Invasive species require vigilance, funding

If you ever wondered why a Long Island pond looks more like a garden than a body of water, you probably encountered one of the Island’s many invasive species.

We are besieged by invasive species, yet most of us have not heard of them or pondered their impact. But they thrive despite our ignorance.

More than 100 invasive species plague Long Island. Most are plants, and some, like giant hogweed, are dangerous. Others, like the spotted lanternfly, a plant-hopping insect, may look striking but threaten Long Island’s economy. In 2018, Suffolk County drained the 26-acre Canaan Lake in North Patchogue to get rid of nonnative milfoil and Cabomba plants. Running bamboo bedevils homeowners across the Island.

In a 2023 awareness campaign, The Long Island Conservancy warned: “Long Island is losing badly in a war it doesn’t even know it’s fighting.” While New York’s annual Invasive Species Awareness Week ends Sunday, it’s never too late to think about what we can do to stop invasive species from spreading.

The impact to Long Island’s environment and economy is severe. The southern pine beetle is devastating hundreds of acres in the Central Pine Barrens. Water chestnuts and hydrilla choke waterways. A pond overrun by aquatic vegetation is deprived of oxygen and supports fewer fish. A waterway covered by almost impassible plants becomes less attractive to swimmers, anglers and boaters.

Reining in these species demands millions of dollars and remarkable effort.

In April, the state announced more than $900,000 in grants to Nassau and Suffolk counties to fight invasive species and restore habitats. And since 2016, the DEC’s Invasive Species Grant Program has doled out $9.5 million across the state.

Here are a handful of invasive species that have proved vexatious and costly for Long Islanders:

BAMBOO

It’s illegal to sell or plant two species of bamboo in New York State, and numerous Long Island municipalities have additional ordinances on the books. In Huntington Town, planting running bamboo can result in a fine between $750 and $1,500, and failure to remove it can lead to a $250 to $500 fine each month.

This type of bamboo spreads rapidly into neighboring properties. Its roots can pierce concrete and pavement, damage building foundations and destroy native plants. Removing bamboo with an ordinary shovel is like digging up reinforced concrete — an intense process that can cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars.

SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE

The dangers posed by southern pine beetles are widespread. Already responsible for the destruction of at least 5,000 acres of Long Island woodlands since 2014, this insect is costing New York millions of dollars while destroying our vistas.

Environmentalists concede that victory is a stalemate since the southern pine beetle can’t be eradicated from Long Island. Instead, prescribed burns and tree-felling — labor-intensive processes — are the best way to limit the beetle’s spread.

Last summer, the state allocated $2.2 million to cut trees impacted by the southern pine beetle on Long Island’s South Fork. That’s just one example of the continued effort needed to keep the beetle in check and protect the Central Pine Barrens, which rest atop the Island’s sole-source aquifer.

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY

A recent Suffolk County report states the county’s robust winemaking industry contributes $249 million to the region. The spotted lanternfly threatens vineyards, tourism and jobs, and can damage maple, willow, oak and walnut trees.

Scientists don’t know yet how to prevent widespread infestations, so monitoring and reporting spotted lanternflies is vital. Simply stepping on a spotted lanternfly in a parking lot won’t prevent the species from continuing to damage our environment and economy. Reporting sightings helps environmentalists track the bug.

Dozens of invasive species need to be monitored, and some, like laurel wilt, are emerging. This fungus kills trees such as sassafras. It was identified in New York last year, and the DEC plans to issue a quarantine zone on Long Island this summer to prevent laurel wilt from spreading.

HOW TO HELP

The battles aren’t over. There are ways you can assist scientists and environmentalists in the fight. Cleanup efforts, like a water chestnut pull at Massapequa Lake last week, give Long Islanders a chance to roll up their sleeves, don waders and get dirty while helping to battle invasive species.

Boaters should adhere to the “clean, drain, dry” mantra before and after entering a waterway. This helps prevent invasive species that hitch rides on kayaks and boats from spreading.

And folks can report sightings on apps tracked by scientists, or email sightings. Abby Marino, program manager of the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area, suggests using apps like iNaturalist, the state website nyimapinvasives.org, or emailing her group directly at invasive@
liisma.org.

Ridding Long Island of invasive species isn’t a spectator sport. State and federal leaders must expand funding to also repair ecosystems. And Long Islanders can be part of the solution by reporting invasives.

“Long Island is one of the most biodiverse regions in New York State,” Marino told the editorial board. “The general public just doesn’t know that.”

Our biodiversity is threatened by our inaction.