The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC), in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is recruiting volunteers to help remove invasive water chestnut plants from Stump Pond in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
The water chestnut is a highly aggressive and damaging aquatic plant native to Asia that has expanded rapidly in the waterbody. It forms dense mats that steal sunshine from and ultimately displace native plant species, altering the habitat for fish and wildlife that depend on it, and interfering with recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and paddling. Volunteers are needed to gently hand-pull and collect as many of the invasive plants as possible before the seeds form at the end of July. This management method has proven effective in limiting its spread.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, July 30th
- Time: 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Location for Launch Site: Stump Pond TBA
- Register Here
Volunteers are encouraged to bring a bucket or laundry basket and gloves to collect plants. Paddlers who bring their own canoe or kayak can help by plucking plants out of the water. Non-boating volunteers can stay ashore and help haul the containers from boats to unload the plants for disposal. Collected plants will be composted off-site.
Limited kayaks provided by WRWC are available. Volunteers with their own kayaks and canoes are especially needed. All volunteers must register. Registered volunteers will receive additional information and updates, including any rain cancellations. Volunteers can register here.
Join us in this critical effort to protect our local waterways and maintain the health of Stump Pond.