In reminiscing on this year’s eventful field season, we look fondly on the experience we shared with our dedicated conservation partners. These memories inspire us to express our gratitude to those partners for the hard work they put into fostering a habitable space for our ecosystems to thrive. The endless perseverance that our partners possess to create balance, inclusion, and hope, in the otherwise chaotic world of invasive species management is something we cherish greatly. In saying this, we would like to introduce you to our first newsletter partner spotlight: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks).
Recently, we had the pleasure of assisting with training of the NYS Parks Invasive Species Strike Team: Samantha Nicholson-Sarmiento, Amber Pavek, Katrina Hanley, and Marisa Vanasco, led by Biologist Yuriy Litvinenko, in aquatic invasive species surveys at Connetquot River State Park. The training day was an absolute success. We kayaked around Connetquot’s Main Pond, surveying for aquatic invasive species while demonstrating the use of Simple Aquatic Survey (SAS) Pro and the rake toss method. The rake toss method involves tossing a double-sided rake attached to a long rope into a body of water to determine the diversity of invasive aquatics within a given body of water. While training, we were presented with a teachable moment in EDRR (Early Detection and Rapid Response) when we came across a small and manageable population of Trapa natans (water chestnut, Tier 4). We were impressed to see the team got to work the very next week in removing roughly 200 plants from Main Pond and did not find any other infestations nearby or upstream.
The NYS Parks Invasive Species Strike Team displayed a hunger for knowledge, an open-minded approach to management strategies, an initiative to preserve their parks, and a commitment to taking the lead in ensuring the job was done quickly and effectively.
We interviewed Yuriy and his team on the work they have been conducting this field season, their plans for management in the near future, and their personal connection to the work they do.
Yuriy’s team is the only Nassau-Suffolk based strike team in New York State. This field season, their primary focus has been on southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) surveying and monitoring across the Central Pine Barrens region of Long Island. Southern pine beetle has become a rapidly increasing problem in Suffolk County and beyond. Partners across the island have been collaborating efforts to increase their understanding of the trends in their migration patterns to gain a lead on the spread. The team conducts drone surveys to capture aerial photographs of precise locations and potential spread, as well as ground truthing methodologies to inspect forest health at the ground level and to better understand the preferred habitat of the species. Lastly, the trees are mapped and marked for suppression by parks staff and external contractors are scheduled to remove the trees. This aims to preserve the longevity of the Central Pine Barrens in order to continue protecting the state and globally rare communities it contains. In addition to southern pine beetle monitoring, the team conducts removals of invasives such as Canada thistle, bull thistle, and narrowleaf bittercress in state parks across the LIISMA region.
Their future plans for invasive species management include continued southern pine beetle monitoring in the Central Pine Barrens and elsewhere, and phragmites removal at Tarkill Pond in Brookhaven State Park and at Nicoll Grist Mill at Connetquot State Park. In regards to Tarkill Pond, NYS Parks had a contractor carefully apply repeat bi-annual herbicide treatments, paired with manual spading of stems to exhaust the below ground biomass over time. A similar approach, though only manually, is being done by volunteers and NYS Parks staff at the Nicoll Grist Mill. Recently, volunteers from Save the Great South Bay and Friends of Connetquot helped the strike team and NYS Parks staff to manage phragmites on the property by cutting stems before going to flower, in an effort to exhaust rhizomes and underground storage as well. Their hopes are that in doing so, this will make way for more native species to emerge in the spring.
The strike team takes their position very seriously. They are focused primarily on preserving high quality habitats and communities, targeting invasive species that aren’t very common within our parks, and preventing further spread to vulnerable ecosystems. We asked the team about their highlights from this field season together, what invasive species management means to them, and their favorite aspects of the job. We picked our favorite responses as follows:
Highlights from the field season
“One of my favorite highlights was wading through the brooks of Connetquot during the beginning of the field season. It helped us to bond as a team. There is something so magical about venturing into different state parks where not many people get to go to. There is a lot of peace to be found being in the field and observing nature together.”
“I really enjoyed working on phragmites control at Tarkill Pond; […] and the cool water hugging your waders as you hike upstream on a hot day in search of watercress… I think our team really appreciated how intimately we were able to interact with our natural world.”
What invasive species management means to us
“Invasive species management means doing our part to correct the effects caused by humankind. It’s a learning process, and as humans, we make mistakes and we learn from them. Invasive species management is about entering these sensitive areas and clearing away what may not be the best for that area so that the ecosystem will continue to flourish.”
“To me, invasive species management means being a steward of our lands. The concept of an invasive species is built upon the idea that our habitats have a certain balance inherent to them, and introducing outside factors may negatively affect that balance. Even in the midst of some of our most damaging environmental stressors (such as the southern pine beetle damage to the pine barrens), nature finds a way to fill the gaps – our habitats are ever-evolving. Yet, I do think it is important to remind ourselves we have a duty to protect and maintain the unique biodiversity of native landscapes where possible. I believe a job like this requires the understanding that while we may not always be able to keep things “the way they were”, every one of us retains an ability to protect and support the sweeping majority of biodiversity in our environment. It is at least important that we try.”
Favorite aspects of the job
“The reward of knowing you’re contributing to something positive that has a greater meaning, and feeling like I’m using my time doing something good for the world.”
“One of my favorite aspects of the job are all the people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Whether it be park patrons, strangers on the side of the road, or park staff, they’ve all taught me something and I believe I’ve taught them as well. I truly feel that every person on Connetquot staff brings passion and love for their job. I’ve enjoyed learning what others do at the park and I feel grateful that they’ve devoted time to show us that.”
“My favorite part of the job is my coworkers. Everyone at Connetquot River State Park brings so much joy and passion with what they do. I’m so honored to interact with such smart and caring people everyday. My invasive species team specifically will be forever friends in my heart.”
“My favorite aspect of the job is by far how generally appreciative it has made me. You don’t realize how overstimulated by sound and images you are until you are forced to disconnect from it all […] You don’t really notice conversations between birds or the sounds of trees bending with high winds when you are focused on a million other things – classes, emails, group chats. I believe being a bit isolated from technology forces you to be more aware of all of the little details in your environment you generally overlook; I’ve come to appreciate the quieter aspects of my environment a lot.”
We thoroughly enjoyed interviewing and getting to know the passion behind the NYS Parks strike team. Partners like these, who are constantly exercising action and results in the field, are key factors in what makes invasive species management possible. We thank you for the work you’ve contributed and in helping us better manage invasive species on Long Island.
