EVENTS

Volunteer Invasive Water Chestnut Removal Project

Photo credits, from top: L. Wickham, L. Smith

The 2010 water chestnut removal season was a great sucess! Over 1,000 amazing volunteers recently cleared this invasive plant, from the river in Weston and Waltham. Watch CRWA's video of their messy, spirited and highly successful efforts!  For every complete viewing of the video the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to CRWA.  Click here to watch the video.

Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers and Charlesbank Estates for supporting this year's water chestnut removal efforts!

Information about Water Chestnuts

Water chestnut, an invasive aquatic plant, grows very densely, and can choke the water in shallow sections of the river and along the shoreline, severely limiting light (a critical element of aquatic ecosystems), decreasing oxygen in the water, and preventing boat passage. In order to prevent water chestnuts from spreading, the plants need to be removed before they drop their spiky seeds into the river, which happens in early August.

Click here for a fact sheet about water chestnuts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Partnership with Jack Johnson and All at Once

CRWA teamed up with Jack Johnson on his 2010 To The Sea Tour and All At Once, a social action network connecting nonprofits with people who want to become active in their local and world communities. All At Once comes to life at www.AllAtOnce.org and at every Jack Johnson concert in the Village Green, a collection of interactive booths where you can get educated, get inspired, and connect face-to-face with CRWA and other local and national non-profits.

Here's how you can take action:

• Help us raise funds!  Jack Johnson’s new charity is matching every dollar contributed to us at the show or directly to our organization between now and October 15.   Please make a contribution right now and your money will be doubled by the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation!
• Watch our video! Watch a short video about our exciting, volunteer-based water chestnut removal program.  For every complete viewing of the video the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to CRWA.  Click here to watch the video.
• Become a Member of All At Once!  Visit www.AllAtOnce.org  to check out what you can do to get involved.

CRWA's Eivy Monroy with Jack Johnson on the Village Green before
his July 10th concert
Photo credit: J. Tobey

2009 Water Chestnut Removal Report

In June, July and August 2009, more than 500 volunteers picked invasive water chestnuts from the Newton and Waltham area of the Charles River. For the third year, Charles River Watershed Association and Charles River Canoe and Kayak partnered to provide volunteers with canoes, buckets and guidance on how to pick the chestnuts.

Volunteers of all ages helped to beautify the river and restore the ecosystem. CRWA hosted five different public events during the season, where individual volunteers were welcome onto the river to help out. In addition, we hosted volunteer groups from local camps and businesses.

Many thanks to all our volunteers, including groups from:

• US Bank
• The Cadmus Group
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Boston Cares
• The City School
• Newton North High School
• Mazemakers Camp
• Broadmoor Audubon Camp
• Camp Westwood
• Student Conservation Association

For More Information

Fact sheet about water chestnuts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

News video coverage by WCVB Channel 5 TV, Volunteer battle dangerous plant species from July 2009

Death aquatic article in the Boston Herald, July 2009

View a news video by NECN on Cleaning up invasive aquatic plants from the Charles River from July 2009

Read an article about water chestnut removal that appeared in the Newton Tab in July 2007.