Reinstein Woods Winter Wonderland

Event Features Winter Sports and Fun Challenges

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with Friends of Reinstein Woods, invites the public to celebrate "Winter Wonderland in the Woods" on Saturday, February 11 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in the town of Cheektowaga, Erie County.

Visitors can discover a variety of outdoor pursuits during the event. Ice-fishing demonstrations will take place throughout the afternoon and visitors will be able to try snowshoes and cross-county skis in a demonstration area (weather permitting). Snowshoe rentals will also be available for those who wish to explore the trails of the preserve.

Children will be able to try snowshoeing regardless of the weather and enjoy winter challenges including a snowball target toss and Wildlife Spotters Challenge trail. Kids can also express their creative side in the snow art area and make crafts indoors.

The Niagara Frontier Search and Rescue Team will be on hand to talk about winter rescue and will provide a compass navigation course for participants looking to test their navigation skills. The DEC Forest Rangers will demonstrate flat ice rescue techniques and DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers will exhibit confiscated furs and discuss illegal hunting. Visitors can learn about the late-winter activity of maple sugaring with Earth Spirit Education Services.

After enjoying outdoor activities at the "Winter Wonderland in the Woods," families can warm up inside the education center with hot drinks and snacks sold by Friends of Reinstein Woods. The SPCA Wildlife Department will present informative talks on wild animal rehabilitation at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. There will be door prizes, costumed characters, exhibits and more.

Visitors can bring used alkaline batteries for recycling by the Coalition for Positively Charged People and Friends of Reinstein Woods. The event happens regardless of snow conditions, and additional activities like the Winter Wildlife Olympics will be added in case of warm weather.

Registration is not required for this event. There is no entry fee, but donations to Friends of Reinstein Woods are always welcome. Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve is located at 93 Honorine Drive, off of Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga. For more information, contact Reinstein Woods at 683-5959, or visit the Reinstein Woods website and search for "Winter Wonderland."

NYS DEC, DOH, Erie County and City of Lackawanna Announce Analysis of Samples Collected after Steel Plant Fire

Surface sampling results consistent with areas not impacted by the fire

New York State agencies join Erie County and City of Lackawanna at public availability session to share data and interpret results for local residents

The New York State departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH), the Erie County Health Department, and the City of Lackawanna today to announce that a review of surface wipe samples taken after the November 9, 2016 fire at the former Bethlehem Steel Plant returned results consistent with areas not impacted by the fire.

The sampling results were released at a public availability session in Lackawanna. Representatives from DOH's Center for Environmental Health, DEC's Division of Air Resources Bureau of Air Quality Surveillance, Erie County Health Department, Lackawanna Fire Department, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted the meeting to help interpret the results for residents and meet one-on-one with attendees to answer questions. ‎

On December 7, staff from DOH, DEC and Test America, DEC's contract laboratory, collected surface wipe samples to better understand the nature of the smoke plume and to characterize any deposited soot residue associated with the fire. Seven sampling locations were identified in areas likely to have been affected by smoke or soot from the fire because of their proximity to the fire site, and two samples were collected from nearby public areas not known to be affected to establish background levels. The samples were analyzed for two groups of chemicals -- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals.

The analysis did not detect PAHs in any of the wipe samples, indicating no measurable difference in PAH contamination on surfaces between the sites affected by smoke and soot, and the background sites. Areas impacted by the smoke and soot would be expected to have higher PAH and metal content than areas not impacted by smoke and soot. Some of the metals were found in almost all wipe samples, and their levels in the seven fire impacted locations were similar to the levels measured at the two background locations.

"DEC's analysis of surface samples should come as welcome news for residents of Lackawanna concerned about potential air pollution caused by this massive fire," DEC Commissioner Seggos said. "New York State experts trained to respond to situations like this organized quickly to monitor the area for threats to public health and the environment and keeping local residents informed. The State will continue to work with our federal and local partners to ensure the air in Lackawanna is safe to breathe."

"The Department of Health worked with our partners in state government to conduct additional sampling and analysis of the potential effects of the smoke plume and help alleviate any concerns in the community," said New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker. "DOH remains committed to providing support to our local partners to safeguard public health."

Representatives from the Erie County Medical Center Occupational Health Clinic and insurance enrollers will be available to answer questions.

For complete sampling results (link leaves DEC's website) please visit the Erie County website.

Impacted residents that wish to have their properties cleaned professionally are encouraged to contact Great Lakes Industrial Development to report a property cleanup claim by calling 716-207-8685.

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Protect your oak trees from deadly disease: prune in winter

Oak wilt, a deadly fungal disease for oak trees was discovered in six new locations in New York last year. This disease can be spread by beetles that are attracted to freshly cut or injured trees. Pruning in winter protects oaks from becoming infected.

Benefits of winter pruning:

• Diseases are rarely spread during this time, since insects and fungi are inactive.
• A tree's branch pattern and damaged limbs are easier to see without leaves.
• Leafless cut branches are lighter and easier to carry.
• Nearby plants are less likely to be damaged by falling branches and trampling.
• Removing weak and damaged branches before heavy snowfall reduces additional breakage.
• Trees pruned in winter respond more vigorously in the spring, putting out new growth.

How does oak wilt spread and kill trees?

The oak wilt fungus clogs the trees’ transport vessels, cutting off water and food from leaves and the rest of the tree. One way oak wilt spreads is when fungal spores hitch rides on insects. Sap beetles, one of the main culprits, are extremely attracted to fresh tree wounds. Pruning oaks during the growing season greatly increases the chances of insects infecting them with oak wilt.

What else can I do to protect my oak trees?

1. Prune oaks between October and February – NOT during the growing season.
2. Follow existing regulations and quarantines meant to protect our trees and forests.
3. Don’t move firewood. Firewood can transport oak wilt and other deadly pests and diseases to new areas.
4. Learn to identify the symptoms of oak wilt which include discoloration around the entire leaf edge and sudden loss of a substantial portion of leaves during the summer.

For questions, contact the DEC Forest Health office at 1-866-640-0652, or email photos of tree symptoms to: foresthealth@dec.ny.gov.

Visit the DEC website for more information on oak wilt.