Working Together, Working for Our Environment

OSWEGO COUNTY EARTH WEEK April 19 – 28 2013

“Working Together, Working For Our Environment”

Oswego County Environmental Management Council

Please remember that April 22nd is Earth Day. In recognition, the Oswego County Environmental Management Council invites individuals, schools, and groups to participate in Oswego County’s Earth Week, April 21st through the 29th, Help take part in a cleanup or project protecting our county’s natural resources. In conjunction with this, Canal Clean Sweep is the first weekend of Earth Week, April 21st – 22nd. Oswego County would like to acknowledge your participation and efforts.

As with other counties, Oswego County has invasive plants, which can choke out or kill our native species, causing environmental and economic harm. The most problematic being: Giant Hogweed, Swallow-wort, Japanese Knotweed and the Water Chestnut. Detailed information on these and other invasives are found at the SLELO-PRISM website: http://www.sleloinvasives.org/

Of particular importance at this time, a destructive invasive beetle known as the Emerald Ash Borer has moved into NY State, killing our ash trees. So far the Ash Borer has been found in areas west of Cayuga County and southeast NY, near Albany and further south. For tree and firewood quarantine information go to: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/47761.html

“The beetle infests and kills North American ash species including green, white, black and blue ash. Thus, all native ash trees are susceptible. Adult beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the outer bark of the branches and the trunk. Adults are roughly 3/8 to 5/8 inch long with metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen. They may be present from late May through early September but are most common in June and July. Signs of infection include tree canopy dieback, yellowing, and browning of leaves. Most trees die within 2 to 4 years of becoming infested. The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for the destruction of over 50 million ash trees in the U.S. since its discovery in Michigan.”(1)

The following websites give complete information on the Emerald Ash Borer and what you can do to prevent it’s spread.

(1)http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.htmland http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=cg_plan

After reviewing the identification material on the websites, if you think you have Emerald Ash Borer, call the DEC’s EAB and Firewood hotline at: 1-866-640-0652.

Trash bags will be available upon request through the cooperation of Oswego County Building and Grounds.

Collection of the litter should be arranged with your city/town/village. Roadside litter collections turned over to city/town/village for Earth Week can be disposed of with no tipping fee, courtesy of Oswego County Solid Waste. RRR – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Work gloves if needed, will again be available through a contribution from Novelis Corporation. Save those aluminum cans collected and please donate them to the local Cans for the Community Program.

A limited number of safety vests are available for those groups or individuals working roadside cleanups.

If you would like to share photos of your event or project please send the pics

For information on any of the above needed items, resource links for the Ash Borer and other invasive species, environmental information and participation in Earth Week, go to:

http://www.oswegocounty.com/earthweek.html

For the Oswego Community to get information on rebates, subsidies, incentives and grants to lower energy costs and buy renewable energy go to Renew Oswego at: http://www.renewoswegocounty.org/

Thank you, Richard Drosse, OC Earth Week Coordinator

Oswego County Environmental Management Council