Invasive species are increasingly challenging New York water resource managers. New research making it more and more possible to identify waters at risk for future invasion is on the agenda for the new Watercraft Inspection Program Webinar Series developed by New York Sea Grant Extension of Cornell University and set to begin Oct. 19.

Watercraft Inspection Data Collection App Pilot Program survey results, noting recent aquatic invasive detections aboard boats launching or leaving NY waters, as collected by six of the more than 20 watercraft inspection programs in New York State will be highlighted in one of the four sessions in the webinar series.

Watercraft-inspection related laws and regulations and small program logistics, including funding opportunities and development from volunteer to paid staff, will also be featured discussions.

New York Sea Grant will facilitate four free-access, hour-long webinars from 10 am to 11 amas follows:

Thursday, Oct. 19: NYS Watercraft-Related Legislation and Regulations: Catherine McGlynn, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation AIS Coordinator; Matthew Brincka, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Ocean and Great Lakes Educator;

Thursday, Oct. 26: Small Watercraft Inspection Program Logistics, Funding and Partnerships: Jane Smith: Adirondack Lakes Alliance, Inc. Associate Director; Karen Winters: Black Lake Association former Steward Program Coordinator:

Thursday, Nov. 2: New Data Collection App Pilot Program: Software, Results, Next Steps: Heidi Krahling: NY Natural Heritage Program iMapInvasives Information Manager; Meg Wilkinson, NY Natural Heritage Program Invasive Species Database Program Coordinator;

Friday, Nov. 10: Predicting Aquatic Invasions in New York State: Richard R. Shaker, Ryerson University, Toronto; GeoEco Design, Syracuse; co-author of Predicting aquatic invasion in Adirondack lakes.

Webinar participants can choose to participate in any or all of the free-access seminars. Register at http://ow.ly/ZO7930fuJXw.  For more information, contactSGNewark@cornell.edu.

New York Sea Grant is a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, and one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For updates on New York Sea Grant Great Lakes and marine district activities, www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links.

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‘This new webinar series offers watercraft inspection program leaders and those interested in developing a program the opportunity to learn about exciting, recent advances in aquatic invasive science,’ said New York Sea Grant Watercraft Inspection Steward Program Leader Training Brittney Rogers, Newark, NY.

‘Watercraft inspection is an effective mechanism for public education about ecologically harmful aquatic invasive species. The standardizing of data collection by watercraft inspection programs across New York is enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of aquatic invasive species reporting, and encourages citizen stewardship of valuable water resources statewide,’ Rogers said.

This is the second watercraft inspection program development seminar series developed by New York Sea Grant. The 2015 New York Sea Grant Watercraft Inspection Webinar Series is online at www.nyseagrant.org/watercraftinspection.

By martha

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