The Water Chestnut Plant

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards says a new invasive aquatic plant has been discovered in Chautauqua Lake. This past weekend, two specimens the plant commonly known as a water chestnut (Trapa natans) were collected by EcoLogic LLC, the consultants contracted to complete the dredging feasibility project for Chautauqua Lake. After careful review, Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Jeff Diers confirmed and identified these specimens as water chestnut plants.

Diers said a fragment was collected near the mouth of Ball Creek close to the I-86 Veterans Memorial Bridge, and the second specimen was found completely intact near the mouth of Dutch Hollow Creek.

The water chestnut is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and was first introduced to the United States in the 1800s. It is a rooted, annual aquatic plant that has submerged leaves that can reach 12 to 15 feet in length and a rosette of floating leaves, which are green, glossy, and triangular with toothed edges. Each plant can produce up to 15 nuts per a season, and within each nut can be hundreds of seeds. Water chestnut can form dense floating mats, severely limiting light – a critical element of aquatic ecosystems. Once established, it can reduce oxygen levels, increasing the potential of killing fish.

Edwards said the water chestnut could be devastating to the Lake’s ecosystem. Just one acre of water chestnut plants on Chautauqua Lake could produce seeds that could cover 100 acres of water with these plants the following year. Edwards said it is crucial that environment officials locate, contain, and eradicate the invasive species so it cannot further spread throughout Chautauqua Lake. He said efforts are currently underway to get support from local, state and federal agencies to help keep the plant from spreading. Any residents or boaters who come across the plant is asked to contact the County Executive’s office or the Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator at 661-8915.