― NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ―
CCE Yates County Climate Stewards Program
The office will be closed Wednesday, April 16th
Please visit us at the CCE Earth Day Extravaganza from 1-4pm at the Yates Community Center!
Seasonal & Full-Time Jobs with Finger Lakes PRISM!
Seasonal Job Opportunities with the Finger Lakes PRISM
Are you looking to make a tangible impact on New York's natural landscapes? There are several job openings in invasive species management that might be of interest for SUMMER 2025. Training for these positions begins May 19th. Please apply now at the links below.
Reach out to Sam Beck-Andersen with any questions beck-andersen@hws.edu:
Watercraft Inspection Steward (20+ openings; based at boat launches throughout Finger Lakes region): Be the first line of defense against aquatic invadersâ€"inspect boats of AIS, educate boaters and protect our lakes at the launch ramp; postings throughout the region -Watercraft Inspection Steward
Aquatic Invasive Species Technician (2 openings; based in Geneva): Spend your summer on the water surveying, manaing, and reporting high-priority aquatic invaders like hydrilla, water chestnut, and starry stonewort regionally - Aquatic Invasive Species Technician
Terrestrial Invasive Species Technician (2 openings; based in Geneva): Explore the Finger Lakes, protect native landscapes, and gain hands-on experience with field surveys and invasive species management - Terrestial Invasive Species Technician
Full-Time Job Opportunities with the Finger Lakes PRISM
We are also hiring full-time, year-round positions that focus on managing invasive species programs for the Fnger Lakes PRISm. These are multifaceted positions that work alongside Finger Lakes Institute staff to address management, research, and outreach needs and opportunities surrounding invasive species in the Finger Lakes watershed. All jobs offer competitive pay and benefits packages. All positions will remain open until filled. Reach out to Sam Beck-Andersen with any questions beck-andersen@hws.edu:
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager: Lead aquatic conservation across the Finger Lakesâ€"plan and implement impactful projects to monitor and manage aquatic invasive species regionally - Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager
Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager: Shape the future of terrestrial conservation in the Finger Lakes regionâ€"develop regional programs that monitor, manage, preserve, and restore native landscapes - Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager
Education & Outreach Program Manager: Empower communities to protect the Finger Lakesâ€"lead citizen science, coordinate watercraft stewards, and spearhead regional outreach efforts - Invasive Species Education & Outreach Program Manager
Aquatic Invasive Species Field Coordinator (year-round, hourly): Guide field crews across the regionâ€"coordinate surveys, manage invasive species, and serve as the boots-on-the-ground lead for aquatic conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species Fieldwork Coordinator
Boating Safety Classes at Saunders!
Exciting News! Saunders Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport announced they will be hosting in-person Boater Safety Classes on Sundays from March through September. Sign up here!
Lake Temperature
The water temperature shown on the KLA Water Temperature Webpage chart is in error, possibly showing values up to 9 degrees lower than reality. The current water temperature below the ice in Penn Yan, about 20 ft. down near the bottom (where our sensor reads water from), should be about 39 degrees F. It is possible that this error has existed since July of last year. The sensor belongs to the Penn Yan Village, who have been alerted with the request to re-calibrate. We hope this to happen in the near future. Until this happens, please ignore the indicated values. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Waterfowl & Bird Flu
Recently, there have been reports of dead waterfowl found in the Finger Lakes that have been confirmed to have the H5N1 virus or Bird Flu. You may also see these cases referenced with the term Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). While reports indicate that the risk to the public is low, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has established a reporting mechanism and some guidance that describes what to do when dead waterfowl are found. For further information, see:

DEC Launches New Web-Based Form to Report Suspected Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds
After checking with the DEC and the Department of Health in Yates County, we can state that as of February 2, 2025 there have been no reported cases of H5N1 in waterfowl on Keuka Lake.
