Regional Water Chestnut Investigation Project Summary Report

Invasive Species Distribution Maps (4.63 MB.)
The Current State of Aquatic Invasive Species in Central New York (0.58 MB.)

Summer 2002
Kristy Szprygada, Intern
CNY Regional Planning and Development Board

Introduction

Water chestnut, Trapa natans, is a highly aggressive invasive plant. Native to Asia, it was first recorded in North America near Concord, Massachusetts in 1859.¹

Water chestnut plants can reach up to 16 feet in length. They produce a white flower with four petals up to 1/4 inch long and bloom from late June to September. Germination occurs in the springtime; one seed can give rise to 10-15 rosettes, each of which can produce 15-20 seeds. This annual plant has a high reproductive capacity. Each seed can produce 300 new seeds in a single year. One acre of water chestnut can produce enough seeds to cover 100 acres the following year.¹ Each plant produces a nut that has four extremely sharp horns connected to a spine with several barbs. The mature nuts sink to the bottom, can withstand drying and other extreme environmental conditions, and germinate up to 8-12 years later. Dispersal of the water chestnut is limited to the rosettes detaching from their stems and floating to a new area or displacement of the nuts by waves, winds, or human and wildlife interactions. The nut is the only part of the plant that will overwinter successfully. (Parts taken from the Oswego County EMC Water Chestnut Alert fact sheet)

In the Spring 2002 issue of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network newsletter, J. DeHollander (Oswego Co. SWCD) wrote "It now consumes well over 100 acres of our beautiful, quiet interior waterways, and its range is ever expanding." Population estimates have exceeded 200 acres in CNY, since the Summer of 2002. This highly invasive plant can wipe out native bay grasses, prevent nearly all water recreation use where it occurs, create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and provide only marginal habitat to native fish and birds.¹ Once an area is infested with water chestnut, it is only a matter of time before the channel is deemed unnavigable due to the dense mat of aquatic vegetation taking over the surface waters.

Public awareness and cooperation, along with public agency control efforts are required to eliminate water chestnut from our waterways and prevent its spread into new areas. Mechanical harvesting and hand pulling are two methods to help control the populations, but follow-up "maintenance" harvesting must be done to keep the areas free of future infestations. (Parts taken from the Oswego County Water Chestnut Alert fact sheet)

Water Chestnut: County Concern and Work Effort Summary

The DEC Region 7 office has received numerous complaints and concerns about water chestnut infestations within Onondaga, Oswego and Cayuga counties. Recently, the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) was assigned to determine the extent of the problem and summarize the education, outreach and control measures that have been taken throughout the five county region. This report is a summary of the CNY RPDB's investigation, broken up by county, to describe the extent of infestation, areas of concern, funding proposals and work efforts in each area. A GIS map was created to depict the areas of infestation summarized by this report (see Attachment 1). The original map, created by John DeHollander of the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), was a topographic paper map. It was then given to Scott Ingmire, of the Madison County Planning Department, who turned it into a GIS map. The CNY RPDB then updated it to include recent and more heavily infested areas since the Oswego County SWCD original paper map was created.

County Assessment

Cayuga: Cayuga County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is working in conjunction with the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and the Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) to help educate the public on the identification and prevention of water chestnut. Their main concern is that the infestation in the Seneca River will make its way into Cross Lake and Cayuga Lake. In particular, they are closely monitoring the north end of Cayuga Lake; that is where they feel conditions are most favorable for an infestation. Their public education efforts have consisted of news releases, newsletters, aquatic plant workshops, and signs (made by the NYS DEC) posted at county lakes. There is also a display at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office that instructs the public on how to identify water chestnut and what to do if they find it in their area. Cayuga County CCE, the Water Quality Management Agency (WQMA), DEC, Cayuga County Planning Department, and the lake associations have organized an informal coalition of members to spread awareness and discuss strategies to prevent the spread of water chestnut into Cayuga County. In terms of funding, a proposal has been submitted to the Great Lakes Protection Fund by the Cayuga County CCE that would fund the continuation of their public education efforts and initiate monitoring programs throughout the county. (As per 7/02 phone conversation with Kelly Fallone, Cayuga County CCE)

According to the WQMA report distributed in June 2002, the Cayuga Lake Network, CCE of Cayuga County, Planning Department, SWCD, and OWLA have been active in developing and organizing educational programs for invasive species in the watersheds of Cayuga and Owasco Lakes. In Duck Lake, initiatives to design programs that encourage education and awareness of the dangers of spreading unwanted weeds and zebra mussels have been developed. The Cayuga County Planning Department is also searching for funding to inventory and map aquatic vegetation in Owasco Lake, to train CCE and Planning Department personnel to identify aquatic vegetation and to initiate a regular inventory and monitoring program for exotic and invasive species in Owasco Lake and its watershed.

Cortland: Cortland County does not have water chestnut in any of its waterways, as of the Summer of 2002. Recognizing the possibilities of future infestations, Cortland County SWCD representatives would like to be kept up to date on the spread of this invasive plant. Educational/awareness/identification brochures could be distributed to county residents to keep them informed of the consequences of a water chestnut infestation, before it takes hold in Cortland County. (As per 6/02 phone conversation with Patrick Reidy, Cortland County SWCD)

Madison: The Madison County Planning Department is working closely with the Onondaga County DOH and the Oswego County SWCD to keep current populations of water chestnut under control and prevent the spread into Madison County. Pamphlets and brochures are available to Madison County residents which inform them of the water chestnut's potential to invade their area. Large educational signs, designed by Madison County Planning Department (with the help of the Oswego Co. SWCD), were placed at DEC boat launches, marinas, and waterfront parks to help the public identify the invasive plant; while learning how to control its spread via transport on or in their boats and recreational equipment. Madison County agencies have been assisting in the development and execution of programs, including hand-pulling and mechanical harvesting sessions to help remove water chestnut from the Oneida Lake and Three Rivers area; preparing many large signs for use in public education and outreach efforts; and seeking funding for future work with water chestnut. The highly favorable areas for water chestnut infestations are some of the shallow, slow moving, mucky bottom tributaries of the lake (e.g., Cowaselon Creek). These waterways are being watched closely by the Madison County Planning Department to ensure that water chestnut does not become established. At this time, water chestnut has not been reported in any waterbody within Madison County. (As per many Summer 2002 phone conversations with Scott Ingmire, Madison County Planning Department)

Onondaga: Mechanical harvesting and hand-pulling programs have been implemented in the Three Rivers area and the Western Basin of Oneida Lake to help contain and eradicate water chestnut populations. There have been no reports of water chestnut presence in Cross Lake. Funding has been secured from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation to develop public education and harvesting programs based on multiple-year goals (see Attachments 2 and 3). Working closely with Madison and Oswego Counties, the goal is to remove existing populations of water chestnut from Oswego and Onondaga Counties and to prevent future infestations into these two counties as well as into Madison County.

In order to prevent future infestations and control current populations, public education along with hand-pulling and mechanical harvesting methods are being used. CCE of Onondaga County has focused their efforts towards educating the public on the identification of and control measures for water chestnut in local waterways. They held two hand-pulling sessions in the summer of 2002 on the southwestern shores of Oneida Lake. In total, approximately 70 people representing the Boy Scouts of America, the Oneida Lake Association, CNY RPDB, CCE and lakeshore communities participated in the event.

CCE and other agencies in Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties intend to continue these programs (education, hand pulling, mechanical harvesting) in the future and expand the harvesting practices to infested waterways in Onondaga County in addition to Oneida Lake. (As per 7/02 phone conversation with Russ Nemecek, Onondaga County DOH and 6/02 and 7/02 phone and in-person communications with Sheila Myers and Amy Samuels, CCE of Onondaga County)

Oswego: In the summer of 2001, John DeHollander surveyed Oneida Lake and the Seneca, Oswego, and Oneida Rivers to determine the extent of water chestnut infestations and assess the level of public awareness of the problem. A topographic map was produced with dots used to denote water chestnut presence. DeHollander found that most people were not able to identify the aquatic vegetation as water chestnut, but recognized it as a problem in their local waters. Working closely with Onondaga and Madison County agencies, grants have been proposed and funding secured for mechanical harvesting, public education programs and hand-pulling sessions. (As also referenced in the Onondaga and Madison County sections.)

The Oswego County SWCD has been in charge of conducting the mechanical harvesting in Oneida Lake through funds administered by the Oswego County Planning and Community Development which were provided through annual Finger Lakes - Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance (FL-LOWPA) funding. Mechanical harvesting in Oneida Lake is scheduled for the summer of 2002, but no definitive dates have been set. Oswego County Environmental Management Council (EMC) has produced several informative handouts including a small water chestnut alert card and a two-sided water chestnut alert fact sheet to educate the public on water chestnut.

Annual harvesting is conducted in Ox Creek, a tributary of the Oswego River. Once noted as a top location for bass fishing, since 1990 it has been so heavily infested with water chestnut that the waterway becomes unnavigable each summer. Mechanical harvesting is performed each year, but is difficult to do since the creek is filled with submerged stumps and debris. Unfortunately, the current goal of the harvesting in Ox Creek is only to clear a navigation pathway to allow recreational activities to resume, not to eliminate the water chestnut population.

Wayne County: Water chestnut was discovered in the southern end of Sodus Bay in the late 1980s. Hand-pulling programs were organized by the Boy Scouts of America to help keep the waterway navigable by canoe (non-motorized area). Over the past 5 to 10 years, water chestnut populations have increased and been established north of Bay Bridge. Mechanicals harvesting, along with hand-pulling sessions, have been organized by the Wayne County SWCD with continued support from the Boy Scouts and concerned lakeshore residents. In July 2002, 42 tons of water chestnut were mechanically harvested from Sodus Bay with an additional 1.5 tons harvested via hand pulling. In the summer of 2002, a new infestation site was discovered in East Bay. East Bay is located east of Sodus Bay and before Port Bay. Coincidentally, this was the first summer that the Bay had been opened to traffic from Lake Ontario. The population covered an area 10 feet long x 15 feet wide. Plans are currently being made to remove the water chestnut from East Bay. The spread of water chestnut to these bays is said to have been by "hitchhikers." (As per a 7/02 phone conversation with Tiffany Boas, Wayne County SWCD)

Future Funding and Continued Efforts in the Central New York Region

Madison, Onondaga and Oswego Counties, in conjunction with FL-LOWPA, were awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation towards public education and organized harvesting of water chestnut in Oneida Lake and the Three Rivers area. As part of the grant requirement, multiple-year goals were established (see Attachments 2 and 3). Educational brochures and pamphlets were prepared and public hand-pulling sessions were organized with a portion of the grant money to encourage public support and awareness. The majority of this grant money is being applied towards mechanical harvesting within Oneida Lake and the Oneida River area.

Madison, Onondaga and Oswego Counties, with FL-LOWPA, plan to re-apply for the annual grant opportunity with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to continue funding their public education and outreach programs and expand mechanical harvesting and hand-pulling programs to newly infested and continually infested waterways throughout Onondaga and Oswego Counties. As a guideline, the three counties will work together and continue to follow the multiple-year goals (see Attachments 2 and 3) developed to help control and eradicate water chestnut from Central New York. However, with this minimal level of grant funding plus the provided match, preventing the further spread of water chestnut into Oneida Lake will remain the primary objective in the short-term.

In addition, as part of the continuing control measures against water chestnut, Dr. Bernd Blossey (Cornell University) is working to find a biological control agent for non-indigenous aquatic plants, including water chestnut, with funds provided through Congressman James Walsh.

To fully eliminate water chestnut from Oswego and Onondaga Counties and keep it from spreading into other areas of CNY will take persistence, determination and cooperation from lakeshore communities, private organizations, and county, state and federal agencies. With the continued support from private groups and organizations within the region, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego Counties hope to see a surge of public interest and participation in the control efforts of water chestnut. An increase in organized hand-pulling sessions will not only help to control the noxious weed populations, but spark community involvement and education. An increase in funds allocated towards mechanical harvesting will also help to eradicate dense populations of water chestnut in a timely manner. Above what is currently available, the need for funding and harvesting equipment to address the water chestnut problem is substantial. It would appear that a federal interest, especially in terms of funding, is essential to enable adequate control of water chestnut in the Central New York area given the current lack of a biological or chemical remedy. While research is underway to identify biological control measures, whether chemical treatment is a possibility must be determined soon. It is through a combination of all these efforts that water chestnut will be eradicated from Central New York, improving recreational activities and enjoyment of our waterways.

¹ http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/water_chestnut.asp (This link opens in a new window.)

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