Water Scouts remove invasive water chestnut near Liffy Island

August 19, 2021| Environment

By: Donna Macalle-Holly

Our Lake Hopatcong Water Scouts program trains and organizes volunteers to find and eradicate invasive water chestnut on Lake Hopatcong. Water chestnut, and similar invasive species, can be transported to Lake Hopatcong via boats, trailers, waterfowl, and other means. Unchecked, they can take over and impoverish entire lake ecosystems.

This summer, Lake Hopatcong Water Scouts located and hand-pulled 32 water chestnut plants (containing 41 rosettes) in the cove south of Liffy Island, in the Woodport section of the lake.  Scouting for water chestnut in this area is like “looking for a needle in a haystack,” due to the excessive growth of lily pads and other aquatic plants. Though not always easy to spot, the continuous monitoring and removal of this aggressive invasive species throughout the lake have proven successful in limiting its spread.  

Water chestnut can form dense mats of rooted vegetation that can be very difficult to navigate through.  Each water chestnut plant can have multiple rosettes and each rosette can produce up to 20 hard, nut-like fruits with four-inch spines that contain sharp barbs. Seeds within the fruits can remain viable for up to 12 years. They spread when rosettes and fruits detach from the stem and float to another area. They also spread by clinging to floating objects like recreational vessels, boat trailers, and fishing equipment. 

You can help prevent the spread of water chestnut and other aquatic invasive species by remembering to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat, fishing equipment, and other gear… in every waterbody, every time. You can also join our team of volunteer Water Scouts! Click HERE for more information.

A quick water chestnut lesson...