Above: 2025 crew Ethan, Ben, and Josh on the boat
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Above: Water Chestnuts pictured in the Seneca River
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MEET OUR 2025 WATER CHESTNUT CREW
2025 Water Chestnut Season
Native to Eurasia, water chestnuts (Trapa natans) are an invasive macrophyte that outcompetes and outnumbers native aquatic plant species. Each seed can produce up to 15 rosettes, each of which can produce up to 20 seeds. This means each seed can produce up to 300 plants the subsequent growing season. Seed production typically begins in July, with seeds taking about a month to ripen. Water chestnuts colonize shallow water, and are found in freshwater lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams/rivers. The seeds grow underwater, with 4 sharp spines protruding from each seed. The mature, greenish brown seeds will sink to the bottom, where they can survive in the silt for up to 12 years. This allows for water chestnut populations to grow very rapidly and makes them very difficult to eradicate from the environment.
The dense chestnut mats block out sunlight, killing off immersed plants and inhibiting growth and development. They also create a large drop in dissolved oxygen beneath the mats creating an unsuitable habitat for most organisms. This is partly due to the process of respiration where the plants take in dissolved oxygen from the water column. The issue comes from the plants not releasing oxygen back into the water during photosynthesis since the leaves sit on the surface of the water. Reduced oxygen levels in the water can also be attributed to the dense mats preventing surface gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide.
However, newly introduced populations are much more manageable, as they are less dense and much smaller in area. This means a proactive approach is best, while also ensuring older populations are taken care of. The removal of water chestnut mats can be completed via harvest boats, hand pulling or chemical treatment. This year will mark the first time the county has elected to go forth with a chemical application to help remove the water chestnuts from the river system. There has been testing and research done on the herbicide being used to make sure that it is safe to use in the river system without any adverse effects. This will allow for quick and efficient removal of large mats without the necessity of a large fleet of harvest boats. This, coupled with efforts from the hand pulling crew and harvest boats, should put a sizable dent in populations along the Seneca River and into Cross Lake.
This year, there has been a surprising lack of water chestnuts present in the Seneca river system. As of May 29th, there have been little to no rosettes found in the Seneca river or Cross lake. This could be attributed to the high volume of rain raising water levels or the colder temperatures this spring leading to lower than usual water temperatures. We have no doubt that once it starts to warm up and water levels drop, these plants will emerge in massive mats, but for the time being their absence is beneficial for both aquatic ecological communities and river recreators alike.
Native to Eurasia, water chestnuts (Trapa natans) are an invasive macrophyte that outcompetes and outnumbers native aquatic plant species. Each seed can produce up to 15 rosettes, each of which can produce up to 20 seeds. This means each seed can produce up to 300 plants the subsequent growing season. Seed production typically begins in July, with seeds taking about a month to ripen. Water chestnuts colonize shallow water, and are found in freshwater lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams/rivers. The seeds grow underwater, with 4 sharp spines protruding from each seed. The mature, greenish brown seeds will sink to the bottom, where they can survive in the silt for up to 12 years. This allows for water chestnut populations to grow very rapidly and makes them very difficult to eradicate from the environment.
The dense chestnut mats block out sunlight, killing off immersed plants and inhibiting growth and development. They also create a large drop in dissolved oxygen beneath the mats creating an unsuitable habitat for most organisms. This is partly due to the process of respiration where the plants take in dissolved oxygen from the water column. The issue comes from the plants not releasing oxygen back into the water during photosynthesis since the leaves sit on the surface of the water. Reduced oxygen levels in the water can also be attributed to the dense mats preventing surface gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide.
However, newly introduced populations are much more manageable, as they are less dense and much smaller in area. This means a proactive approach is best, while also ensuring older populations are taken care of. The removal of water chestnut mats can be completed via harvest boats, hand pulling or chemical treatment. This year will mark the first time the county has elected to go forth with a chemical application to help remove the water chestnuts from the river system. There has been testing and research done on the herbicide being used to make sure that it is safe to use in the river system without any adverse effects. This will allow for quick and efficient removal of large mats without the necessity of a large fleet of harvest boats. This, coupled with efforts from the hand pulling crew and harvest boats, should put a sizable dent in populations along the Seneca River and into Cross Lake.
This year, there has been a surprising lack of water chestnuts present in the Seneca river system. As of May 29th, there have been little to no rosettes found in the Seneca river or Cross lake. This could be attributed to the high volume of rain raising water levels or the colder temperatures this spring leading to lower than usual water temperatures. We have no doubt that once it starts to warm up and water levels drop, these plants will emerge in massive mats, but for the time being their absence is beneficial for both aquatic ecological communities and river recreators alike.
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
Auburn Ag Products, LLC
6140 Broadway Rd.
Auburn, NY 13021
[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
Auburn Ag Products, LLC
6140 Broadway Rd.
Auburn, NY 13021
[email protected]
315-246-7642
Riveredge Associates, LLC
58 Old River Rd.
Massena, NY 13662
315-323-2525