Otsego Conservation Assoc. Announces Volunteer Opportunities

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On Saturday, August 3, OCCA is recruiting volunteers to help with water chestnut removal in Goodyear Lake. Volunteers will use canoes or kayaks to paddle in the upper portion of the lake, known as the Stump Lot, and will hand-pull any water chestnuts found. Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an invasive aquatic plant that disrupts native ecosystems, interferes with boating, fishing and swimming, and can cause injury if stepped on. This event runs from 9am to noon. Volunteers can bring their own canoe/kayak, or reserve space in an OCCA canoe.

It's back to the water on Saturday, August 17, as OCCA works to control water chestnut and European frog-bit (Hydrocharus morsus-ranae) at Silver Lake in New Berlin. Frog-bit, newly-discovered at the lake in 2018, is a free-floating aquatic plant that can impact local ecosystems. Only OCCA canoes are being permitted on the lake for this event, and pre-registration is required. The event runs from 9am-noon.

Finally, on Saturday, September 21, OCCA is seeking volunteers to assist with Otsego County's 22^nd annual Household Hazardous Waste Day collection. Volunteers will be primarily engaged with sorting, opening, stirring and pouring paint as part of the county's latex paint recycling program. Volunteers may also be asked to direct traffic, help unload cars, break up cardboard boxes, and assist with non-hazardous special collections. Volunteers are asked to sign up for either an early (7:30-11am) or late (10:30am-1pm) shift. This event takes place at the Meadows Office Complex in Cooperstown.

For more information about these events, visit occainfo.org or contact OCCA Program Director, Jeff O'Handley at (607) 282-4087. To register, use the form available at occainfo.org/signup/.

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