PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) - A new study aims to catch the early signs of invasive species in the Lake Champlain basin and bring tracking to another level.

It’s led by a team from the State University of New York.

They’re using a two-year, nearly $200,000 Lake Champlain Sea Grant.

The team will assess water samples for environmental DNA or microscopic genetic matter left behind by organisms.

They’ll use that data to create an early-warning system that can predict and manage the spread of non-native species before they take over.

Compared to current identification methods involving dive teams, the project lead says this method is high-tech and efficient.

“We’ve actually determined that there are 53, 54 target species that are really interested in trying to track, and it’s almost like a

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