New York is a water-rich state with an abundance of lakes, ponds, and rivers connected by a complex network of canals connecting different watersheds. These waterway connections make NY particularly sensitive to biological invasions by a broad range of aquatic organisms including aquatic invasive plant species (AIPS). The specific mechanisms that result in the success of any AIPS invasions are difficult to document. While reproductive strategies are often cited as a primary driver of invasive success, human activities further facilitate the spread by acting as vectors for dispersal. Using population genetic approaches, it is potentially possible not only to estimate the number of invasion events, but also to understand the dynamics of this secondary spread in invaded ranges.