The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced two virtual public meetings on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Wednesday, Dec. 14, to provide updates on the first full-scale season of the Peconic River Ludwigia Control Project.

Ludwigia peploides is an aquatic invasive plant first discovered in the Peconic River in 2003, and now spread throughout the river and neighboring waterbodies. Over the summer, DEC treated Ludwigia in the freshwater portion of the Peconic River to improve recreation accessibility and reduce negative impacts to native habitat. Infestations can have negative impacts on recreation and tourism, as well as severe consequences for the health of aquatic ecosystems. It can also spread to other waterbodies via fragments on boats and fishing gear.

At the meetings, DEC will report on the findings from pre- and post-treatment surveys, the effectiveness of the herbicide treatment, and plans for the 2023 season.

Registration is required to attend these virtual meetings. Details on how to join the meeting will be sent after participants have completed their registration.

Links to register for the meetings via Webex are:

Tues., Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.:

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?RGID=rdd550b1557cf4af0232e77e42b82ba5d

Wed., Dec. 14 at 12 p.m.:

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?RGID=rdefc3f2d191817cabe81005026c38aef

Visit the DEC website for more information about the Peconic River Ludwigia Control Project.