aquatic invasive species control – Aquarius-Systems

Mechanical Harvesting and Volunteers Battle Water Chestnut in Mystic River

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:10:44 +0000

While water chestnut would literally take over the river from shore to shore, the Mystic River Watershed Association and many partners battled the invasive plant with the help of mechanical harvesters and by organizing volunteer hand-pulling events.

Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is native to Asia, Europe and Africa. It was introduced in 1897 by a gardener as an ornamental plant in Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since then, it has spread to rivers and lakes throughout the commonwealth. Eradication efforts of water chestnuts in the Mystic River have been ongoing.

MyRWA is happy to report that in 2014 it had its most successful year yet! More than 940 volunteers hand-pulled 6,603 baskets of water chestnuts and the aquatic plant harvester removed 1,000 tons of water chestnuts this year.

Mechanical Harvesting Removes Invasive Water Chestnut from Mystic River

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 21:02:20 +0000

Water chestnuts are fast-growing invasive aquatic plants that choke waterways, damaging recreational opportunities and natural habitats. These plants displace native species, reduce biodiversity, hamper recreational uses and diminish the aesthetic value of bodies of water. They can negatively impact native vegetation and fish populations by forming large dense mats of vegetation on the water surface, intercepting sunlight to the exclusion of other submerged plants. This depletes the available oxygen in the water, which can lead to fish kills and harm other aquatic organisms.

“Aquatic invasive species present a significant problem for recreation, wildlife and overall health of a river,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jack Murray. “Mechanical harvesting of water chestnuts is an efficient method of removal that can prevent long-term deterioration of these important urban river areas.”

Ongoing since Aug. 1, 2013, a large-scale mechanical harvesting operation removes the invasive water chestnut plants in the Mystic River.

Water Chestnut Removal Success at Bare Hill Pond

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:55:58 +0000

The annual weed pull calling volunteers to Bare Hill Pond in Harvard, Massachusetts; to yank invading water chestnut weeds from the pond’s depths wasn’t held this year. Why? Volunteer Rick Dickson said, “because we finally don’t need it.”

The plant is injurious with its four-headed needle-sharp seeds typically making it to shore and cutting the feet of those who walk on them. But the removal and control of the plant is not easy. The sticky water chestnut seeds are carried by ducks, geese and other animals from waterway to waterway, making elimination of the weed difficult.

Dickson and others who worked with him have vigorously worked for years to get Bare Hill Pond’s water chestnut weed population down, hosting three volunteer weed pulls a year at one time. He also used the town’s mechanical weed harvester. “We picked up 80 tons of weeds with the harvester one year. The next year, 20 tons, and the next just five, until we didn’t need the harvester anymore.”