Above: Matt, Josh, Delaney, Ben, and Sydney
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Above: Delaney, Josh, Andrew, Sydney, and Matt
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MEET OUR 2024 WATER CHESTNUT CREW
2024 Water Chestnut Season
Water chestnuts are an aquatic invasive plant that outcompete and outnumber native plants,
forming dense mats that make it difficult for people to boat and enjoy the waterways. The
mature seeds, or nuts, often wash ashore, and stepping on their sharp, serrated spikes can be
quite painful. In Onondaga County, Seneca River is heavily infested with the little buggers. This
summer, conditions were particularly favorable for the chestnuts' growth. A very hot start
allowed the plants to begin growing earlier than in past seasons. We often pull in public and
private settings, like marinas, parks, and high-traffic areas. We also offer to pull at private
residences if people get in the water and help us out.
We began the season on a stormy note by mapping mats at Eno’s Point. We experienced
firsthand the challenge of boating in chestnuts as we struggled to manually row through them.
We officially began the pull at Eno’s Point. Day three we learned the necessity of a spotter when
we jackknifed the boat into the truck, breaking the taillight (we would have to relearn this lesson
later in the season when we broke another taillight). The first two weeks were spent pulling at
various places around Eno’s Point, including Forey Path and East of Eno, totaling 9,502.5 lbs of
water chestnuts.
Halfway through the season we had pulled at Case Marina, the State Boat Launch, Grenadier
Village, and various homeowners’ properties in Baldwinsville, amassing a total of 22,750 lbs.
Throughout the season, we also map the before and after of what the Mechanical Boats harvest
and put buoys down to indicate where to harvest. We would take the pulled chestnuts to a local
farms around the county, where they were used to increase the organic matter content of the
soil. At this point we had experienced Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) that prevented us from
working, endured high 90s temperatures, sat through two Tornado alarms, and suffered enough
pricks from chestnuts to kill a small water buffalo.
As summer came to a close, we picked at J&S Marina, Muskrat Bay, Christopher’s Crossing,
Cold Springs Park, Hidden Harbor Marina, and the outlet of Onondaga Lake. We also had a
special day coordinating with the Oswego County Soil and Water crew picking at Onedia Lake.
Our total for hand-pulling this season was 42,280 lbs of water chestnuts, contributing to an
impressive total of 1,352,490 lbs removed.
We know the chestnuts will be back next year, but we saw multiple examples this season that
hand pulling is making a dent. Patches hand pulled last year were noticeably sparser than mats
in the same area that weren’t touched. The fight against invasive species is a long and hard
one, but we can tell you it’s worth it.
Water chestnuts are an aquatic invasive plant that outcompete and outnumber native plants,
forming dense mats that make it difficult for people to boat and enjoy the waterways. The
mature seeds, or nuts, often wash ashore, and stepping on their sharp, serrated spikes can be
quite painful. In Onondaga County, Seneca River is heavily infested with the little buggers. This
summer, conditions were particularly favorable for the chestnuts' growth. A very hot start
allowed the plants to begin growing earlier than in past seasons. We often pull in public and
private settings, like marinas, parks, and high-traffic areas. We also offer to pull at private
residences if people get in the water and help us out.
We began the season on a stormy note by mapping mats at Eno’s Point. We experienced
firsthand the challenge of boating in chestnuts as we struggled to manually row through them.
We officially began the pull at Eno’s Point. Day three we learned the necessity of a spotter when
we jackknifed the boat into the truck, breaking the taillight (we would have to relearn this lesson
later in the season when we broke another taillight). The first two weeks were spent pulling at
various places around Eno’s Point, including Forey Path and East of Eno, totaling 9,502.5 lbs of
water chestnuts.
Halfway through the season we had pulled at Case Marina, the State Boat Launch, Grenadier
Village, and various homeowners’ properties in Baldwinsville, amassing a total of 22,750 lbs.
Throughout the season, we also map the before and after of what the Mechanical Boats harvest
and put buoys down to indicate where to harvest. We would take the pulled chestnuts to a local
farms around the county, where they were used to increase the organic matter content of the
soil. At this point we had experienced Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) that prevented us from
working, endured high 90s temperatures, sat through two Tornado alarms, and suffered enough
pricks from chestnuts to kill a small water buffalo.
As summer came to a close, we picked at J&S Marina, Muskrat Bay, Christopher’s Crossing,
Cold Springs Park, Hidden Harbor Marina, and the outlet of Onondaga Lake. We also had a
special day coordinating with the Oswego County Soil and Water crew picking at Onedia Lake.
Our total for hand-pulling this season was 42,280 lbs of water chestnuts, contributing to an
impressive total of 1,352,490 lbs removed.
We know the chestnuts will be back next year, but we saw multiple examples this season that
hand pulling is making a dent. Patches hand pulled last year were noticeably sparser than mats
in the same area that weren’t touched. The fight against invasive species is a long and hard
one, but we can tell you it’s worth it.
SEE BELOW CONTRACTORS PROVIDING WATER CHESTNUT CULLING SERVICES;
Curb Appeal of CNY, LLC Kara Croyle
Joe Marotti-Owner EnviroAquatics
4734 Lythim Circle 2797 State Route 12B
Manlius, NY 13104 Hamilton, NY 13346
Tel. 315-692-2464 315-706-2565
[email protected] [email protected]
Feliciano Landscape, LLC Jim McNamee
36 Nelson Street Aquatic Weed Harvesting
Auburn, NY 13021 PO Box 39
Tel. 315-263-9598 Craryville, NY 12521
[email protected] 518-441-7742
[email protected]
Madcal Enterprises
315-317 Burnet Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13203
Tel. 315-751-3953
[email protected]
Gasparini Landscaping Co., Inc. Mike Shea
Gary Gasparini Blue Wave Water Works
5072 Smoral Road 4568 Becker Rd.
Camillus, NY 13031 Brewerton, NY 13029
Tel. 315-488-4261 x9 315-484-6453
[email protected] [email protected]
Dr. Janitor Cleaning ‘n Landscapes Daniel Andrews
Leannue McMullen Cross Lake Aquatic Services
319 Allen Street 6778 Reeves Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13210 Jordan, NY 13080
Tel. 315-450-8514 315-729-8863
[email protected]
Gary Leroux
CNY Aquatic Harvesting
3774 State Rt. 3
Fulton, NY 13069
315-529-1124
[email protected]
___________________________________________
CHEMICAL TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS
A-Tip Control, Inc.
5681 Zerfass Rd.
Dansville, NY 14437
585-335-9299
Chase Enterprises
24 County Route 1A
Oswego, NY 13126
833-216-6337
Solitude Lake Management
20 Main Street
Worcester, NY 12197
844-412-1236
CNY Drone Services Auburn Ag Products, LLC
6883 Dawes Ave. 6140 Broadway Rd.
Clinton, NY 13323 Auburn, NY 13021
315-723-4664 [email protected]
315-246-7642
Riveredge Associates, LLC
58 Old River Rd.
Massena, NY 13662
315-323-2525
Curb Appeal of CNY, LLC Kara Croyle
Joe Marotti-Owner EnviroAquatics
4734 Lythim Circle 2797 State Route 12B
Manlius, NY 13104 Hamilton, NY 13346
Tel. 315-692-2464 315-706-2565
[email protected] [email protected]
Feliciano Landscape, LLC Jim McNamee
36 Nelson Street Aquatic Weed Harvesting
Auburn, NY 13021 PO Box 39
Tel. 315-263-9598 Craryville, NY 12521
[email protected] 518-441-7742
[email protected]
Madcal Enterprises
315-317 Burnet Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13203
Tel. 315-751-3953
[email protected]
Gasparini Landscaping Co., Inc. Mike Shea
Gary Gasparini Blue Wave Water Works
5072 Smoral Road 4568 Becker Rd.
Camillus, NY 13031 Brewerton, NY 13029
Tel. 315-488-4261 x9 315-484-6453
[email protected] [email protected]
Dr. Janitor Cleaning ‘n Landscapes Daniel Andrews
Leannue McMullen Cross Lake Aquatic Services
319 Allen Street 6778 Reeves Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13210 Jordan, NY 13080
Tel. 315-450-8514 315-729-8863
[email protected]
Gary Leroux
CNY Aquatic Harvesting
3774 State Rt. 3
Fulton, NY 13069
315-529-1124
[email protected]
___________________________________________
CHEMICAL TREATMENT ORGANIZATIONS
A-Tip Control, Inc.
5681 Zerfass Rd.
Dansville, NY 14437
585-335-9299
Chase Enterprises
24 County Route 1A
Oswego, NY 13126
833-216-6337
Solitude Lake Management
20 Main Street
Worcester, NY 12197
844-412-1236
CNY Drone Services Auburn Ag Products, LLC
6883 Dawes Ave. 6140 Broadway Rd.
Clinton, NY 13323 Auburn, NY 13021
315-723-4664 [email protected]
315-246-7642
Riveredge Associates, LLC
58 Old River Rd.
Massena, NY 13662
315-323-2525