2005 Update: Water Chestnuts Attack Saratoga Lake

Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an aquatic plant native to Asia. In the
Americas, water chestnut is an invasive species known for its aggressive
growth habits.A single seed can produce up to 8 rosettes.Each rosette
can produce up to 8 seeds.Doing the math, one seed can produce up to
64 seeds.A seed can survive up to 12 years in the muck.Fortunately, most
seeds germinate within 2 years.

In the Chesapeake Bay area (source of these photos), the Bird River Water
Chestnut population spread from approximately 50 plants in the summer of
1997 to 30 acres in 1999 demonstrating that small patches of chestnuts can
wreck large recreational areas in record time.The seed’s four hard half-inch
spines are sharp enough to penetrate shoe leather and large enough to keep
people off beaches. The rosettes make swimming and fishing impossible.They
wipe out native vegetation, prevent almost all recreation, create breeding grounds
for mosquitoes and leaches, and limit habitat for fish and birds.In other words,
they excel at changing lakefront into swamp front.

Water chestnuts are established in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont.The Mohawk and Hudson rivers are overrun with
them.You can see massive green mats of water chestnuts in the summer
where the Northway crosses the Mohawk River.You can see 75 milesof water
chestnuts by taking Amtrak from Albany to New York City.
 
Chestnut Locations in Saratoga Lake
Mouth of the Kayderosseras Creek. About 25% of this bay was chocked with water chestnuts 10 years ago.At that time, we (the Saratoga Lake Association) harvested
about 100 canoe loads and cooked 25 loads with 100x100 foot pieces of black plastic.
Over time, we slowed their growth and stopped their progression into the Lake.In 2004,
we harvested 3 canoe loads from this area.This is more than we harvested there in 2003.
 
5 Miles of Shoreline South of the Kayderosseras Water chestnuts migrated from
the mouth of the Kayderosseras to the shoreline of the Lake.We stopped the expansion.
In 2004, we removed 2 canoe loads.
 
The Ditch. The Kayderosseras splits before it enters Saratoga Lake. One branch
flows through a large swamp called the ditch and then enters Saratoga Lake. There
is a natural dam at the entrance to the Lake.If water is low, chestnuts do not migrate
into the lake.If it is high, they migrate.We stopped this expansion. Last year we re-
moved half a canoe load from the Lake in front of the swamp.In 2004, we removed
1 canoe load.
 
Manning Cove. In 2004, we removed four canoe loads from this bay.This is our most dangerous area this year because of its potential to seed the entire lake
 
Point Breeze Marina.The marina was infested around the gas pumps.In 2004,
we removed four canoe loads.  We expect fewer chestnuts here this year.
 
Fish Creek.There are lots of chestnuts scattered throughout the creek.The greatest concentration is just south of Fish Creek Marina.We, the Saratoga rowing club, and
other rowing groups, removed chestnuts there in 2004.This is an important area with
few persons.
 
Fish Creek Marina. We removed chestnuts around the boat docks last year.Once established in the creek, water chestnuts may be unstoppable.
 
Fish Creek Rowing Clubs. The rowing club across from the Marina has a small water chestnut problem.This year we will also encourage rowing clubs to identify and remove them.Water chestnuts could block the channel at Fish Creek Marina in a couple years.
Ignored long enough, they could close large sections of Fish Creek to muscle-powered
boats.
 
Stony Point Road: A Success Story.Five years ago water chestnuts started to
colonize where the stream between Stony Point and Silver Beach enters the Lake.
The residents of Stony Point removed them.Water chestnuts have not been seen
in this location for three years.
 
In Front of Your Home. Water chestnuts can grow anywhere that has a mucky
bottom with less than 20 feet of water Water currents and birds transmit seeds.If
a rosette grows in front of your house, toss it on shore and congratulate yourself
upon removing 64 chestnuts.
 
How Do You Stop Them?
 
Water chestnuts can be stopped by hand harvesting, machine harvesting, and
2-4D herbicide. The preferred method is hand harvesting.Machine harvesting
cannot be carried out in shallow areas and is expensive.Herbicides can be
dangerous, are expensive, and are regulated by DEC.
 
The trick to hand harvesting is to remove rosettes before their seeds are fertilized.
Harvesting begins in late May or early June when the rosettes reach the surface
of the lake.At this time, gently pull the rosette and toss it into your boat.The seed
will come with the rosette.Toss seeds where they will not roll back into the lake.
 
Seeds establish roots by mid-June. When you pull a rosette it breaks off from its
seed.Just toss the rosette (sometimes many are linked together) in your boat.
You do not need to harvest the stalks.The rosettes can be tossed anywhere on land.
They will die in a couple days.The seeds under the rosettes are not dangerous be-
cause they are not pollinated.
 
By mid August, rosettes form white flowers and the eight seeds under each rosette
get pollinated.These seeds are dangerous.They fall off and sit in the mud until
conditions are right to germinate.All rosettes pulled during this period must be carefully
placed into boats, and then placed in locations away from the water.
 

Equipment Needed for Hand Harvesting

A canoe, rowboat, or kayak.Get or give a tow to the harvest area.

A garden rake is useful.

Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and old pair of sneakers.Sneakers are needed to step into the muck when emptying boats.

A drink.Avoid alcohol.

A smile.

A neighbor, child, spouse, or friend
 

We Organize Harvesting Parties on the last Saturday in June and July,
9:00 am til noon.Rain or Shine.Stay home if the winds exceed 20 mph.

Dates 2005

June 25 and July 30
 

Details

We are picking chestnuts in the following locations.
If you cannot decide where to go, consider Fish Creek.It is the largest area.

Location Organizer
Mannings Cove North of the Sailing Club John Kimball
300 yds north from the Mouth of the Kayderosseras Rob Prior
Point Breeze Marina Al McCauley
Fish Creek Alice Evans
Elsewhere and more information Jim Nelson

Leave a phone message at 580-0656.Include name, phone number, dates, and locations.

Or email me at 2nelson@nycap.rr.com

Thanks,

Jim Nelson, Chair

Environmental Committee