Water chestnut plant. Credit: ShaSha Kingston

Help remove an invasive plant from the Mystic River!

Overview: Volunteers will pair up and head out in canoes to hand-pull water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant that spreads over the water surface, crowding out native plants and altering the water chemistry.

MyRWA will provide the canoes, paddles, life jackets, and gloves. Be sure to wear sunscreen and clothes/footwear that you don't mind getting dirty and wet! We recommend quick-dry fabrics and water sandals.

Event capacity is limited based on the number of canoes we have on site — pre-registration is required and please only register if you will make it that day! 

**Note: you must be 6 years or older to participate. Youth aged 6-11 may participate under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian. Youth aged 12-17 may participate without a parent or guardian present at the event but waivers must be signed by a parent or guardian beforehand.

Location Details: Mystic River across from the Whole Foods in Medford (100 Auburn St., Medford). Bathrooms, water, and cell service are available. To get to the meeting point, volunteers will need to walk approximately 450 ft across a flat grassy field. Our canoe launch is an informal dirt slope. See below for photos of the event location.

Activity Details: We will paddle for approximately an hour and a half, covering 1-2 miles total. This section of the Mystic River is great for beginners with calm, shallow water. You do not need to know how to swim to participate. Volunteers will be asked to move canoes, paddle, and pull water chestnut plants up by hand. If you have any accessibility concerns about these activities or if you prefer to help out on land instead of on the water, please reach out to daria.clark@mysticriver.org — our events are flexible and we would love to chat about ways we can assist your participation!

Parking/Bus Info: Free street parking is available on Auburn St. Bus lines 80 and 94 run close to the project area. See MBTA.com for schedules. Boston Ave@Mystic Valley Parkway is a close stop. You can then walk to Whole Foods and the meeting spot.

Photos of Event Location:

Meeting Location:

Our meeting location is on a flat grassy field across the street from the Medford Whole Foods.

Canoe Launch:

Our canoes will launch from this informal dirt slope.

Working Area:

The section of the Mystic River we are working in is calm and shallow with trees on both sides and occasional bridges to pass under.