2024 VIRTUAL CONNECTICUT LAKE SYMPOSIA: In continuation of the series that began in 2019, the Western Connecticut State University Department of Biology, in collaboration with the Connecticut Federation of Lakes and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will host three virtual 2024 Regional Lake Communities Symposia: “The March of Hydrilla in Connecticut & Reclaiming the Connecticut River from Hydrilla” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23; “Aquatic Invasive Species Grants in Connecticut” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21; and “Managing Aquatics Invasive Plants” at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18. To register, visit www.wcsu.edu/biology/lake-symposium-2024/.

The Sept. 23 discussion about “The March of Hydrilla in Connecticut” and “Reclaiming the Connecticut River from Hydrilla” will feature WCSU Limnology Instructor Larry Marsicano, Brawley Consulting Group LLC; Greg Bugbee, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of Aquatic Invasive Species, who will address “The March of Hydrilla” and Dr. Benjamine P. Sperry, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, who will speak about “Reclaiming the Connecticut River from Hydrilla.” A question-and-answer session will follow.

On Oct. 21, the topic will be “Aquatic Invasive Species Grants in Connecticut.” Marsicano will be joined by Matthew Goclowski, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Fisheries Division and AIS Grants Oversight Committee, who will share “Five Years into Grants for the Control of Aquatic Invasive Species in Connecticut.” A discussion will follow by lake and river community stakeholders about their projects funded through the Connecticut Lakes, Rivers, Ponds Preservation account.

Finally, on Nov. 18, “Managing Aquatics Invasive Plants” will be the focus of discussion. Marsicano will be joined by Jeff Arpin and Al Fichtel from the Amston Lake District, who will discuss “Thwarting the Spread of Eurasian Watermilfoil at Amston Lake in Hebron, Lebanon and Colchester, Connecticut.” Also on the program will be Dr. Ken Wagner, Water Resource Services, who will speak about “Putting the RAPID in Rapid Response: Considerations for Effective Reaction to Aquatic Invasive Species.” Following an audience Q&A, WestConn Professor of Biology Dr. Theodora Pinou will deliver closing remarks and next steps.

The symposia are free and the public is invited to join in via WebEx. Registration is required at www.wcsu.edu/biology/lake-symposium-2024/. A custom link will be sent via email to pre-registrants on the day of the event.