The Search for HWA Begins
Join us this Friday afternoon for our first hemlock woolly adelgid survey of the season! As a part of the Hemlock Conservation of the High Allegheny Plateau Project, led by the U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy, RTPI and JCC adopted South Valley State Forest to survey and contribute information to these agencies as well as the Department of Environmental Conservation. Join us as we survey two sites on the state forest lands. We will meet in the RTPI parking lot promptly at 12:30 to carpool and meet on-site around 1:00pm. For those meeting on-site, please meet near the bridge on...
Read MoreProtecting Our Trails by Protecting Our Trees
Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or hiking through Chautauqua County’s trails is an experience like none other. The area features beautiful rolling hills, deep valleys, wide open fields and thick forested tracts, tickling anyone’s sense of adventure. One such feature that is especially captivating is the large stands of thick conifers that darken the forest floor and create a cathedral effect for anyone blitzing beneath them. Of these trees, the Eastern Hemlock forms dense patches around streams and along steep slopes while nearly touching the trails with their long, snow...
Read MoreSoggy HWA Survey
Our first two Hemlock Woolly Adelgid surveys have been successful in the fact that we haven’t found any evidence of the little invasive pests! However, this past week’s survey was rather wet due to the massive amount of rain and snow melt Chautauqua County has experienced. As you can see it looks as though the salamanders should be coming out soon and checking out these pools, but hopefully this wacky weather won’t wake them up quite yet!
Read MoreThe HWA Survey Season Begins!
Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for our first Hemlock Woolly Adelgid survey of the season! We will be meeting at Dobbin’s Woods, a Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy property, at 9:30AM. With our recent snows and predicted cold temperatures, please be sure to dress warmly and bring some snowshoes or skis to get around as the snow pack will be deep. We will have some extra snowshoes available if needed. For directions to the site, please visit: http://chautauquawatershed.org/index.php/preserves/our-preserves
Read MoreLearn About Amphibian and Reptile Conservation!
Please join us Wednesday, December 14th from 1:30-3:00 PM to learn more about our happily hibernating herptiles! RTPI is partnering with the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy to host an opportunity for the public to learn more about amphibians, reptiles and how we can conserve their species and habitats. This event will include short presentations by representatives from RTPI and CWC, as well as the showing of “Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Management,” a webinar coordinated by the National Resources Conservation Society (NRCS) and presented by Jen Williams, PhD, Federal...
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