Invasive Investigator Training Opportunity: Prevent & Control Aquatic Species

The Lake Zoar Authority (LZA), under the supervision of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will host a training session at C.H. Booth Library for area residents who are concerned about stopping the spread of invasive species.

Zebra mussels, an invasive species, have been found recently in the Housatonic River system, specifically in Lakes Lillinonah and Zoar. With the growing concern over the spread of aquatic invasive species to Connecticut’s inland lakes, many lake association members and other concerned citizens with sincere interest in lake protection are looking for ways to get involved.

It is important to curb the spread of these species because they are detrimental to the ecosystem and can adversely impact recreational activities. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) believes that public awareness and education are key tools to prevent the spread of all aquatic invasive species by recreational boaters and other users.

The Newtown program will begin at 9:30 am at the library, 25 Main Street, on Saturday, July 30. It will last approximately 2½ hours.

This weekend’s training session is one of a series of opportunities provided by the DEEP for volunteers to receive the mandatory instruction to become an invasive investigator. Training sessions are open to adults and students over the age of 18 associated with a lake association or other water-related organization. Those under 18 can work if supervised by a trained adult volunteer.

Volunteers are required to attend an initial training session and visit local boat launches. DEEP boating staff will familiarize attendees with the local invasive species, teach how to conduct a voluntary inspection, and provide instructions regarding data collection. Trained invasive investigators will receive an invasive investigator handbook, invasive investigator T-shirt, and educational material to distribute.

Annual refresher training will be approximately one hour. The program is administered under the authority of the DEEP and training is held at local sites. Volunteers will be under the local supervision of the lake or pond organization with whom they register.

At boat launches, invasive investigators will be expected to interact with boaters, familiarize them with invasive species present at the water body, distribute invasive species educational materials, conduct a voluntary inspection to see if there are any visible plant fragments or zebra mussels, and show the boater the steps needed to ensure they are not spreading unwanted plants and animals.

Investigators will also be expected to return their surveys and other information gathered to the DEEP Boating Division on a weekly basis.

Scheduling will be done according to times investigators are available. While volunteers may schedule boat launch monitoring times at their convenience, DEEP encourages participation particularly on weekends, since that is when most people go boating.

The Invasive Investigator Volunteer Program will assist local Connecticut communities in stopping the spread of invasive species. Education and public awareness are key components in the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species.

The program is an opportunity for concerned citizens to take a frontline defense against aquatic invasive species and encourage boaters to take preventive measures to help stop the spread of invasives from lake to lake.

To volunteer or find out more information, contact Gwendolynn Flynn of DEEP at 860-447-4339 or Gwendolynn.Flynn@ct.gov. To sign up for training, e-mail the Lake Zoar Authority at lakezoar@gmail.com.