The Mianus River Gorge is one of over 50 partners across the region that make up the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). The mission of this partnership is to protect the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of the Lower Hudson region through partnerships and collaborations that focus on controlling the introduction, spread, and harmful impact of invasive species.
One of eight such regional partnerships in New York State, the Lower Hudson PRISM acts as the go-to resource for invasive species issues in an area that stretches from Manhattan to Saugerties, covering Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange Counties, and portions of Ulster and Sullivan Counties. The Lower Hudson PRISM is funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation through the Environmental Protection Fund and has been hosted by the New York – New Jersey Trail Conference since 2013.
The partners meet regularly to plan strategies to manage the introduction and spread of invasive species and to educate partners and the public about invasive species. They conduct training sessions and organize internships and volunteer programs. The Lower Hudson PRISM contracts out projects that need more comprehensive work than can be completed by volunteers, and hosts an AmeriCorp Invasive Strike Force each summer to work with partners across the region. MRG has worked with the Invasive Strike Force for many years, and they contribute nearly 20% of the invasive species management conducted at our preserves annually.
This partnership has also contributed to the development of relationships with organizations that have been vital to major MRG projects, including Save the Hemlocks, Restoring Native Biodiversity to Meadows, Trail Enhancement, and Riparian Corridor Restoration.
Budd Veverka is our representative to the Lower Hudson PRISM where he is a member of the Steering Committee, chair of the Invasive Species Prevention Zone Committee, and liaison to the NYS Hemlock Initiative.