On Saturday, August 28, 2010, Groundwork Somerville, with support from the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Friends of the Mystic River, will host a community event focusing on the removal of invasive water chestnut from the Mystic River. Using canoes, kayaks, and small boats, volunteers will pull the plants out of the water by hand and then deposit the harvested water chestnut at a designated shore site. (The pulled plants will then be composted at a nearby landscaping facility.) If you have a canoe or a kayak, you can bring your own. If you need a boat, Groundwork Somerville may be able to provide you with one (thanks to the generous cooperation of the Boys and Girls Club of Middlesex County).
We only have 20 canoes available for volunteers, so please RSVP as soon as possible. Canoes are available on a first come, first served basis.
Volunteers should meet at 8:30 AM at the old DCR boat ramp adjacent to 75 South Street in Medford, MA. A limited amount of parking is available on South Street; additional parking is available on nearby Curtis Street, Maple Ave, Touro Ave, and Manning Street.
If you plan to attend this event, please RSVP by email to brad@groundworksomerville.org or by phone at (617) 455-1127. If you will need a canoe, please indicate that in your RSVP.
Immediately following the hand-pulling event, lunch and refreshments will be available for volunteers at the put-in site.
This event is sponsored by Groundwork Somerville, with support from the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Friends of the Mystic River, the Riverside, Mystic Wellington, and Winter Hill Yachts Clubs, and the Medford Boat Club.
Please Note: We need both boaters to pull water chestnut and riverbank helpers to take the plants out of the boats. Boaters are required to use life preservers/personal flotation devices.
Join this event on FACEBOOK.
Many thanks for your interest and support!
