Last year, 475 Asian clams — a small clam, less than 1.5 inches in size, that can spread rapidly — were removed from Lake George, thanks to a half day of work from about 20 volunteers as part of the Lake George Association’s Asian Clam Citizen Science Day in Sandy Bay.

The association hopes for a similar result this year from 10 am to 1 pm Monday July 10 when it holds its second Asian Clam Citizen Science Day as part of New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week July 9 through 15.

Volunteers are needed. Just meet the LGA staff at the bay on July 10.

By bringing people together to hunt down and remove clams, the LGA hopes to both educate the public and prevent spread of the clams – the two most effective ways to control invasive species. They will also document the density of the Asian clams as part of a longer term look at their growth and potential expansion, according to a press release. A single Asian clam can reproduce alone, and can release hundreds of juveniles per day. Excretions from Asian clams can cause algae to grow in the lake.

Learn more about invasive species from 10 am to 3 pm July 11-14, when LGA Invasive Species Spread Prevention Educators will be set up at the Lake George Visitor Center to answer any invasive species questions.

Photos: Participants in Lake George Association’s first Asian Clam Citizen Science Day in Sandy Bay; captured Asian Clams, courtesy LGA.