Many high priority aquatic invasive species are found in the finger lakes and eastern lake ontario and ST

Lawrence seaway areas of new york s part of the great lakes basin. Nysdec region 6 includes eastern lake ontario and the ST. Lawrence seaway, as well as inland lakes and rivers in the western adirondack park and TUG hill region and region 4 where the erie canal and mohawk river converge. Nysdec intends to use funds to increase aquatic plant surveys and monitoring as well as increase management capacity and research efforts regarding best management practices for water chestnut (trapa natans). The department intends to use these funds to purchase several harvesters to increase capacity to further the objectives of the new york state aquatic invasive species (NYS AIS) management plan in regions 6 and 4 and benefit the oswegatchie river, oneida lake, erie canal, the finger lakes and the mohawk river and prevent water chestnut introduction and spread into connected waterbodies. The proposed actions will protect native species and habitats, improve water quality and recreational opportunities and in some cases restore accessibility to priority emergency access launches, no fee access points and marina slips. In addition, eradication or reduction of largescale water chestnut infestations will decrease risks for paddlers in the erie canal and mohawk river who are forced to recreate in the main river channel with large vessel traffic as they maneuver around impassable areas of water chestnut.