Water Chestnut Removal Needed For Lake Winthrop

When you think of a visit to  you probably think about family barbecues on the beach, lifeguards yelling to stop horsing around and maybe a little bit of fishing. What you probably don't think of is cleaning up the invasive species commonly referred to as water chestnuts that is taking over areas near .

But don't worry; the Lake Winthrop Watershed Association is ready to tackle the problem head on with a community weed-pulling event on Sunday.

"We're trying to nip it in the bud now so that in the future we can stay ahead of it and keep it from spreading," Janice Miller said at last night's conservation commission meeting.

Because the weeds are being pulled from one of the towns wetlands area, the association needed approval before going through with the event. Board members wanted to know what, if any, the negative consequences from pulling the weed would be.

According to Miller, there are none. The weed spreads by seed, so if the drop a leaf in the water by accident it won't lead to an increased spread, they also don't expect the soil uprooted with the plants to impact the safety of anyone using the beach.

Miller said she expects about 10 trash bags worth of weed will be pulled and disposed of.

"The normal procedure is to compost the weed, but our worry is that birds and animals would get in the compost when it's spread and then they would carry that back in to the wetlands areas," Miller said. "That's why we're going to have it incinerated."

All residents are invited to join in the cleanup and are encouraged to bring their own boats (remember motorized vehicles aren't allowed on the lake, so kayaks and canoes are great options). There will be training for everyone and a lifeguard will be on duty in case someone capsizes.

The cleanup begins at 1 p.m. at and will wrap-up around 4 p.m.

Another  that is growing in backyards and on the town's trails.