Community News

The Nature Conservancy’s SLELO PRISM, in partnership with the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, invites community members to join guided hikes dedicated to safeguarding one of our region’s most treasured species—the hemlock tree.

These trees are vital to forest health and biodiversity, but they face a serious threat from the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). This tiny insect forms distinctive white woolly masses during winter, making it a great time of year to survey for it. Community members are invited to join a survey training on Friday, March 20th, from 10 AM- 12 PM at Salmon River Falls, located at 185 Falls Road, Richland, NY 13144. Registration is required to attend. To register, please visit the SLELO PRISM events page or contact the SLELO PRISM E/O Coordinator at  315-522-1258.

Why It Matters:

Surveys for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) were recently completed, with no visible signs of HWA presence, at Trenton Greenbelt in Holland Patent, Lake Julia in Remsen, Jackson Hill State Forest in Boonville, and Forest Park in Camden, NY. The results are encouraging, but continued monitoring and community involvement are essential to catching new HWA infestations early.

Hemlocks play a vital role in local ecosystems by providing habitat, stabilizing soils, and keeping streams cool. Protecting them depends on early detection of HWA, and these guided hikes give community members the skills to help safeguard these forests.

What to Expect:

The guided hikes are part of a learning series that launched in December 2025, featuring a webinar training and a field visit to observe a local HWA population. The hikes remain open to everyone, including those who did not participate in earlier learning sessions. Participants will learn how to identify HWA, survey for infestations, and report observations using the free NYiMapInvasives mobile app. Using the app requires a user account and mobile app download. Visit NYiMapInvasives.org to sign up and get details.

What to Bring on the Hike:

• Snowshoes are recommended (some available for borrowing upon request).
• Warm waterproof boots and winter clothing.

About the hosts: The St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM), one of eight PRISMs throughout New York, is funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund in coordination with the NYSDEC and various partners, and hosted by The Nature Conservancy, with a mission to protect native habitats, biodiversity, natural areas, and freshwater resources, emphasizing prevention, early detection, rapid response, education, and outreach. They provide region-wide coordination for invasive species monitoring and management across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and Oswego Counties (outside of the Adirondack Park), as well as portions of the Lake Ontario and northern Oneida Lake watersheds. For more information, visit www.sleloinvasives.org.