European Water Chestnut (not the kind used in Asian cooking) is an invasive species that forms a dense vegetative mat on the water surface, which drives out native plants, reduces light penetration (thereby depleting oxygen and damaging fish habitat), and causes a safety hazard for boating. It can be controlled by mechanical harvesting and by hand-pulling.

We are again partnering with the Charles River Watershed Assocation to organize a volunteer effort to pull water chestnuts from the Lakes District of the Charles in Newton. If you have never pulled water chestnuts before, sign up for one of the volunteer dates below by contacting Brendan at the CRWA. We'll provide free canoe rental, an introduction to pulling, and a great day on the water getting dirty! Volunteers should wear old, weather-appropriate clothing, shoes that can get wet, and bring rubber or work gloves if you have them.

Thurs., June 25 5:30-8pm

Tues., July 7 5:30-8pm

Sat., July 11 10am-2pm

Sun., July 19 10am-2pm

Contact Brendan at waterchestnut@crwa.org or (781) 788-0007 x243 to Volunteer!

If, instead, you have pulled with us before, simply come to our Newton Boathouse anytime and ask for a map of where we're pulling that day — we'll provide free canoes and baskets!

Visit the CRWA's Water Chestnut Volunteer page for more information.

Water chestnut (not the kind used in Asian cooking) choked a substantial portion of the Lakes District of the Charles River during the mid/late 1990’s. It forms a dense vegetative mat on the water surface, which drives out native plants, reduces light penetration thereby depleting oxygen and damaging fish habitat, and is a safety hazard for boating. For more information, view this Fact Sheet prepared by Ann F. Rhoads and Timothy A. Block of the Morris Arboretum at the University of Pennsylvania.

Water chestnut choked a substantial portion of the Lakes District of the Charles River in Newton and Waltham during the mid-to-late 1990's. Since then, funding from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has supported several summers of mechanical harvesting, but budget cuts have eliminated this program in 2009. Therefore, we need you to help preserve and protect the river!