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City reports 3,000 pounds of water chestnuts removed; volunteers helped at Quinsigamond and Coes Reservoir
Summary
Department staff reported volunteer-driven water chestnut removals (about 3,000 pounds) across three events, expansion of lake-alert systems, catch-basin signage partnerships, and ongoing cyanobacteria and DASH (diver-assisted) efforts to manage aquatic invasives.
Staff reported on lakes-and-ponds programming and recent invasive-plant removal efforts. John O'Dell and the department's lake coordinator said the season's work included one pull at Coes Reservoir and two at Quinsigamond Lake, engaging about 75 volunteers and removing roughly 3,000 pounds of water chestnuts.
The department is switching to a new alert system (AlertWister) for lake notices, continues catch-basin signage in partnership with Parks, DPW and the Tete Neck Brook Watershed Association, and supports volunteer engagement. Staff described DASH (diver-assisted removal) as effective for spot treatments but expensive and not suitable for wide-area removal. They also noted cyanobacteria management is a different treatment approach (chemical dosing in select lakes) and cannot be hand-pulled.
Committee members asked for the broader picture of water management (treatment types, seedbanks and timelines); staff explained seed banks can last 8'12 years for some species and that management is ongoing rather than eradication-focused.
