Waltham reps. work to stop growth of invasive plants in Charles River - 05/02/2008
For Immediate Release - May 2, 2008
Contact: Dan Cruz w/Rep. Koutoujian
617-722-2130
Judy Bromley w/Rep. Stanley
617-722-2470
WALTHAM'S REPRESENTATIVES WORK TO STOP GROWTH OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN CHARLES RIVER
Boston- State Representatives Peter J. Koutoujian (D-Waltham) and Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham) are proud to announce that the legislature has included an appropriation of $100,000 in the House budget for FY 2009 for non-native aquatic plant management in the Waltham ’s portion of the Charles River . This money will allow the Department of Conservation and Recreation to fund the mechanical harvesting of water chestnuts, an invasive weed that has significantly impacted the ecological stability of the river since this vegetation was first discovered there in 1994.
“This appropriation will provide the Department of Conservation and Recreation the tools necessary to correct the infestation of invasive weeds that threaten the ecology of the Charles River in the City of Waltham ,” said Representative Peter J. Koutoujian.
“I am very proud to be part of an effort to protect this wonderful environmental resource from invasive weeds,” said Representative Thomas M. Stanley.
The combination of state funded mechanical harvesting and volunteer hand pulling, which was organized last year, will re-start a yearly clean up program to prevent the water chestnuts from harming the river. If not regularly removed, non-native water chestnuts will continue to grow, covering miles of the water’s surface heading down the river toward Boston . This growth creates havoc for boaters using the river for recreational purposes and ultimately drains the water of oxygen supporting wild life.
Last year, Representatives Stanley, Koutoujian and other members of the state delegation were able to secure $100,000 for the mechanical harvesting of non-native aquatic plants in the lakes district of the Charles River . The harvesting of these weeds is critically important in order to prevent future complete re-infestation. Weed removal in past years has made significant progress in curbing the problem, but professional upkeep is integral to the project’s success.
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