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As we wrap up another busy year, APIPP staff have been reflecting on how fortunate we are to have so many dedicated people working to protect the Adirondacks’ lands and waters from the worst impacts of invasive species. Thanks to having so many volunteers, partners, and engaged community members, 2025 was a productive and impactful year for APIPP. Among many other things, we welcomed our new Aquatic Invasive Species Manager Anna Hardiman to the team, led more in-person walks and trainings than in previous years, launched a new “Sips and Science” event, checked if the emerald ash borer biocontrol insects we released are surviving, collected environmental DNA from lakes to study whether invasive milfoil species are hybridizing with native milfoil species, and, of course, we launched a brand new email newsletter that you are reading right now!
Needless to say, none of this work would be possible without the help of our many partners and volunteers who together adopted 128 lakes and 115 trails to monitor for invasive species. If you attended or viewed the Adirondack PRISM 2025 Annual Partner Meeting then you heard updates from APIPP staff and partners, and you also saw us give APIPP’s coveted Volunteer Recognition award to members of Eagle Lake Property Owners, Inc. (ELPOI) for their work monitoring and removing milfoil from Eagle Lake through our Lake Management Tracker program. ELPOI’s story is inspiring, as it demonstrates how much progress can be made to control invasive species with the right group of dedicated volunteers.
Becoming a volunteer is an excellent New Years’ resolution—it gives you a chance to learn about the natural world, it gets you out on a lake or trail, and it offers a chance to give back to the Adirondacks, a region that gives us so much to be grateful for. Please take a moment to read more below about upcoming volunteer opportunities and consider joining APIPP’s cause by becoming a Forest Pest Hunter or Lake Protector in 2026.
From everyone on the APIPP team, we hope you all enjoy the holidays and have a safe and healthy New Year. We look forward to sharing some exciting news with you as we begin 2026!
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