WATER CHESTNUT
I wanted to give you all a heads-up that Trapa natans, water chestnut, has been found not far from us, so we need to add this species to our mental list of invasive plants that we're aware of as we survey our lakes and ponds. Trapa is a really nasty plant that's become a terrible problem in southern New England, but this is the first time it has been found in Maine. Here's the link to the Cobbossee Friends web site where they have information about where the plant was found on Jug Stream, which runs from Annabessacook Lake to Cobbeseecontee Lake. The state DEP still has not said anything about the species' being found in Maine.
Here's a state website with more information about this species:
This is also a good reminder about the importance of our surveys. Finding these infestations right away is exactly why we do the surveys. It's only when we catch these species early that we have any chance at all of eradicating the plants and preventing environmental disasters. Cobbeseecontee Lake now has the dubious distinction of having FOUR invasive aquatic plants -- Eurasian water-milfoil, variable-leaf water-milfoil, European frogbit, and water chestnut.
Bob Capers,
BDTPA Plant Patrol Coordinator