Biological Science Technician, Eric Snyder, pulling waterchestnut from Tonawanda Creek, NY. (Photo: Mike Goehle/USFWS)

33 lbs of waterchestnut removed from Tonawanda Creek, NY. (Photo: Mike Goehle/USFWS)

One of the waterchestnut plants taken from Tonawanda Creek, NY. (Photo: Mike Goehle/USFWS)

The Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office (LGLFRO) discovered waterchestnut (Trapa natans) in the Tonawanda Creek portion of the New York State Canal System (NYSCS) while conducting an electrofishing survey.  Biological Science Technician, Denise Clay, first spotted a small, partially submerged, single rosette along the edge of the adjacent canal channel.  This discovery led to further surveillance (via canoe) of adjacent backwater areas behind Ellicott Creek Island.  In this 6-acre backwater, Fish Biologist, Mike Goehle and Biological Science Technician Eric Snyder, identified numerous plants and hand pulled approximately 33 lbs of waterchestnut.  However, when monotypic colonies of waterchestnut measuring up to 30 feet in diameter were found, it was decided that additional support would be needed to effectively address the infestation. 

The LGLFRO is now working with partners to identify rapid response strategies including a waterchestnut pulling event which has been scheduled for August 10.  Although pulling will reduce the existing visible vegetation, a longer term solution will likely be needed, including follow up evaluation and periodic pulling of missed or broken stems or plants that emerge from currently dormant seeds.  The LGLFRO also plans to survey similar habitats in this section of the canal to see if additional plants may be present.

It is unclear as to how these plants were introduced since the previous closest reported waterchestnut sighting in the NYSCS is approximately 100 miles to the east.  Waterchestnut is very abundant in the NYSCS in central NY.  Ironically, since 1998, the LGLFRO has routinely sampled for fish and aquatic plants near where this infestation was found but had not identified waterchestnut until now.  This is likely because the backwater area is shallow and not easily navigable by motorized boats and therefore was not previously explored.  Also, survey sites for plants (2003-2005) were randomly selected and did not happen to include this area.  Finally, the infestation may only recently have reached a "detectable" level.