NEW YORK—This summer, Finger Lakes National Forest staff joined Finger Lakes PRISM, Seneca Watershed Intermunicipal Organization and local volunteers on Hector Falls Creek for a morning of pulling European water chestnut (Trapa natans).

Hector Falls Creek crosses the southern boundary of the Finger Lakes National Forest and is one of the few streams traversing the forest that continues to have a viable fish population year-round. However, aquatic invasive species such as water chestnut may threaten that viability going into the future. This watershed begins in a wetland adjacent to the Finger Lakes National Forest and ends in Seneca Lake, one of upstate New York’s treasured Finger Lakes from which the region and the forest take their names. Hector Falls Creek could be just the conduit the water chestnut needs to spread rapidly across the area.

Clearly, invasive species know no boundaries, which is why partnerships like this one can be so valuable. The Finger Lakes PRISM started volunteer water chestnut pulls at this location in 2019, and forest staff were quick to jump at the opportunity to work across boundaries to combat a common enemy.

“I really enjoy these types of events and think they play a big role in the community seeing us ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to stewardship of our lands,” said Matthew Kautz, forestry technician. “We’re counting on visitors and partners to help protect the forest; it is only right that the forest gets out there and helps to protect our neighbors as well.” 

This year, the team of volunteers, partner organizations and forest staff, including the forest leadership team, pulled 97.1 pounds of water chestnut from the Hector Falls Creek. Compared to the 458 pounds the team pulled the year before, that may sound disappointing. According to Kautz, it’s quite the opposite.

“It’s encouraging to see the reduction in weight from one year to the next,” said Kautz. “It’s my hope to see less and less over the years and that by continuing these pulls, we’ll prevent the chestnut from spreading down the watershed, mitigating future problems on lands adjacent to the pond.”

Unlike many invasive species, water chestnut is an annual plant. Early detection and a rapid response can greatly reduce the impact it has on the watershed. Harvesting chestnut before seed formation removes seed for growth of new plants. Recurring years of harvests can result in the exhaustion of seeds from the seedbank and eradication of the chestnut from the watershed. Seeds can be viable for multiple years, so repeated efforts are paramount to solving the problem. Populations that go unchecked form dense mats, outcompeting native aquatic species and reducing dissolved oxygen in the waterbody. Ultimately, this can lead to anoxic conditions that kill fish.