Officials are asking residents to be on the lookout for two types of invasive aquatic plants in Chautauqua Lake: Water Chestnuts and Hydrilla.

STOW – Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards and Chautauqua County Watershed Coordinator Jeff Diers were in Stow Monday morning to announce that residents and visitors should be on the lookout for two invasive plant species in Chautauqua Lake.  The two types of plants that people should be aware of are water chestnut and hydrilla.

Edwards said that because of their ability to rapidly spread, the plants will pose a potential threat to the Lake if they are left to grow and are not properly eradicated.

Last summer the water chestnut was discovered in Chautauqua Lake when consultants for the county collected two specimens of the plant. The discovery sparked two mass searches for water chestnut. Through these sweeps of the Lake, 17 additional water chestnut plants were discovered in either the Bemus Creek area or the mouth of the Chadakoin River.

Although Hydrilla has not been identified in Chautauqua Lake yet, it was discovered last summer in Tonawanda Creek, which is less than 80 miles from Chautauqua County.

Diers said the discovery of Hydrilla in Tonawanda Creek last summer was alarming because it is considered by many experts to be one of the worst invasive aquatic species in the world. It has often been described as Eurasian milfoil on steroids. Dier said it is vital the county prevent this invasive species from becoming established in our local lakes and waterways.

More details about both plants, including photos, can be found on the county website. Individuals who see either of these plants are urged not to remove them, as experts need to analyze and properly remove them from the lake to prevent them from spreading. Instead, individuals should contact Diers at (716) 661-8915 to report the sighting.