Last summer, the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management sent a team to survey aquatic invasive species in the Mianus River. This summer, thanks to a grant from the Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, we have identified and are removing invasive Water Chestnut from the river. MRG staff and a cadre of summer interns are pulling Water Chestnut plants by hand to get as much of the plant as possible and not letting any pieces of the plant escape down stream.
Water Chestnut flowers form sharp, barbed seeds that harden and drop, eventually sinking to the bottom where they overwinter in the sediment. Seeds remain viable for up to 12 years! Water chestnut can spread very rapidly and form dense mats that shade out other submerged aquatic plants, reducing or eliminating their growth and contributing to low dissolved oxygen levels. It also can create a hazard for boaters and other recreational users.
