'Pull' Events Being Staged Against Water Chestnuts In The CT River

GLASTONBURY, CT — Glastonbury officials are recruiting volunteers to help rid the Connecticut River of an invasive plant.

The target is water chestnuts spreading in Keeney Cove.

The water chestnut (Trapa natans), is a non-native aquatic plant, that has been rapidly spreading throughout the Connecticut River Watershed, posing what officials are calling "a significant threat to native flora and fauna."

Rooted in shallow water bodies such as lakes, ponds, and coves, water chestnuts can quickly dominate the surface if left unchecked, officials said. The invasive plants not only take up space and nutrients but also disrupt the balance of the aquatic ecosystem, officials said.

The infestations can impede recreational activities like fishing, hunting, swimming and boating. The plants can cover entire bodies of water, reaching depths of up to 16 feet in extreme cases, officials said.

The spiny seeds of water chestnuts can also cause injury to humans.

The Connecticut River Conservancy is thus organizing volunteer "pull: events on select Saturday mornings in June, July, and August. With guidance from the CRC, trained volunteers will take proactive measures to hand-pull the invasive plants before they have a chance to set seeds, thus preventing further spread, officials said.

The Towns of Glastonbury and East Hartford have each contributed $10,000 to the efforts.

Volunteers can contact the conservancy.