First, we at LIISMA would like to thank all our partners who participated in this year’s New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) from June 9th to the 14th and throughout the month. Across Long Island, LIISMA and our partners successfully engaged local communities in numerous invasive species workdays, interactive educational walks, and informative webinars.
Kicking off NYISAW earlier this month, North Shore Land Alliance (NSLA) hosted eight invasive species working days throughout the month in observance of NYISAW. For another consecutive year, NSLA and its dedicated volunteers returned to Williams Ridge Pond and Cushman Woods Preserve, while expanding their efforts to include Humes Preserve in their ongoing work to manage invasive species. Their persistent commitment demonstrates a long-term strategy to restore and protect native habitats.
At Williams Ridge Pond, teams once again addressed parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), an invasive aquatic plant known for its aggressive nature. Parrot’s feather often takes over freshwater settings by creating a thick mat covering that prevents sunlight from reaching native aquatic organisms and inhibits regular water flow. Equipped with kayaks and rakes, volunteers carefully removed the bright green, feathery leaves. This year’s work builds on last season’s progress to restore the pond’s native species and wildlife.
Meanwhile, at Cushman Woods Preserve and the newly added Humes Preserve, volunteers focused on controlling mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata). This fast-growing invasive plant had previously spread across the meadow, but through consistent efforts, the team made steady progress in reducing its coverage. Since mile-a-minute is an annual plant, repeated seasonal removal is key to long-term success.
NSLA’s work highlights the importance of sustained action and community collaboration. With both volunteers and staff aiding in the effort, their collective dedication ensures these natural areas remain resilient against invasive species. While challenges remain, each year of focused effort brings measurable progress.
LIISMA partnered with GEI and Town of Brookhaven to host a Guided Invasive Walk and tabling session at West Meadow Beach. Led by Luke and Lara, consultants with GEI, the group walked down Trustees Road, providing valuable insights into the ecological challenges posed by invasive species in the area. Participants learned about problematic invasive species such as bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), an invasive vine, and autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), an invasive shrub or small tree native to Asia, which have sprouted in various areas. Meanwhile, silvergrass (Miscanthus spp.) and knotweed (Polygonum spp.) occupy smaller patches along Trustees Road and are targeted for eradication.
They also highlighted some native species like beach plum (Prunus maritima), a shrub that thrives in coastal dune systems, and bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), which will be considered in future restoration efforts. West Meadow Beach is also home to Long Island’s native eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa). The site in the past has been dealing with perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) that poses a threat to coastal ecosystems by creating large, dense, monospecific stands that displace native plants and wildlife. Raising awareness about invasive species management and the importance of protecting native ecosystems is crucial. We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Town of Brookhaven and GEI that make these educational opportunities possible for the community.
LIISMA collaborated with multiple partners to develop Community Science LI (CSLI), an annual webinar series showcasing community science projects that support Long Island’s wildlife conservation all summer long. Just in time for NYISAW, our very own Abby Marino (LIISMA’s Program Manager) and Carlos Morantes Ariza (Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Region 1, NYS DEC) presented an eye-opening webinar about water chestnut (Trapa natans), an invasive aquatic plant that spreads rapidly, choking waterways and harming native species. Native to Eurasia and Africa, it was introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s as an ornamental plant and eventually found its way into freshwater bodies, negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems and water recreation.
Later in the month, in observance of NYISAW, a water chestnut pull was organized at Massapequa Lake in Massapequa, NY. DEC summer interns, LIISMA staff, and volunteers equipped with waders, kayaks, and other necessary tools traversed the lake to reach a patch of water chestnut near its center. The team focused their efforts among stands of spatterdock, also known as yellow pond lily (Nuphar advena), a Long Island native. In areas where machinery couldn’t be used, the team relied solely on hand-pulling, making great progress in managing the invasive plant. Additional water chestnut removal events are planned for the near future to continue combating this invasive species and restore this freshwater body.
As NYISAW 2025 comes to a close, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to its success, volunteers, partners, and organizers alike. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together next year!
