July 17, 2024 – Volunteers joined the Finger Lakes PRISM (Partnership for Invasive Species Management) and CLWA in the West River on Wednesday to assist with managing Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). 

The main target species was water chestnut (Trapa natans) which can form impenetrable mats that can cover large expanses of water. Large populations can alter water quality and clarity, and outcompete native aquatic plants. 

While we pulled some water chestnut, by far the more prominent invasive we removed was the European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae). Frog-bit can spread rapidly and form dense mats, limiting light penetration and inhibiting recreational use.

In just a few short hours, we pulled 5 lbs of water chestnut and 200 lbs of European frog-bit! Thank you to all the volunteers who assisted. It was a fun morning paddling and getting dirty.. and we squeezed in some bird-watching too!