When: Monday, November 2nd, 6:00 PM

Where: Finger Lakes Community College, Stage 14, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424

In this presentation by Austin Shay of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), you will learn about oak wilt, a fungal infection that is now affecting red and white oaks in our watershed and in the Finger Lakes region. Oak wilt blocks the flow of water and nutrients to the crown of oaks. Red oaks are most susceptible and can die in as little as a few weeks and white oaks can take years. Learn more about how this infection is spread, the symptoms, and about the regulations and management practices in place to control the spread of the fungal infection. You will also learn about the importance of oaks to our environment and our local economy and why its so imporant to protect our oaks.

Register here: https://forms.gle/xiY2bmPHP1c4zbJe7

About the Presenter Austin Shay, NYSDEC Forest Health Crew Lead

Austin is a supervisor for the region 8 forest health crew of NYSDEC in Avon.  His primary duties include planning & response to invasive pest & plant introductions on both state and private lands. He has worked throughout the state with a long list of priority invasives including but not limited to: giant hogweed, southern pine beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid, spotted lanternfly, kudzu, oak wilt, and mile-a-minute.

Service with NYSDEC:

• Project Intern, DEC Region 8, Avon office (2019)
• Forestry technician, DEC Region 8, Avon office (2021)
• Forest Health Crew Lead, DEC Region 8, Avon office (2022-Current)

Education:

• Associate of Applied Science, Natural Resources Conservation, Finger Lakes Community College (2018)
• Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, SUNY Brockport (2021)