Uncontrolled Invasive Plant Expansion in the Connecticut Watershed

Non-native plant invasions are becoming an issue of serious concern for the waterways of the Connecticut River Valley. Over the past two years the state has been funding operations to control the invasion of European Water Chestnut, an aquatic plant that has completely overrun the Log Pond Cove in Holyoke. In a very short time the Water Chestnut has choked the cove covering the surface with a thick mat of vegetation. This makes the cove unusable both for recreation and for wildlife habitat.

The real danger from this plant comes from it's ability to spread. The Water Chestnut seed has large hooks on each end allowing it to easily attach to waterfowl, which then carry the seed to other areas of the watershed, threatening to distribute this hazard across western and central Massachusetts.

This summer the extent of non native plant invasions in the Connecticut River Valley is being closely examined by a new volunteer organization, The Invasive Plant Watch (IPW). Volunteers will be assigned to a water body in their community and will be responsible for walking or boating the perimeter, inspecting for the presence of Water Chestnuts. If the chestnuts are found and removed before they are able to establish themselves, we can successfully eradicate this threat from our valley. Volunteers are being sought throughout the month of June and July to complete as many inspections as possible.

Interested volunteers should contact the IPW at: http://www.geocities.com/ctipw/
or email ipw@ureach.com or call 1-877-680-8172 .

For further information on the Invasive Plant Watch project
please feel free to contact:
Eric Marshall
Project Director IPW
413.253.6978
emars@cavalry.com