Species Specific Session Abstract

Status of Water Chestnut in Maryland

Mike Naylor
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Water chestnut (Trapa natans) was first recorded in the Bird River in Baltimore County in 1955. Mechanical and chemical removal were successfully used to control the population at that time. It reappeared in the Bird River in 1964; in addition, 100 acres of water chestnut were discovered in the Sassafras River. A combination of removal techniques was used once again through the mid 1960s, and these efforts were believed to have been successful as no plants had been noted in vegetation surveys until the summer of 1997. The Bird River water chestnut population spread from approximately 50 plants at that time to over three acres in 1998, and at least 20 acres in 1999. The Sassafras River population is slightly larger, though determining its exact size has proven difficult. In light of the potential problems posed by water chestnut, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiated control efforts in 1999. A massive mechanical boat and volunteer harvesting effort was undertaken on both rivers in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Total weight of harvested plants decreased from approximately 400,000 pounds from the two rivers in 1999 to less than 1,000 pounds in 2001.

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