The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Canal Authority have recently started harvesting water chestnuts on southern Lake Champlain with a newly purchased harvesting machine (see photo). Along with funding and harvesting efforts (both mechanical and hand-pulling) from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the Army Corps of Engineers, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the total spent this summer on preventing the spread of water chestnuts will total upwards to $626,000. During 1999, 7,512 cubic yards of the plant were harvested by the VT DEC (one cubic yard is roughly equal to the bed of a pick-up truck.) A New Threat Although control efforts are quite successful at keeping water chestnuts from spreading north on Lake Champlain, a new infestation has been documented on Quebec's South River, a tributary of the Richelieu. Although not in the Lake Champlain Basin, the South River is only a few miles overland from Missisquoi Bay, whose shallow waters would be prime water chestnut habitat. The Quebec Ministry of Environment and the Vermont DEC are working to address this issue, and avoid the entrance of water chestnut from the north. Boaters can help prevent the spread of water chesnuts by reading the "Stop the Spread" column on the right. Hand-Pulling Chestnuts Last year, The Nature Conservancy of Vermont and New York organized volunteers to hand-pull 77 tons of the plant. TNC's efforts were funded in part by an LCBP grant. You can get involved by volunteering to hand pull! The next hand-pulling dates on Lake Champlain are: July 18,19,21,25 and 29 August 3,6,8,13,14,21,25 Call the Nature Conservancy at (802) 265-8645 for specific locations and times. You can also join the TNC and VT DEC for a Celebrate the Lake! hand-pulling event on Wednesday, July 19th on Whitney Creek in Addison, Vermont from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Call (802) 229-0650 to pre-register. What are Water Chestnuts? Water chestnuts, first documented in Lake Champlain in the 1940s, displace other aquatic plant species, are of little food value to wildlife, and form dense mats which change habitat and interfere with recreational activities. Populations are established between Whitehall, New York and Charlotte, Vermont, and in a few other waterbodies in the Basin. The most extensive infestations are in southern Lake Champlain; several hundred acres are estimated to be infested. How Did They Get Here? Water chestnuts native range is Europe, Asia and Africa. It was first introduced into the northeastern United States in 1884, when they were intentionally brought to Collins Lake in New York for their ornamental appearance. From there, they migrated to the Mohowk River and Hudson River, eventually making their way up the Champlain Canal. Can They Be Eaten? Although the water chestnuts found here are different than those used in Chinese food, they can be eaten by humans. They can be eaten fresh, boiled or roasted.

Stop The Spread! Learn to identify the water chestnut and how to distinguish it from other types of plants. Know where water chestnuts can be found on Lake Champlain and elsewhere in the Basin. Always remove any plant material from your boat propeller, trailer or other equipment before moving between waterbodies. Dipose removed plants in the trash. Contact the LCBP at (800) 468-5227 or the Vermont DEC at (802) 241-3777 if you have found a new occurence of water chestnut. Get Involved! Help hand-pull chestnuts. Call the Nature Conservancy at (802) 265-8645. Share your knowledge with other boaters.

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed on WPTZ NEWS CHANNEL 5's series "Champlain 2000" do not necessarily reflect the position of the Lake Champlain Basin Program or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Send questions or comments on this web site to Nicole L. Ballinger at the LCBP.
Last Updated: July 17, 2000