Rockland Needs Volunteers To Help Count Glass Eels

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Officials in the Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District are starting to recruit volunteers to participate in the American Eel Project this spring. Rockland volunteers do their work at Minisceongo Creek in West Haverstraw.

Every spring, American eels migrate into the Hudson River estuary from the Sargasso Sea. Still in their beginning life stage, they are referred to as glass eels and resemble vermicelli noodles.

Every year, a special v-shaped net (called a fyke net) is placed in the Minisceongo Creek. The net is monitored each day by a different set of volunteers who count, weigh, and relocate the eels above the nearest barrier.

All data are recorded on data sheets and sent to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Officials at the Soil and Water Conservation District will host an information session for folks who are interested in volunteering. There will be pizza. Can't make the info session? Call.

WHEN: 6-7 p.m. March 5

WHERE: Haverstraw Town Hall- 1 Rosman Road, Garnerville, NY

RSVP: to Brianna at RosamilB@co.rockland.ny.us or 845-596-5479 by March 4.

The project is a partnership with the Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and NYS DEC.