Water Chestnut
This isn’t your usual holiday season chestnut. The water chestnut is present in over 40 states throughout the country, where it “colonizes” slow moving bodies of water, taking up space that would otherwise be used by local plants. It is common throughout the East Coast, especially in Northeastern states like Connecticut and New York.
These plants have huge roots and long stems. Their leaves often create a “mat” on the surface of the water and shade out native plants that need some sun. And when the plants die and decompose, they mess with the oxygen levels in the water and kill the fish.
The best time of the year to rip these up is from June to July, before the plant drops seeds. Kill it while it’s still young so that it can’t procreate. Anyone who participates in water recreation, or recreation near bodies of water, should clean off their equipment and dispose of plant matter into a trash can instead of throwing it back into the water.
