Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment at Grimes Glen

In 2022, we kicked off a program to control Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), an invasive species that threatens our hemlock trees. In February 2022, the Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) partnered with the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association, Finger Lakes PRISM and the Finger Lakes Land Trust to hold an event at the Cumming Nature Center training volunteers in identification and reporting of HWA as well as treatment options. Having current knowledge of infestations helps prioritize chemical treatment and supports bio-control, both necessary tools in the long-term management of HWA.
For a start, 68 hemlock trees were treated at Grimes Glen in the fall of 2022. Several funding sources, including a recently awarded Environmental Benefits Project from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as a grant obtained from the US Forest Service will be used in 2023 to treat hemlocks at Grimes Glen, Briggs Gully and Harriet Hollister State Recreation Area.
Protecting our critical riparian corridors helps stabilize streambanks and protects water quality. The District looks forward to continued work with a variety of partners and local landowners to identify and monitor the HWA threat and target efforts of chemical control and bio-control releases for long term management. Keep an eye out for upcoming trainings to learn how you can get involved.