What is that weed blanketing the Mystic River? What is that giant orange contraption sucking it up?
What you may have observed on the Mystic River this summer was removal of the invasive plant water chestnut. 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 – those large orange contraptions – 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. Since then, it has spread to rivers and lakes throughout the Commonwealth. Eradication efforts of water chestnuts in the Mystic River have been ongoing. Beginning in 2010 the Mystic River Watershed Association has aggressively combated water chestnuts by partnering with municipalities, local organizations, boat clubs, corporations and community members.
We are happy to report that in 2014 we had our most successful year yet! We hosted a record number of events this summer – 19 – by partnering with 34 corporations and community groups. All in all, we engaged more than 940 volunteers to hand-pull 6,603 baskets of water chestnuts from Whole Foods in Medford to Mystic Wellington Yacht Club across from Assembly Row. That is, of course, not to mention the 1,000 tons (2,000,000 lbs.) of water chestnuts removed by the mechanical harvester. By working together, we cleared 2.3 miles of the Mystic River of this invasive plant and filled fourteen 30-yard dumpsters with plant material!
As the fifth season of the Water Chestnut Removal Project comes to a close we have been reflecting on the amount of time and energy that goes into this project. Luckily we are not alone in what can seem like an uphill battle. We are fortunate to work with many partners in this effort, including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, river boat and yacht clubs, Tufts University, Charles River Canoe and Kayak, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Cities of Medford and Somerville. We also enjoy strong support from our corporate partners including Wynn Resorts, Biogen Idec, AIR Worldwide and the many other local companies listed below. This invasive weed wreaks havoc on many rivers throughout New England. With continued efforts we can control water chestnuts in the Mystic…but we do need community support, and will be seeking volunteers at these fun on-the-water events again next summer!
AIR Worldwide
Biogen Idec
Boston Cares
Boston University
Boston Volunteers
Cabot Creamery
Cerulean Pharma
Charles River Canoe and Kayak
Chelsea Collaborative
City of Medford
City of Somerville
Eagle Eye Institute
FedEx Corporation
Flatbread Pizza
Friends of the Mystic River
Gentle Giant Rowing Club
Gerson Lehrman Group
Google
Grace Church Medford
Grant Thornton
Groundwork Somerville
HubSpot
IBM
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Medford Boat Club
Millennium/Takeda Pharmaceuticals
MIT
Mystic Wellington Yacht Club
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
New England Aquarium live blue™ Ambassadors & live blue™ Serve Corps
Northeastern University Outing Club
Redemption Hill Church
Redeemer Church
Regina’s Pizzeria
Riverside Yacht Club
Team GreenSense, City of Cambridge
Tufts University
VMware
Whole Foods Market Medford
Workers Compensation Research Institute
Wynn Resorts
For more information see /water-chestnut-removal-project/.
