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Potsdam, Wanakena men serve as watershed stewards, inspecting for invasive species

Posted 6/15/16

Eric Paul of Potsdam and Nolan Fedorow of Wanakena are serving as watershed stewards this summer with the Adirondack Watershed Institute. The institute is a Paul Smith's College-led initiative to …

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Potsdam, Wanakena men serve as watershed stewards, inspecting for invasive species

Posted

Eric Paul of Potsdam and Nolan Fedorow of Wanakena are serving as watershed stewards this summer with the Adirondack Watershed Institute.

The institute is a Paul Smith's College-led initiative to keep lakes, ponds and other waterways free of invasive species.

The watershed stewards attended a training session at Paul Smith's College before starting their duties.

While stationed at boat launches across the Adirondacks, the stewards will conduct inspections of boats entering and leaving the water and operate boat-washing stations.

They'll remove any invasive species that they find and convey the importance of clean boats, clean gear and clean waters to boaters.

Invasive plants and animals such as Eurasian watermilfoil, zebra mussels and spiny waterflea pose a growing threat to area waterways and the economies of Adirondack communities, according to a press release from the college.

When invasive species take hold in a body of water, they can displace native species and rapidly multiply, making waterways impassible to motorboats and hurting tourism and other industries.

The AWI is dedicated to protecting waterways and ecosystems across the six-million-acre Adirondack Park.