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#Post#: 2455--------------------------------------------------
Time to get serious about Invasive Water Chestnuts around
Howland Island & Seneca River
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 25, 2023, 1:11 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Well, the nice, crystal clear fishing channel we enjoyed on the
Seneca River most of the Spring has now turned to a bed of Water
Chestnuts that a large turtle (or small child) could "crowd
surf" on. It's very thick by our home, and so I decided to learn
all about this invasive species that seems to be a MAJOR ISSUE
along the "abandoned" sections of the Seneca River around
Howland Island and the Upper Montezuma.
[attachimg=1]
I'm an Engineer by my past career and in retirement I'm trying
to apply that skill to issues many of us share, like Trapa
Natans, or the European Water Chestnut. There's plenty of
information online, especially on where it's an issue in NYS and
also, how to eradicate it. It seems that this is an ANNUAL weed,
a water plant that can grow up to 20 or more seeds each year so
the math says this can take over a waterway in no time. People,
this is a RIVER KILLER invasive species. And it really needs a
solution, before it infects every body of water in and around
this area.
Here's the information from the NYS DEC on this invasive plant,
their website claims the DEC also has programs to try and reduce
the overpopulated waterways, but my neighbors tell me that no
one ever comes here from NYS Canals, or NYS Dept of
Environmental Conservation. This and other websites claim that
the seeds from this plant can last up to 12 or more years, some
once someone ties to clear it the effort has to be maintained
until the very last plants are gone... no seeds, not annual
plants.
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/aiswatercfs.pdf
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/109536.html#York
And here's the Invasive Species page from the NYS Canal
Corporation, the agency that can fix the issue if they start to
deal with it quickly. Right now the NYSCC is centered on the
Round Goby fish issue and hopefully with NYPA's lead they will
get the Water Chestnut Invasive Species Program started soon.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/community/environmental/Invasive_Species.html
We were told by our new neighbors, that the past owners who
lived here, pulled it out using rowboats each year... so we
thought we would try that. It sounded like a good idea until we
realized this tiny raking idea would hardly make a dent in the
issue here. And as we look up stream, seeing green beds lining
both shorelines, we know that the best we can hope for is a
miracle, or something close to it. Here's a few images of a
manual clearing day here, and a link to a time lapse video
clearing our boat launch.
[attachimg=2]
VIDEO LINK -
HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ArHp5hFJVPoRetSfvit29PkJ3I4IR4Fg/view?usp=drive_link
Well, I'm sure this issue will get attention soon. It's CHOKING
off the upper Seneca River, where the MAJORITY of kayakers and
canoeist love to paddle. It's a favorite spot for many local
fisherman, as the Bass here are monsters. But all that has
stopped, the last kayaker we saw got stuck halfway through green
mass and turned back. We used to see 10 paddlers a day,
now...it's almost zilch. The public is NOT going to tolerate
this for long, and there are PLENTY of solutions that need to be
tried.
As for us, we are still learning, still working on this
problem.... there's more to come, and hopefully the Calvary is
just coming over the hill...
Here's a great website to find out where these Invasive Species
outbreaks are:
HTML https://imapinvasives.natureserve.org/
And here's a view of the map around Howland Island... you can
see that Water Chestnut issue starts upstream near the Town of
Montezuma and just past Willow Grove. Time to start looking at
the source and working the problem from there perhaps?
[attachimg=3]
#Post#: 2456--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYPA to the RESCUE - Invasive Water Chestnuts around Howland
Island & Seneca River
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 25, 2023, 1:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Just when it looked hopeless, like we would be spending the rest
of our lives being "aquatic weed pullers" along our new home on
the Seneca River, a miracle happened...
That miracle... New York State spent money on something that
will help each and every neighbor along the Seneca - Erie River
section of the NYS Canal System. We are not talking about a few
thousand dollars to make it look like they were working on the
issue of Invasive Species along the Canal System, but they spent
BIG BUCKS on a Capital Equipment Purchase for a machine that
will literally clean ALL the issues with invasive water
vegetation from 2023 and beyond. New York Power Authority paid
for the machine AND they have a couple experts from NYS DEC's
branch of Fish & Wildlife learning how to run it.
This harvesting machine showed up in our backyard, it's a water
chestnut beast of a machine, called the Eco-Harvester. It's made
by a company in Waupaca Wisconsin called Silver Mist Aquatics,
and is EXACTLY what was needed for the NYS Barge Canal System.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://www.silvermistaquatics.com/harvester-info
Here's a video from the company showing how it works
HTML https://vimeo.com/104652418
We watched this machine run for awhile, and the folks who were
operating it saw us and came over for a chat. Seeing it clear
the channel from a distance was pretty cool, seeing it up close
was better. This machine was built for one thing... removing any
floating invasive species of water plant. The conveyor/roller
setup lowers just below the surface of the water and captures
the plant with pressure and drives it to a waiting tote that
hold about 4 cubic yards of harvested plants. The whole thing
works in reverse to empty the collected plants and use the same
conveyor to offload to a waiting trailer on shore.
What's best about THIS solution... it brings in the WHOLE PLANT,
root, stem and those pesky seeds.
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
We took a couple videos, not great but you can see this machine
in operation, right here on the Seneca River, in and around
Howland Island.
HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CRtxF2IF1lLjhMKMPVweL9i115q_eVTv/view?usp=drive_link
HTML https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CTAkp-aw89QYAU_ifWcaUHIfW8CPxS12/view?usp=drive_link
Now for the best part... New York Power Authority placed this
EXACTLY where it's needed most... not in Albany near
Headquarters, Not in some far off place where it needed to be
trucked around for use. They looked at the NYS Map of Invasive
Species and dropped this machine right in Cayuga County at the
Northern Montezuma Field Office of the NYSDEC... the epicenter
of the water chestnut invasion.
[attachimg=4]
Nothing could be better, except for the single fact that the
team running this machine is also very passionate about their
job, they know how large this issue is, and they work for the
Fish & Wildlife division... those will benefit the most from
removal of this green invader. If you get a chance, contact
Frank Morlock and let him know that you support this work. If
you need his contact info, ask, we will provide it to guest or
members as needed. Frank is a Technician and helped spec this
machine as the solution.
Mr Morlock will put you in contact with someone who needs to
hear that the Seneca - Erie Neighborhood sees this Eco-Harvester
as a BIG STEP in the right direction to clear up the mess made
by the NYS Canal Corporation when the "shortcut" was added to
the Barge Canal in the early 20th century that also started the
slow demise of the ORIGINAL Seneca River that lies NORTH of the
Erie.
Frank also made it a point to say that all Seneca River
neighbors need to temper their expectations in year 1, as they
learn how to best operate the machine and dispose of the
collected plants. We saw them working on Day 3 of ownership with
this new Eco-Harvester. The two we saw are learning how close
they can get to docks and safely pull the plants, they are also
learning how to minimize the time to dump the unit when it's
full... all of this material has to dry and be hauled far away
from the waterways or burned so that no seeds end up back in the
canal system.
THE PROBLEM ON THE UPPER SENECA
With only a fraction of the water flowing north around Howland
Island the whole idea of making this a Paddler's Dream is a
nightmare of choked waterways that get no love from the NYS
canal Corporation. NYPA has the foresight to know that ALL of
the Canal System is at risk from this green invader, the proof
is in the map. You only need to see how thick the spread is near
Howland and how it's also filtering downstream.
In conclusion.... once again it's KUDOS to the New York State
Power Authority, for identifying the opportunity to make that
Reimagine Program that much better, by putting the right tool,
in the right hands, to get the tasks at hand accomplished. The
move to a recreational Erie Canal System will depend on people
being able to paddle these unique areas like Howland Island and
the Montezuma preserve, Right now the river is choked off by a
green monster. called Trapa Natans
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/aiswatercfs.pdf
Now the bigger question is this... What can Seneca-Erie
Neighbors do to help?
Is it possible for LOCAL government agencies to assist in
supporting the operation of this Eco Harvester by using the Erie
Canal National Heritage Grant Program?
Can neighbors contribute through a Go Fund Me rally to offset
the cost of operating this solution, in exchange for having
their waterfronts cleared of water chestnuts?
Is there an opportunity for a private company to maybe get a
second unit in operation and help clear NY waterways under
contract?
How can Seneca River Neighborhoods & Neighbors get more
information or on a list to have their riverfronts looked at for
possible inclusion in this new NYPA Invasive Species Program?
It may be time to reach out to Rebecca Hughes and Brian
Stratton... this solution needs to be working full time to
capture this season's new crop of water chestnut seeds... they
mature & fall off in July & August.
#Post#: 2469--------------------------------------------------
Re: Time to get serious about Seneca River Water Chestnuts -
Update Mid-July
DIR By: Doug K
Date: July 9, 2023, 7:49 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Coming back to this topic so that the water chestnut issue can
be better understood in the Upper Montezuma Preserve.
In short, thanks to the fine efforts of NYS, the Seneca River is
now completely choked off for travel around Howland Island. The
NYS Canal Corporation has grown another bumper crop of Trapa
Natans this year, or better known as the Water Chestnut. In fact
it's most likely 20X larger than last years' crop, as that how
fast it multiplies.
Here's the current map of the Water Chestnut "invasion" along
the Erie canal & Seneca River junction & downstream... note the
gap upstream just out of the Cayuga Lake outlet
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://imapinvasives.natureserve.org/imap/services/page/map.html
NYS DEC Website on the "invader" that pesky water chestnut -
HTML https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/109536.html#York
So why does New York State Canals (NYSCC) and it's parent the
New York Power Authority (NYPA) being called out... well it's
simple. They own the major cause of the spread and propagation
of this invasive species which is the change of water level when
the decision was made to merge Erie Canal water with Seneca
Basin water. We found this nice read about the issues with the
Erie Canals impact to the Montezuma National Wildlife Reserve on
a US Fish & Wildlife Service website.
HTML https://www.fws.gov/refuge/montezuma/initiatives
Here's what they stated about their current initiatives:
Initiatives
In an effort to provide the greatest diversity of habitats,
biological management activities primarily focus on habitat
restoration, water level management, and land acquisition.
Wetland Restoration/Montezuma Wetlands Complex Partnership
As an establishing member of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex
(Complex) partnership, the Montezuma NWR focuses much of its
resources on wetland restoration. The Complex partnership
includes the Montezuma NWR, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation Northern Montezuma Wildlife
Management Area, Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex,
Montezuma Audubon Center, Ducks Unlimited, and The Nature
Conservancy. Complex partners work together to restore the
historic Montezuma marshes—50,000 acres of wetlands that were
drained in the early 1900s as a result of canal construction.
Water Level Management for Priority Species
The 10,000-acre Montezuma NWR is located in what was
historically called the Montezuma Marshes. The water level
within these marshes has been lowered by 10 feet for the
construction and maintenance of the NY State Canal System,
giving rise to the need to create and manage impoundments to
provide historic habitat conditions.
First thing to note is the list of organizations involved trying
to remedy the issue like invasive water chestnuts in the upper
Seneca Preserve... quite a few:
1. Montezuma NWR
2. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
3. Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area
4. Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex
5. Montezuma Audubon Center
6. Ducks Unlimited
7. The Nature Conservancy
8. US Fish & Wildlife Service
Second thing to notice... who's not listed in that group looking
for remedies:
1) New York State Canal Corporation (working on flood problems,
maybe too busy to notice water chestnut?)
2) New York Power Authority (recently purchased a harvesting
machine, but can't support it's operation?)
3) Energy Companies working in the Finger Lakes & Central NY
(uncontrolled water releases enhance the issue)
4) Finger Lakes Cottage & Community Association (these groups
set lake levels)
There's an excellent website that shows where all invasive
species of any type are located anywhere in the Country, I
zoomed in on NYS and only the water chestnut invasions for that
map shown above.
Those "green dot's really do NOT do justice to the problem, you
have to look a little deeper, zoom a little closer in the map to
see just how congested the Seneca River has become since these
plants started surfacing in May-June.; The water chestnut
invasion has choked the main channel to nothing, as shown in the
close-up map view below.
The bottom picture was taken as a brave kayaker tried to
navigate through what was left after the NYS DEC Crew came thru
a couple weeks ago with the WCM... Water Chestnut Muncher, also
known as the Eco-Harvester.
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.fws.gov/refuge/montezuma/get-involved
Now there are some GREAT organizations that are trying to help
alleviate the issues with this years bumper crop of water
chestnut, the MARSH! Group is in the process of hand pulling
many areas around Montezuma right now... here's a bit of them
from the Montezuma NWR:
MARSH! – The Montezuma Alliance for the Restoration of Species
and Habitats is part of a larger effort to restore, protect, and
enhance wildlife habitat on nearly 50,000 acres in the Montezuma
Wetlands Complex. We formed this volunteer program to support
the habitat restoration efforts of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, Montezuma Audubon Center and other partners at
Montezuma.
This group works on controlling invasive species in grassland,
shrubland, forest, marsh and river. The work is hands-on as we
cut and pull invasive species, collect native seeds, and replant
with natives that will be more beneficial to wildlife & less
harmful to Montezuma habitats overall!
[attachimg=3]
Website:
HTML https://friendsofmontezuma.org/projects-programs/join-marsh/
It's beyond me why any group, like MARSH!, would pull these
slimy plants out by hand, when there's a perfectly good machine
to do that work PARKED at the Montezuma NWR at the US Fish &
Game Service office. Of course I also can't figure out why NY
State has "parked" their big solution when EVERY DAY these
plants go unharvester is another day that seeds can drop and
start next years crop.
WHAT"S NEXT?
If you are a property owner along the Seneca River please
respond with pictures and a location where the water chestnut is
closing off the river. Maybe if enough of us start posting, the
New York State Power Authority will find some funding to clear
the problem that their new subsidiary has brought along with
them when NYPA acquired the NYSCC with the stroke of the
Governor's pen in 2017.
If you have water access to remove the collected chestnuts,
that's even better. What's needed here is a JOINT EFFORT between
new York State and homeowners to clear this inavder that has now
threatened to kill the upper Seneca it has become so thick.
Allowing NYS agency access, to empty the Eco-Harvester, is a key
to getting as much of this invader out of the river as possible
BEFORE the plants reseed the entire river.
Here's a great area to start clearing, it's the BIG BOTTLENECK
at Hard Point, where the "big cut" in the early 1900s took all
the water away and the lower water levels have become a breeding
ground for this terrible plant.
We have 6 acres along Hard Point, and a few locations of boat
launches that neighbors would offer to empty the collected
plants into waiting NYS Trailers. Here's what the Seneca River
looks like right now at Hard Point.
[attachimg=4]
You can find it on the Invasive species map... it's the BIG
green dot
[attachimg=5]
Folks, do you know the biggest waste there is? It's wasted TIME,
you can't get it back... ever.
But do you know what the second biggest waste there is? It's
good intentions that never get implemented... wasted solutions.
Hey NYPA... are you listening?
Can the ECNA buy enough gasoline to run your Eco-Harvester and
start clearing the mess the Erie Canal has created at Hard
Point?
#Post#: 2471--------------------------------------------------
NYS DEC is working on Invasive Water Chestnuts around Howland
Island & Seneca River
DIR By: Doug K
Date: July 20, 2023, 9:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
My wife & I are new to the central NY area, and Port Byron, so
we are still learning about "Life on the River" as some of our
neighbors have termed it.
But one thing is for certain when you talk to "riverfolk" around
the Seneca River and it's watershed... everyone who lives around
here says the water chestnuts have been an ongoing issue, and it
seems NOBODY in New York State actually cared that the upper
Seneca River was being decimated... changed forever by this
invasive plant. That water chestnut problem was basically being
ignored, until NOW!
It only takes a handful of concerned citizens to get the right
people talking about SOLUTIONS instead of always pointing out
problems.
These are problems that most people already know about, and now
they just want to know those issues are being worked on.
And all the river neighbors just want to see some ACTION to fix
issues, not just words describing what we already know and live
daily. We talked to one woman who sold and moved from her
cottage near Mosquito Point because the water chestnuts were so
thick they could NOT launch a rowboat. She said many tried for
years to get anyone to listen and help... but to no avail.
My wife Sandy & I are some of those concerned citizens, and so
we will are involved now, and will share what has happened since
the last post. And we have been working with the NYS Canal &
Power Authority for more than 5 years now, working on other Erie
Canal Neighbor issues.
Hopefully the status quo will change, hopefully NYS has finally
turned the corner on this invasive species, with a little help
from NYPA...
We have been having a running conversation with many of the
parties involved with this invasive species eradication. We have
representatives from the New York State Canal Corporation & NYS
Dept of Environmental Conservation, both Region 7 & 8, to New
York Power Authority, and several agencies around Howland
Island.
US Fish & Game is even involved and one of the leading advocates
for cleaning up the problem with these invasive plants.
[attachimg=1]
We have learned more about how the Eco-Harvester was funded and
also who owns it, and will run it on a daily or by project area
need. It may surprise some but actually was the BEST move that
could have been made by NYPA. NYS Canals does NOT own or work on
the upper Seneca region, but they DO use it to store excess
WATER to operate the Erie Canal. And the running of the Erie
Canal has a direct influence on what happens on the Seneca
River.
Putting the Eco-Harvester in the hands of the New York State DEC
means ALL of the arguments end, the NYSDEC does have
jurisdiction over ANY INVASIVE SPECIES, no matter where it
lives...
Here's an explanation from one of the top public facing managers
in NYPA explaining how the Eco-Harvester solution will be
applied:
Hi Doug,
To clarify, NYPA purchased the Eco-harvester as part of our
broader efforts to aid in wetlands restoration, but it belongs
to NYS DEC, as does the planning responsibility for operation
and staffing. Like other employers across the state, DEC has
limited staff resources and it does take time to operate the
harvester and to offload the material on shore or onto a barge.
For the DEC folks, is there any scenario in which you would
allow non-employees to become certified to operate the
harvester? There are volunteer orgs who have been pulling water
chestnut by hand for years now who are very dedicated to the
cause. Have you sought to enter into agreements with waterfront
residents for the disposal of plant material so that you might
spend less time in transit?
Likewise, the Upstate Flood Mitigation Task Force has been a
multi-agency endeavor with Canal Corp as chair but DEC, DHSES,
and DOT playing key roles in the effort. Among the recommended
measures, each agency will be responsible for those that fall
within their statutory mandates.
So DEC will lead efforts related to floodplain and wetlands
restoration and numeric modeling, Canals will lead on
engineering studies of its structures, and DHSES will lead on
any property buy-out initiatives, etc. Each of our agencies is
bound by our legal mandates.
That said, we are continuing to work collaboratively to combine
resources and to share information so that we can begin to make
meaningful progress for residents of the Oswego and Mohawk River
Basins.
Now I am sure some of you are checking to see if "Hell has
actually frozen over".
Because that's when some of you said that NYS would get around
to fixing the water chestnut issues along the Seneca River NORTH
of the Erie Canal.
And look, in just over a week the NYE DEC has started running
the Eco-Harvester around the Howland Island preserve, in what
looks like a large scale training exercise on the new piece of
equipment, and how best to operate it. These are a few images
from yesterday, when the DEC Team ran through the main channel
about half a dozen times. Hopefully they will be back again soon
to clear more so that this years crop of new seeds doesn't just
put all this back to square one... a choked off river system.
The channel is flowing again, we can see water moving and right
after these teams finished up there were kayakers ready and
waiting to use the waterway.
ECO-HARVESTER TEAM #1
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Here's a nice video of the Eco-Harvester in action, it takes the
right balance of boat speed, conveyor angle and drum force, to
pull an infestation this thick out of the water. A few times the
machine was clogged, and had to be cleared, but as each team
member got time with the trainer and the others on the team.
they started to pull more water chestnuts, with less issues, and
in shorter times. Hopefully more training is planned, there's
still about 4 acres left to pull right in this area.
Eco-Harvester on the Upper Seneca River
HTML https://youtu.be/GSsWAtrXOYY
So KUDOS to new York State DEC for a great job getting this
program up and running. From the view of the ECNA, a week to get
rolling is a wonderful change, from the normal 18 month
"discussions" that always seemed to plague NYS programs from
being as effective as they could be. This solution was put to
work immediately.
And you can all see the result...
Hopefully the NYSDEC has realized that eventually, ALL areas
around the Seneca need to be "swept" once, and then measurement
recorded on how much less there is in subsequent years.
Eventually this new piece of machinery has to have OPERATIONAL
expectations on how much it can clear, in what amount of time
and at what cost... so that the entire problem with invasive
water chestnuts can be brought under control.
Seneca Neighbors will ALSO need to take a part in the solution,
clearing around their docks enough by hand so the machine can
get in to get the rest of it. Some neighbors will have to help
by allowing access to dump captured plants for removal along the
shoreline at key points along the river. Capturing chestnuts is
one part, hauling them away from the water is another, and
disposal is yet another step in the long process of eradication.
If you think you can help... please reply to this post.
And it's ALSO time for our Civic & Town Leaders to step up...
there's a grant program available to help fund projects like
this.
[attachimg=4]
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/community/grant.html
The NYS Canal Corporation is ready and willing to work with
local municipalities to correct past issues, and work towards a
"reimagined" Erie Canal system that replies less on commercial
use and power boaters, and is instead geared towards a
recreational.
It's time for local governments to get involved, write some
words to get a grant to help clear these critical wildlife areas
in and around the NYS Canal System so that the entire Erie Canal
National Heritage Corridor is kept healthy and sustainable well
into it's next 100 years.
Working together we can accomplish ANYTHING we put our minds to,
as long as our hearts are in it as well...
#Post#: 2649--------------------------------------------------
Re: Time to get serious about Invasive Water Chestnuts around
Howland Island & Seneca River
DIR By: Doug K
Date: October 2, 2024, 9:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Well, it seems that the Water Chestnut issue isn't as big of an
issue as the Common Reed is in the Howland Island - Montezuma
Wildlife area.
This just out from the DEC, seems that the Town of Conquest will
try to control this invasive species first. Looks like 110 acres
of the land/water around Howland Island will get some attention
soon.
HTML https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2024-09-25/completed-application/town-of-conquest-northern-montezuma-wildlife-management-area#footer-translate
Who knows, maybe the Water Chestnut is "next in line"... or
maybe that's wishful thinking.
Time will tell... but it appears that NY State is taking
action.. they have formed a group that meets regularly to
address concetns..
HTML https://dec.ny.gov/nature/invasive-species/resources-regulations/invasive-species-council-and-advisory-committee
#Post#: 2650--------------------------------------------------
Re: Time to get serious about Invasive Water Chestnuts around
Howland Island & Seneca River
DIR By: Michael Caswell
Date: October 2, 2024, 8:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I have to wonder why engineering principals aren't taught more
in schools. There are many folks who consider themselves to be
engineers, but few who have the natural gift of seeing through
the crap and solving the problems. I consider Douglas
Kucmerowski and myself amongst those who have that gift.
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