Mechanical Harvesting and Volunteers Battle Water Chestnut in Mystic River

/ Published in Aquatic Invasive Species, Aquatic Plant Management
Invasive Water Chestnut forms dense mats that displace native species and interfere with recreational activities.
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