CRWA, DCR And CANOE Commit To Removing Invasive Vegetation from the Charles River Lakes District

On Thursday, June 26, 2014, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), along with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Citizens Alliance for NOxious weed Eradication (CANOE), a local citizen’s group, celebrated along the banks of the Charles River in Waltham the start of large-scale mechanical harvesting of invasive aquatic weeds choking the Charles River Lakes District.

Located in the communities of Newton, Waltham and Weston, the Charles River Lakes District has long been obstructed by water chestnuts, whose prolific growth negatively impacts fish and wildlife habitat and impedes recreation in this heavily used section of the river. Every summer, CRWA coordinates volunteer groups to help remove the weeds by hand, and has strongly advocated for state funding for large scale mechanical harvesting to eradicate the problem. 

“Aquatic invasive species present a significant problem for recreation, wildlife and overall health of a river,” said DCR Commissioner Jack Murray. “Mechanical harvesting of water chestnuts is efficient and can prevent long-term deterioration of these important urban river areas.”

To date, the harvesting project has targeted more than 60 infested acres in the Charles River Lakes District through a join partnership between CRWA, DCR and CANOE. CRWA and CANOE have raised $25,000 to assist with the project and hope these monies will be used to leverage a 2:1 match of DCR partnership funds this year for a total of $75,000. DCR has hired Lycott Environmental of Spencer, MA to conduct the mechanical harvesting.

“For nearly a decade, CRWA has been committed to eradicating the invasive water chestnut from the Charles River Lakes District through volunteer hand-pulling and mechanical harvesting, said CRWA Executive Director Bob Zimmerman. “Our partnership with DCR and CANOE is crucial as we expand this effort and work to restore this historic section of the Charles.”

“We are delighted to see the state restoring our river,” said Don Swire of CANOE. “We expect that after a few years of mechanical harvesting, invasive water chestnut will be sparse and easy to keep in check. Meanwhile, starting this summer, canoeists, fishermen, and boaters of all sorts can again explore the many scenic coves and channels that in recent years had been off limits to people and wildlife due to the dense growth of invasive vegetation. This is a happy day for all of us who love the river.”

The effort to eradicate invasive vegetation in the Charles is a multi-year effort, and DCR has made a commitment to addressing this issue, although having the necessary funds to complete the mechanical harvesting project is critical.

About Charles River Watershed Association:

Charles River Watershed Association’s mission is to use science, advocacy and the law to protect, preserve and enhance the Charles River and its watershed. One of our country’s first watershed organizations, CRWA formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. Since its earliest days of advocacy, CRWA has figured prominently in major clean-up and watershed protection efforts that have dramatically improved the health of the Charles.