Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Volunteers Needed To Clear Invasive Species

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has scheduled four work days-- July 16 & 17 and August 6 & 7-- to eradicate invasive aquatic plants at the Musser Scout Reservation in Marlborough Township, Montgomery County.
            Trapa natans, the European water chestnut, a highly invasive non-native aquatic plant has infested Delmont Lake on the Unami Creek, a tributary to the Perkiomen Creek.  Being one of the first infestations of water chestnut in Pennsylvania, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy needs the communities help in combating this infestation to avoid the spread of water chestnuts from the Unami Creek to the Perkiomen Creek or further downstream to the Schuylkill River.  
            The Conservancy will be hosting four volunteer workdays hand pulling the weed from the Unami Creek, upstream and downstream of Delmont Lake.  This invasive species thrives in slow moving nutrient rich waters; impoundments along our streams and rivers are a perfect setting for this aggressive and prolific species. 
            This species can overrun a waterway or an impoundment in less than two years, one plant producing 20 seedpods per season, one seed producing 10-15 rosettes with a seed viability of up to 12 years.  
            Volunteers will get wet and dirty so please dress appropriately.  We do have access to a limited number of canoes but please if you own or have access to a canoe or boat please bring it along to the event.   Volunteers will begin work at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m.
            If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, contact Emma Melvin at 610-287-9383 or send email to: emelvin@perkiomenwatershed.org.


7/12/2010

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