. This year's first treatment took place last week in the Saranac River delta in Plattsburgh.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Aug 23, 2012 — A common invasive species, the hover fly, or drone fly, looks remarkably like a honeybee. But in its youth, it carries the loathsome monicker "rat-tailed maggot". Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss Batesian mimicry: innocuous creatures who imitate more dangerous species.  Go to full article

Grand Isle, VT, Aug 09, 2012 — Every few years the Lake Champlain Basin Program publishes a "state of the lake" report, detailing environmental quality in Lake Champlain. This year's report came out last week.

It says that while the overall health of the main lake is good, certain areas, like the Northeast arm and Missisquoi Bay, have higher levels of phosphorus pollution and algae blooms. Sarah Harris spoke with Bill Howland, director of the Basin Program, about the report.  Go to full article

Apr 18, 2012 — Hydrilla is one of the most aggressive, invasive water plants. Its long, trailing stems form thick mats that prevent native water vegetation and fish from getting enough oxygen, light and nutrients.

Hydrilla was found at Cayuga Inlet, near Ithaca, last August. If unchecked it could spread Cayuga Lake, other Finger Lakes, as well as Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Cornell Cooperative Extension is warning recreational boaters to take precautions and prevent the spread of the invasive plant. Sarah Harris has more.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Apr 09, 2012 — A bill introduced in the state Senate aims to make the possession and sale of invasive species illegal.

The legislation is sponsored by state Sen. Betty Little, a Republican from Queensbury. Little says invasives are a major threat to water bodies throughout the state. Her bill would strengthen current regulations and help prevent their spread. Chris Morris reports.  Go to full article

Sep 27, 2010 — Last week, biologists with New York's Conservation Department confirmed a new invasive organism in four southern Adirondack Lakes. The spiny water flea has been found in Sacandaga Lake near Speculator, Great Sacandaga lake, Peck Lake and Stewarts Bridge Reservoir. The tiny crustacean is already competing with native organisms and fish in Lake Ontario.

Brian Mann talked about the continuing wave of new invasive organisms with Hilary Smith. Smith is head of the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program based in Keene Valley.  Go to full article

Sackets Harbor, NY, Aug 16, 2010 — A thick cake of zebra mussels nearly shut down a water treatment plant in Sackets Harbor last week. The invasive species has been wreaking havoc in Lake Ontario for more than 20 years now. New regulations on the ocean-going freighters that first brought zebra mussels to these shores--and other measures--have led some to believe the invader has been contained. But, as Jonathan Brown reports, officials in Sackets Harbor now fear the species is rebounding.  Go to full article