Jul 6, 2026
This blog is brought to you by SLELO PRISM’s Pledge to Protect.
Whether it’s a quiet paddle, a favorite fishing spot, a morning swim, or a shoreline view from your own backyard, healthy waterways shape the way we enjoy summer. But when invasive water chestnut takes hold, those same places can quickly become harder to access, less welcoming for local wildlife, and more difficult for our communities to enjoy. The good news? Water chestnut is one invasive species where hands-on action can make a big difference.
In This Blog:
- Information about water chestnut and steps you can take to prevent its spread.
- Upcoming water chestnut pulls around the SLELO region
- Resources from our Waters Toolkit about how you can organize and report your own water chestnut pull efforts.
Take the Protector Challenge!
This month’s challenge is simple: join a water chestnut pull and help protect local waterways from this invasive aquatic plant.
These hands-on volunteer events remove plants before they drop seeds and spread, helping safeguard the lakes, rivers, and wetlands that support recreation, wildlife, and healthy ecosystems.
Join upcoming water chestnut pulls in the SLELO region:
- July 9th, 9 AM, Oneida Lake, NY
- July 17, 9:45 AM- 3 PM, Oswegatchie River, Heuvelton, NY
- July 22, 9 AM- 1:30 PM, Lakeview WMA South Colwell Pond, Ellisburg, NY
- July 22, 9:30 AM- 3 PM Lakeview WMA Mudbrook access, Ellisburg, NY
- July 28, 9 AM- 3 PM, Tibbets Creek, Ogdensburg, NY
- August 7, Guffin Bay, Dexter, NY
About the Pledge
The Pledge to Protect was developed by the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM). It is a resource intended to inform and inspire you to protect your lands and waters from the impacts of invasive species. Upon taking the Pledge, you become a “Protector” and are sent monthly email blogs that provide simple actions you can take to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species and chances to win prizes by taking the suggested actions.
About SLELO PRISM
SLELO PRISM (St. Lawrence–Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) is part of New York State’s collaborative PRISM network, which works to prevent, detect, and manage invasive species to protect native habitats, biodiversity, and freshwater resources. Hosted by The Nature Conservancy, SLELO focuses its efforts in Oneida, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
The statewide PRISM network is funded by the NYS Environmental Protection Fund and coordinated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and partners. Its mission is to provide a unified, statewide approach to invasive species management by coordinating local partners, training volunteers, conducting outreach, and implementing control and restoration efforts across eight regions.
Learn more about SLELO PRISM at www.sleloinvasives.org.