THE AMERICAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION PRESENTS:

Using ONEIDA LAKE AS AN EXAMPLE TO DISCUSS NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE SPECIES

– PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE THREATS and opportunities-

DATE: March 24, 2007 9AM – 4PM

PLACE: MARX MARRIOTT RENAISSANCE HOTEL in Downtown Syracuse , NY

 

830                                 Registration

 

900                                 William Schwerd, President, American Wildlife Conservation Foundation

                   Introduction:  who “we” (co-hosts & sponsors) are & why we are here

915                                 Scott Shupe, American Wildlife Conservation Foundation & Oneida Lake Association

Overview of the “narrow” topic of today

                                   The global effect of introduced microbe, insect, plant, and animal species influences physical, economic and cultural aspects of native species within the firm and infirm habitats.  From SARS to VHS, round goby to silver carp, golden nematode to Asian long horned beetle, and honeysuckle to buckthorn, man’s expanding influence is reducing species diversity and may be limiting our long term survival capabilities.  Discussing local, personal examples may be the best path to understanding greater consequences.

 

930                                 Dr. Edward Mills, Professor and Director, Cornell Research Station

Chasing ecological change – The Oneida Lake Story

Oneida Lake is one of New York State ’s premier natural resources yet is undergoing significant and rapid ecological change.  Global issues including the transport of invasive species to nearby Great Lakes from far away waters by transoceanic shipping and climate destabilization are changing the lakes of Central New York and Oneida Lake .  While scientists have investigated the lake’s ecology since the early 1900s and their research has amassed a tremendous reservoir of information, scientists now chase ecological understanding and change.  While Oneida Lake projects vibrant health, it remains in a state of transformation and its future uncharted. 

 

1000               Chuck O’Neill, Director, National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse
Ecologic and Economic Implications of The Invasive Species “Explosion”

5,000 non-indigenous species have established free-living populations in the U.S. Of those, approximately 750 can be considered “invasive.” New York State is home to several hundred of those invasive species – the Great Lakes Basin alone hosting more than 180 aquatic invasive species. How have these organisms been introduced?  What makes an organism “invasive”? How are they impacting important native and non-native organisms? And, what are they doing to our ecosystems and economy.

 

 

1030                            Break – SPONSORED BY:  TBD

 

1045                            Dr. Ward Stone, Pathologist, NYSDEC

Botulism in Lakes Erie and Ontario

Two invasive animal species are involved in the spread of a virulent strain of Botulism E in Lakes Erie and Ontario .  Feces from quagga mussels combined with algae dieback in the fall produce an anaerobic sediment facilitating the growth of Botulism E.  The botulism passes through the food chain of insects, crawfish, detritus feeders, piscivorous fish, piscivorous birds and scavengers causing the death of thousands of birds.

 

                                           Moderated Q&A – Peg Sauer , Vice President, American Wildlife Conservation Foundation

 

1130                            Lunch with Dr. Randy Jackson , Cornell University

Oneida Lake through time: A history of human impacts on New York’s largest lake

Tracing history of the lake and its uses from earliest records through construction of the canal and establishment of exotics such as zebra mussel, focusing on changes in fish community and ecology

 

 

1300         Dr. Paul R. Bowser, Professor of Aquatic Animal Medicine Aquatic Animal Health Program, College of Veterinary Medicine , Cornell University

  Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia – The Virus, the Disease and the 2006 New York State Experience

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a disease that was found for the first time in New York State in 2006.  While the disease poses no risk to human health, its apparent ability to infect a wide range of different fish species is an issue of extreme concern to the fish health community as well as resource management agencies.    The Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) is an OIE (World Animal Health Organization) Reportable pathogen.  A report to the OIE brings with it a number of issues associated with international trade to avoid the spread of the disease from the location where it was found.  The trade implications can have very significant consequences on a national and international level.

1330         Douglas Stang, Chief, NYSDEC Bureau of Fisheries

                  New York State Policy on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia & implications to fisheries, the baitfish industry, government programs, and local tourism

                                    Via Environmental Conservation Law, the New York State Legislature provides the Department of Environmental Conservation the authority to adopt measures to prevent the development, spread and introduction of epizootic diseases that endanger the health and welfare of native fish and feral animals in New York State .  With the finding of VHS in certain New York waters, the DEC adopted regulations that minimize the risk of the spread of VHS to other waters of the state by evaluating and addressing those most likely vectors of the disease.  In doing so, the DEC assessed the likelihood of effectiveness, impacts, and implications of regulatory and management actions prior to implementation.

 

1400         Break - SPONSORED BY:  TBD

 

1415         Amy Samuels, Cornell Cooperative Extension – Onondaga County

                   Successful elements of a ‘grass roots’ water chestnut control program
Prevention, detection and rapid response are key components of invasive species management.  Through CCE’s Adopt-A-Shoreline Program, volunteers play a vital role in the prevention, detection and control of water chestnut and other invasive aquatic plants.  To date, almost two thirds of the shoreline of Oneida Lake is monitored by volunteers.  Thanks to their dedication, water chestnut has been almost eliminated from Long Point, the eastern most point of infestation on Oneida Lake .  Success of the program can be attributed to partnerships, perseverance and widespread educational outreach.

 

1430         David White, Cornell University –NY Sea Grant Great Lakes Program Coordinator
New Educational Resources for Understanding Oneida Lake 's Watershed

The Oneida Lake Education Initiative is a new program with several components specifically designed for lake users and schools in the watershed. The primary goal of the initiative is to disseminate scientifically based information to enhance our understanding of the lake and its watershed. An overview of 2 elements of this initiative will be presented....a new website focusing on the lake, and a "traveling trunk" designed to be used by educators focusing on the aquatic recourses of the lake (including exotics).

 

1445         Steven J. Sanford, Chief, NYSDEC Bureau of Habitat
What is next on the agenda of the NYS Invasive Species Task Force- Past, Present, Future
 The New York State Invasive Species Task Force convened in early 2004 and reported to the Governor and Legislature in late 2005.  Since that time, $3.25 million in funds have been allocated to implement their recommendations.  Substantive progress is being made in improving coordination of outreach and education, information management, research, control and management, and the support of regional "grass roots" partnerships.  The Task Force is being reconstituted and restructured to continue to guide progress on invasive species management.

 

1500                            Gretchen Wainwright, Director of Conservation Programs, The Nature Conservancy's Central/Western New York Chapter and

Willie Janeway, Director of Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy
 Good things are happening in the fight against invasives in New York, but the best is yet to come. 

From 2002 though 2006 a partnership of public and private partners together advocated successfully for the creation of a State Invasive Species Task Force, the completion of a report detailing recommendations, and the adoption of a state budget that included new funding dedicated for invasives.  Regional invasive partnerships are expanding, funding is increasing, and the state is trying to start up and staff a state-wide office of invasive species.  Governor Spitzer has arrived and has pledged to further increase the state's dedicated environmental protection fund (the EPF) and to increase staffing at DEC.  We will discuss how a diverse coalition of groups from the Farm Bureau to The Nature Conservancy to public agencies with a common interest in helping prevent and respond to invasives and the harm they cause, might change government policies and secure increased dedicated funding to advance the effort to prevent, contain, manage and eradicate invasives problems.

 

1515         Moderated Q&A       -  Rip Colesante , President, Oneida Lake Association

 

1600                            Adjourn

 

 CONTACT INFORMATION OF PRESENTERS AND FACILITATORS:

   

    William Schwerd

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Saratoga County

50 West High Street

Ballston Spa , NY 12020
Ph: 518-885-8995

Wms4@cornell.edu

 

Scott Shupe

National Grid
300 Erie Blvd. W.

Syracuse , NY 13202-4250
Scott.D.Shupe@us.ngrid.com

 

    Dr. Edward Mills
    Professor and Director
    Cornell Research Station
    Cornell Biological Field Station
    900 Shackelton Point Rd.
    Bridgeport , NY 13030
    Ph:  315-633-9242
    Fax: 315-633-2358
    elm5@cornell.edu

    Chuck O’Neill
    Director, National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse
    Cornell University / New York Sea Grant
    Morgan II, SUNY College
    Brockport , NY 14420
    Voice: 585-395-2638
    Fax: 585-395-2466
  
Cro4@cornell.edu

 

    Dr. Ward Stone
    Wildlife Pathologist
   NYSDEC
  Wildlife Resources Center
  108 Game Farm Rd.
  Delmar , NY 12054
   Ph:  518-478-3032

 

    Dr. Randy Jackson
    Cornell Biological Field Station
    900 Shackelton Point Rd.
    Bridgeport , NY 13030
    Ph:  607-255-9243
   Fax:  607-255-2358
   Jrj26@cornell.edu

 

   Dr. Paul R. Bowser
   Professor of Aquatic Animal Medicine
   Aquatic Animal Health Program
   College of Veterinary Medicine
  Department of Microbiology and Immunology
   College of Veterinary Medicine
  Cornell University
   Ithaca , NY 14853-6401
   Ph:  607-253-4029
   Fax:  607-253-3365 (department office)
   Prb4@cornell.edu

 

   Douglas Stang,
   Chief, Bureau of Fisheries
   New York State Department Environmental Conservation
  625 Broadway
   Albany , NY 12233-4753
   Ph:  518-402-8920
   Fax:  518-402-8925
  dxstang@gw.dec.state.ny.us

 

   Amy Samuels
   Cornell Cooperative Extension
    Onondaga County
   2220 Herald Place , 2nd Floor
    Syracuse , NY 13202-1045
   Ph:  315-424-9485
   Ams71@cornell.edu

 

    David White
    Great Lakes Program Coordinator
    Recreation/Tourism Specialist
    NY Sea Grant
    SUNY Oswego
     Oswego , NY 13126
    Ph: 315-312-3042
    dgw9@cornell.edu

 

    Steven J. Sanford
    Chief, Bureau of Habitat
    NYSDEC
    625 Broadway
    Albany , NY 12233
   Ph:  518-402-8924
    Fax:  518-402-8925
    sxsanfor@gw.dec.state.ny.us

 

   Gretchen Wainwright
  
Director of Conservation Programs
   Central and Western New York Chapter, TNC
   1048 University Ave.
   Rochester , NY 14607
   Ph:  585-546-8030, ext. 23
  
gwainwright@tnc.org

 

    Willie Janeway
   Director of Government Relations
    New York State Office, TNC
    195 New Karner Road, Suite 200
    Albany , NY 12205
    wjaneway@tnc.org

 

    Richard “Rip” Colesante
    President Oneida Lake Association
    46 Tannery Road
    Constantia , NY 13044
    Ph:  315-623-9457
    richardcolesante@hotmail.com

 

    Compiled by: Wendy L. McConkey
                        Cornell Cooperative Extension
                         Saratoga County

 

    Technical Assistance by: Matthew T. Bonanno
                                        Cornell Cooperative Extension

                                        Saratoga County