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Volunteer Invasive Water Chestnut Removal Project 2010 Season

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 all our volunteers, including groups from:
- ITA Software
- Keurig
- Watertown Middle School Science Club
- Netage Solutions, Inc.
- People to People Ambassador Program
- REI, Inc.
- Trustees of Reservations Youth Corps
- Zeo, Inc.
- Rediscovery, Inc.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Crew
- Boston Cares
- Down East Educational Development Services
- BETA Group, Inc
- The Boston Volunteer Meetup
- The Ariel Group
- Brandeis University
- Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Broadmoor Canoe program
- Remah Camping Movement
- Boston Marriot Newton Hotel
- Newton Girl Scouts
- Engineers without Boarders USA - Boston Professional Chapter
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
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. |