Invasive Species Threaten Catskills Forests, Waterways — and You Can Help

As hikers hit the trails and paddlers return to lakes and streams this summer, conservationists are asking New Yorkers to pay closer attention to what may be growing, crawling, or floating nearby.

This week marks New York’s 13th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week, a statewide effort to educate residents about non-native plants, insects, and aquatic organisms that threaten ecosystems, economies, and, in some cases, human health.

“Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to New York State’s biodiversity,” said John Thompson, director of the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership, known as CRISP. “It also threatens aspects of our economy and, in some cases, human health or human wellbeing.”

For Thompson, the issue is especially important in the Catskills, where forests, rivers, reservoirs, and wildlife habitats support both local communities and millions of people beyond the region.

Under New York State regulations, an invasive species is one that is new to an ecosystem and causes harm.

“That harm might be to the ecosystem, it might be to the economy, or it might be to human health,” Thompson said.

CRISP is one of eight regional partnerships funded through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund to help prevent the spread of invasive species and educate the public. The organization covers roughly 3.3 million acres across Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Greene, Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange counties.

“The Catskills, I mean, it’s one of the areas of high biodiversity in New York State,” Thompson said. “Of course, we have great natural resources here, lovely mountains, wonderful streams and rivers and ponds.”

A Growing Threat to Forests

Among the invasive threats drawing the greatest concern is beech leaf disease, which affects one of the region’s most common tree species.

The disease is caused by a microscopic nematode and can cause leaves to develop dark bands, curl, blacken, and eventually fall from the tree.

“In an area of the CRISP region that’s 74% forested, that’s one of our greatest, most important resources that we have in the Catskills,” Thompson said. “To risk losing one of the most abundant trees could be a really major impact for our forests.”

CRISP also monitors and manages invasive plants that are still relatively limited in distribution but have the potential to spread rapidly.

One example is mile-a-minute vine.

“It can grow six inches a day,” Thompson said. “It has little barbs on it, and it reproduces throughout the season, so it produces a lot of seeds throughout the season.”

The organization also tackles aquatic invasive species, including water chestnut and frogbit, in streams and ponds across the region.

From Forest Floors to Reservoirs

CRISP maintains crews that work on both terrestrial and aquatic invasive species throughout the summer. Their efforts range from identifying new infestations to removing invasive plants and restoring damaged habitats.

One current project is taking place along the Ashokan Rail Trail, where emerald ash borer has killed ash trees and invasive plants have moved into the disturbed landscape.

“We’re removing those invasive plants, and we’re planting native trees to try to restore the forest that is there,” Thompson said.

The work is being done in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

How Residents Can Help

While invasive species management often involves scientists and land managers, Thompson says ordinary residents play an important role in early detection.

“If there’s any species that you’re not sure what it is — or a plant or a bug — you can send it to me if you think it’s an invasive species,” he said.

Residents can email photographs directly to CRISP or use the state’s iMapInvasives reporting system, available online and through a mobile app. Users can upload photos and locations of suspected invasive species, which are then reviewed and verified.

“You take a picture and you upload it, and then someone will verify that it’s a species that you thought it was,” Thompson said. “I’ll get an alert that you saw an invasive species at a certain place.”

For Thompson, awareness remains one of the most effective tools available.

“It’s up to all of the public to be involved in helping to stop the spread of invasive species,” he said.

Image: The Jumping, or Crazy Worms (Amynthas spp.) impact forest soils and may consume the forest duff layer, which provides habitat for native plants and wildlife. (The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership)