Water Chestnut Pull (Adults)

Saturday, June 6, 2020
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. registration and training
9:00 a.m. – noon Work Party

Volunteers Needed

Reservations required by midnight June 4, 2020. Limited capacity.

Your help is needed to help Audubon pull Water Chestnut out of Big Pond. This invasive plant from Asia takes over shallow ponds and steals the light and nutrients from native plants. Volunteers will walk and kayak in the pond to pull the plants, which should be about the size of a half dollar at this time of year. Volunteers are limited to those 16+ years old and must have an adult with them if under 18. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we can only host 10 volunteers so space is limited.

Audubon has a limited number of kayaks and waders for volunteers to use. Volunteers and staff will not share equipment due to coronavirus. ACNC encourages you to bring your own chest waders if you have them, wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and sunscreen. There is a brief training session prior to the pull and ACNC requests that you wear masks during this training. Most of the time you will be able to physically distance yourself from others during the pull.

Staff and volunteers have been striving to remove this plant for the last eight years and have made great progress. The seeds remain viable in the pond muck for as long as 12 years. By pulling the plants each year, fewer and fewer seeds remain. Eventually, only minimal pulling to safeguard the pond will be needed.

Special Information: Bring a change of clothes or towels. Gloves and a limited amount of gear is provided. If you have chest waders, ACNC encourages you to bring them. Bring your own snacks and drinks.