Carmans River Monitoring

On August 17, LIISMA staff Bill Jacobs, Abby Bezrutczyk, Haley Gladitsch, Melody Penny, and Katharine Stirber kayaked Lily Lake (a.k.a. Lower Lake) and the Carmans River section to the north of the lake in Yaphank, in search of Ludwigia peploides and any other emerging invasive species that might be there. Fortunately, none was found. The closest infestation of ludwigia is at Artist Lake in Middle Island, about one mile away. Ludwigia can easily be transported by watercraft, recreational gear, and birds. Ludwigia has become a serious problem in the nearby Peconic River, where the invasive plant is being managed by NYSDEC and partners. LIISMA will continue to monitor the Carmans River periodically to identify and manage emerging invasive species before they become established. The infestation of ludwigia at Artist Lake is being controlled by the Town of Brookhaven, NYSDEC, and LIISMA.