Invasive Water Chestnut Takes Over River Surface in New York Again, Fills 400 Dump Trucks

To remove invasive water chestnuts from the Oswegatchie River in New York, 400 dump truckloads were required.

400 Dump Truck Loads of Invasive Water Chestnuts

New York is doing something similar to clearing out persistent weeds in the yard but on a larger scale.

The Oswegatchie River was brimming with water chestnuts on Thursday. It's incredible to think that 400 dump truckloads of the invasive weed were removed from that area five months ago.

The river was completely restored, according to Black Lake Association president Jay Carter. After being transformed into what appeared to be open water, it covered the entire top of the water once more after two weeks.

The Black Lake Association has been working to keep weed out of Black Lake and out of the Oswegatchie.

According to state environmentalists, getting rid of water chestnuts permanently may require more than a year of weed removal.

Persistent Infestation

The Oswegatchie River was brimming with water chestnuts on Thursday, however, 400 dump truckloads of the invasive water chestnuts were removed from that area five months ago.

The river was completely restored, according to Black Lake Association president Jay Carter. After being transformed into what appeared to be open water, it covered the entire top of the water once more after two weeks.

The Black Lake Association has been working to keep weed out of Black Lake and out of the Oswegatchie.

According to state environmentalists, getting rid of water chestnuts permanently may require more than a year of weed removal.

According to Gray, R-116th District, Black Lake has one of the biggest economic impacts on boaters, anglers, and recreational fishing in general. That will only render Black Lake helpless.

According to Carter, employing mechanical water chestnut removers or applying herbicide are the two best ways to handle an infestation.

Costs for each choice range from $30,000 to $40,000.

Water Chestnuts, Trapa natans

Water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant originating from Eurasia and Africa, entered the United States as an ornamental plant in the 1800s. Its presence has significantly impacted freshwater ecosystems and recreational activities.

The New York State, alone, grapples with its presence in over 40 counties.

This plant forms thick, tangled mats in shallow waters, making boating, kayaking, and swimming difficult. Its spiny, barbed fruits pose injury risks when found along shorelines. These dense mats also stifle native aquatic flora, depriving indigenous fish, waterfowl, and insects of food and shelter.

Moreover, decomposition processes reduce oxygen levels, endangering fish populations.

The water chestnut, specifically T. natans, is a rooted, annual herb that recedes at the end of each growing season. Regrowth primarily occurs through spring-germinating seeds. These seeds produce 10 to 15 stems with submerged and floating leaves that cluster around the stem. Each rosette can yield up to 20 hard, nut-like fruits, further contributing to its invasive spread and ecological disruption.