Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Inc.

Happy Thursday! Who out there loves wetlands? Whether it’s through relaxing by the Poesten Kill on a summer day, drinking clean water from the tap, or being protected from heavy flood waters, we benefit from our local wetlands each and every day! This Saturday, join Andy Dangler and Melissa Toni* to learn about how wetlands are classified and protected through a hands-on look at sampling and identification!... Wear your boots, bring water and a snack, and be ready to get your hands muddy! Please register in advance on our website: https://www.rensselaerplateau.org/july-2021-wetlands-worksh *Andy is a biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Melissa is a former regulator for the Corps, with 20 years of experience working with wetlands.

Looking for something to do next weekend? Why don’t you come explore the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the Federal wetlands regulatory program! On July 3rd, come to our Wetlands Workshop and learn about the history of the Clean Water Act, and how wetland regulation has changed and evolved through the years. Hear about the determinations of wetland boundaries, classification of wetland types, and protections in place! Please wear boots, bring water and a snack, and... be prepared to get your hands muddy! https://www.rensselaerplateau.org/july-2021-wetlands-worksh

We couldn't help but share this Double Dorothy Magic at the Poestenkill Community Forest! Thanks for sharing your family's recent trip with us Maureen Castle Tusty!

Want some Thursday night plans that will make you smarter? See you at 7pm!

We're calling all environmental sleuths to join us at Barberville Falls for RPA's Saturday outing: Stream Forensics! We invite you to join RPA outing leader, Matt Thatcher, to visit another world--the world of fresh water organisms living in our streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. We will collect a variety of aquatic insects and use some foundational field identification tactics to learn about these critters that call our watershed home. We’ll talk about the basics of collect...ing specimens, how to identify organisms at the family level, and the niches in a watershed lead to diversity of organisms. We’ll also discuss some of the basics of stream ecology, water quality protocols, and the importance of protecting our local streams. Hope you'll join us! Register at rensselaerplateau.org/june-2021-stream-forensics

We've heard lots of folks asking what to do about invasive species...Now's your chance to learn from an expert! This Thursday, join RPA's virtual lecture to hear from Jennifer Dean, an invasive species biologist with the highly regarded New York Natural Heritage Program. This program will surely satisfy curious minds who care about natural lands! Register at www.rensselaerplateau.org/lecture-registration