Working together to remove invasive European water chestnut from our local waterways!
about our water chestnut removal program
European water chestnut (EWC) is a non-native aquatic plant that is highly invasive and, if left untreated, can quickly take over a waterway. Once water chestnut establishes itself in a creek or pond it can completely cover the surface of the water, cutting off important nutrients for native wildlife and impeding recreational activities such as fishing, boating and swimming.
Every summer, the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy manages EWC infestations within the watershed while also assessing local waterways for new infestations. Smaller infestations are able to be managed by hand-pulling the plant with the help of volunteers, while large infestations need to be treated with aquatic herbicide in order to achieve removal. Below is a list of active infestations that we are currently managing.
Current infestations managed by the Conservancy:
Knight Lake - Green Lane Park
Deep Creek - Green Lane Park
Unami Creek - Marlborough Township
Lake Delmont - Marlborough Township
Skymount Lake - Marlborough Township
Indian Creek - Franconia Township
Bergey’s Pond - Telford Borough
Ruth Pond - Sellersville Borough
Map Key:
Red Markers - Active infestation sites where EWC are still being removed each summer.
Green Markers - Inactive infestation sites that are still being monitored, but no EWC are present.
Green Lines - Waterways assessed seasonally with no active infestations present.
Red Lines - Waterways with active infestations where EWC are still being removed each summer.
Learn More
The European water chestnut can cover water surfaces and cut off important nutrients for native plants and animals. Click the link above to learn more about the natural history of this plant.
Current Projects
Volunteers are necessary to help us successfully eradicate water chestnut from our waterways. We host volunteer workdays throughout the summer. Check back in 2024 to see what we have going on during the summer months!
2023 EWC Photos
The European water chestnut was first discovered in our watershed in 2007. The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy has been successfully managing infestations since 2009. Check out our photos from the 2023 management season.
