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#Post#: 2572--------------------------------------------------
Howland Island Water Chestnut Invasion 2024 - When will the DEC
start Harvesting?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 27, 2024, 9:17 am
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And a very famous line from a movie series says it all... "I'll
Be Back".
That's what the Howland Island water chestnut said as it sank
out of sight last October.
This years invasive species crop of Trapa Natans, or commonly
known as water chestnut or caltrops, has reached the surface of
the water... again. We have discussed this issues in the past
and had some positive discussions with the NYS DEC folks who
were given a harvesting machine last year and should have enough
staff trained to put it to good use this year.
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com/seneca-river-erie-canal-community-discussion/time-to-get-serious-about-invasive-water-chestnuts-around-howland-island-seneca-/
This green floating annual plant grows along the Seneca River,
all around Howland Island, and will eventually choke off any
hope of using canoes, kayaks, or small powered crafts. It is
listed on NYS DEC website as an invasive species, and has been
mapped, studied, and discussed enough to know it's time to take
more aggressive action to get it under control, it will NEVER be
totally eradicated from the waterways & lakes in CNY but can be
controlled, with the right resources.
HTML https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_caltrop
So how bad is the water chestnut issue around Howland Island?
Take a look at this video, prepared from a stationery camera
overlooking the East Side of Howland Island. The change you see
is approximately 1 month of time. The video starts around April
22, 2024 when the river was high from Spring rains, and
continues to the last image, that was captured this morning, May
27, 2024. You will see how fast this invasive plant grows, from
not even visible, to almost clogging the main channel of the
Upper Seneca River within about 30 days.
HTML https://youtu.be/e8PFq194Ag4
Most of what has happened is due to the creation of the NYS
Barge Canal, back in 1926. With little to no regard for the
impacts on nature or the eco-system of the Montezuma Wildlife
area, the NYS Canal entity of that day decided to move the Erie
Canal and connect it with the Seneca River. In the course of
doing that they drained tens of thousands of Montezuma Wetlands
and also made a 5 mile "Blue Cut" from Montezuma on the west to
just past Howland Island at what's known as Mosquito Point.
[attachimg=1]
That single change altered the dynamics of the Seneca River
FOREVER!
Hydraulics 101 says that water flows downhill, and seeks the
path of least resistance. By making a much wider "shortcut" on
the River, about twice as wide than the existing river width,
the water changed course, and flow was slowed to 2 mph, to meet
NYS Canal Law regulations. So now the upper Seneca has almost NO
downstream flow, and at times, it actually flows in the opposite
direction around Howland Island.
All this just to save travel time & distance along the Erie
Canal in 1926, at the cost of the local eco-system & economy.
Towns like Port Byron & Weedsport lost everything.
To be fair, the NYS Canals has tried to make good on actively
supporting the cleanup of this invasive species, they footed the
bill for a new harvesting machine to cleanup the Howland Island
area, along with other areas of Water Chestnut overgrowth. But
they still are not recognizing this as "their issue" on the NYS
Canals Website. They talk about other plants, and the Round
Goby, but not a word about Water Chestnut. Even though this
section of the Erie Canal System has the largest, most prolific
issue with this invasive species according to the NYS Invasive
Mapping Website. So why not?
[attachimg=3]
HTML https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/
The ECNA is trying to change that. Having the equipment for the
task is one part of the puzzle, having the Engineers to plan
it's operation, layout a harvesting schedule and the provide
staff to man the operation is another HUGE piece of this puzzle.
It's time that the NYS Canal Authority recognizes the issues
that this " national treasure" has caused for NYS and many
communities along the Central NY waterway.
HTML https://www.canals.ny.gov/community/environmental/Invasive_Species.html
The NYS DEC, who was GIVEN this harvesting equipment, was not
given anything else. No operational funding, no resources or
manpower to run it. That was all left up to the NYS Department
of Environmental Conservation, who is already understaffed &
overworked. That harvester could be running right now, but we
haven't seen it at all, and the channel is now about as wide as
3 canoes and narrowing each day.
It's time that the CREATORS of the water chestnut problem own up
to it, that would be the NYS Canal Authority. They need to
support this Water Chestnut effort by adding information to
their website and helping to foster a collaborative effort to
REIMAGINE the water chestnut solution. They need to help
understand the BEST METHODS to dispose of the plants, without
encumbering the harvest operation. And they need to supply some
manpower to help with the effort. This is a PERFECT job posting
for their summer intern program, make it happen.
Contact the NYS Staff using the information below. These
individuals are the decision-makers in this whole puzzle. We've
also included contact info for the PR Director of the NYS Canal
Corporation, Rebecca Hughes.
[attachimg=2]
BRIAN STRATTON - Brian.Stratton@canals.ny.gov
(
HTML https://www.linkedin.com/in/director-stratton-74143968/)
DAVID MELLEN - david.mellen@nypa.com
(
HTML https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-r-mellen-p-e-62a33657/)
REBECCA HUGHES - PR Director - rebecca.hughes@nypa.gov
(
HTML https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterling-hughes/)
If anyone is interested in a job with the DEC, Regions 7 & 8 are
always looking for good workers, who love calling the outdoors
"their office", and aren't afraid to tackle tough jobs, like
fighting back invasive species. Give Frank Morlock a call and he
can point you in the right direction. Maybe we will see you
along the Seneca River someday, helping to fix long standing
problems like invasive water chestnuts.
FRANK MORLOCK - frank.morlock@dec.ny.gov
It's time to restore the upper Seneca River, all around Howland
Island to it's former state, when all nations of Native
Americans gathered here BY RIVER, to start their journey to
summer quarters closer to Lake Ontario. It's about 1 week or two
away from becoming another area that will frustrate kayakers and
cause needless "rescues" for human-powered watercraft that found
it impossible to make their way through the water chestnut
infestation.
There is a word for water in the Cayuga People's
(Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ) Language, it is Oneghánǫhs.
There is no word for river. There is also no word for chestnut,
invasive, or for a plant, I'm sure they did not have to navigate
a " Onráhadęˀ Oneghánǫhs" (Green Water) each and
every Spring, or they would have written stories about it.
Credence Clearwater Revival has written about the upper
Seneca... in a tune called Green River. It's a perfect fit... "
I can hear the Bullfrogs calling me..."
We will continue to post updates and let all those who love to
paddle this section of river when the channel is blocked, or if
we see it cleared... stay tuned for more.
#Post#: 2573--------------------------------------------------
Re: Howland Island Channel Width Update - May 27
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 27, 2024, 11:09 am
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Managed to get the canoe out for it's maiden voyage of 2024,
just to capture a few pictures of the channel around Howland
Island for all our readers.
As previously mentioned the channel is narrowing on the EAST
side of Howland Preserve. Originally thought it was about 12'
wide, but it appears to be MUCH LESS, maybe down to 6' now. I
have a rowing canoe, so oars were a challenge, but seemed to be
able to get through, with a few clumps of chestnut stuck on the
oars at all times. I left the paddle at home, that was a
mistake.
My guess, from a newbie along the river, maybe another 3 weeks
and the channel will be choked off completely.
But there may be some help... there are about 3-4 airboats who
frequent this section of river, they might churn the water
enough to loosen some plant life. There are also a few flat-tail
boaters who fish this side frequently, they WILL cut up some
water chestnut and it will float down to the Erie-Seneca River
channel by Mosquito Point. We can only hope that the opening to
Bass Season next Saturday brings out the fisherman & woman.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Just an idea for the NYS DEC & Canal Corporation... have you
ever considered building a "food plot" on Howland Island to hold
all of this greenery?
It's an annual plant, so it has seeds, and it has nourishment,
both are loved by the animals around the Howland Wildlife area.
We routinely see deer wading through the shallows, eating water
chestnut as they walk. They gobble it right up. And any seeds,
those black thorned caltrops, the squirrels & other small
rodents eat through the hard shell to get those tasty seeds.
[attachimg=4]
Or an even better idea, have Senator Chuck Schumer to contact
the Heads of State For India for help, yes the Country.
Ask them if they would like these plants, they only need to
support removal & transport. The water chestnut is prized
throughout India as medicine, and surely the pharmaceutical
companies there would love to get a cargo ship FULL of these
plants after they are harvested. Who knows, maybe it could be
the start of a new "student work visa program" for young folks
from India. Spend a summer in the United States of America,
harvesting Trapa Natans for the "good of all of India". Or maybe
our own USA medical experts should look into the use of this
natural remedy.
An excerpt from a medical paper review:
Trapa natans Is one of the most important medicinal plants of
Indian Ayurveda due to its use in the treatment of stomach
disorders, genitourinary system, liver, kidney and
spleen disorders. Based on pharmacological potential Trapa
natans L. has been recognized as the most significant plant
species belonging to Trapa genus.
HTML https://intapi.sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/sjecr-2021-0032#:~:text=Trapa%20natans%20Is%20one%20of,and%20spleen%20disorders%20(6).
It's time to act, or there will be very little kayaking around
Howland Island this season.
More to come, stay tuned...
#Post#: 2574--------------------------------------------------
Re: Howland Island Water Chestnut Invasion has been properly
reported
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 27, 2024, 11:29 am
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There is a GREAT tool for reporting Invasive Species in NY
State, you can find it here :
HTML https://www.nyimapinvasives.org/report-an-invasive
And yes, we have reported this Water Chestnut "invasion" using
their fairly easy reporting tool. Of course, we already know
that all parties know about this, we have been told that Howland
Island is one of the WORST spots in all of NY State for Water
Chestnut. The east side of the island is a little better than
the west side, according to Mr. Morlock of Zone 8 DEC.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
So now I suggest others start to report any outbreaks of
invasive species around their waterfront locations. Have to
believe that the "squeeky wheel" sysndrom applies here,
hopefully with more reports of water chestnut coming from the
public, there will be more activity to clean up the mess by NYS
#Post#: 2582--------------------------------------------------
Re: Howland Island Water Chestnut Invasion 2024 - When will the
DEC start Harvesting?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: June 6, 2024, 6:05 am
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It's simply amazing how quickly NY State Agencies respond to
these issues being brought to the public's attention. Within one
week of posting this Howland Island story we see some clearing
start along the Seneca River near Howland Island, along the East
Side of the Upper Seneca. Of course it was only a few hours, but
ANYTHING HELPS.
[attachimg=1]
Now before you start your boat motors or grab your kayak paddle,
it looked more like a training exercise than an attempt to
collect all the Caltrops. A few passes were made to widen the
main channel but it didn't really clear anything, maybe it's a
little worse now. It appeared that 2 or 3 crews were being
educated on how to use the harvesting machine, from collection
to unload and everything in between.
[attachimg=2]
Now to be fair, conditions were not optimal for water chestnut
harvesting, the river level is way down, making it harder for
the harvesting equipment to operate. Factor in that the removal
process doesn't address any particular area of infestation,
instead opting to try and clear a channel that never stays
clear. Even the local Canada Geese population has a difficult
time getting thru the mess.
[attachimg=3]
So, just a word of advice for peddlers, bring a cell phone in
case you get stranded and need rescue. And a word of advice for
the NYS DEC... hire an Engineer to map out how to clear the
problem away, from identifying optimal harvesting conditions to
layout of the harvesting paths. There are some well known
methods to clear large areas of water, whether it's fresh water
or frozen. Engineers will shine a light on those, and the
results will be much better than what's happening today. This is
a very LARGE problem, and will only be solved by a series of
small, compact solutions, tailored to each location of
infestation.
Take a look at the new "Caltrop Clog" that's now formed and
closing the narrowing channel near Howland Island once again.
This is mostly due to a complete lack of "flowing water" on the
Seneca River all due to how the NYS Canal System is being run by
the NYS Canal Corporation. It's time to RETHINK the NYS canal
Law that dictates a 2 mph canal flow... wasn't that requirement
set for "mule travel" way back when?
[attachimg=4]
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